Been a while, but what a crazy RU defensive play.

RuSnp

All-Conference
Jan 14, 2004
3,525
3,033
0
Didn't realize Hakeem Nicks was in that game
It's funny to look at the starting lineups from clips like this one and hear the commentators opine incorrectly about the greatness of this player or that player. Rutgers had future NFL starters throughout and even some future all pros but you'd never guess it from the narrative. And Hakeem Nicks was the only guy making plays for UNC in the 1st half but it was still all about Holley.
 

gef21

All-American
Jan 25, 2005
4,575
9,397
0
Despite the loss, but later that season...
1:22:20 mark of video


Thompson was an animal, but man we could not pass the ball that game. Even with Cin and their PI calls we threw 3 bad INTs.
 

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,690
0
The DL made Thompson's SpaceX launch possible.
On goal the DL and OL often want to submarine each other.
The DL wants to keep the OL unable to penetrate the LOS and hit their blocks.
The OL wants to keep blockers from getting over LOS.

What RU DL did is get super low and submarine the gaps - the OL was frozen in place.
Meekins (wrestler) went in so low the big OL couldn't reach him and Meekins kept him propped-up and unable to play 55 . Probs my all time fav RU play - smart defense was hallmark of 06

Look how low RU helmets are - they didn't fall - it was intentional low scrape. Announcer thought ball was going off an edge but RU defense knew it was up the gut. Meekins was a stud here



Watch the red helmets coming in half a foot off the ground




Watch Meekins come in low to freeze blocker and then prop him him (cant fall flat and leave a gap for RB)




That^^^^ is from a smart defense that knows each other and thinks as a whole (and hates to lose)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: phs73rc77gsm83

Big East Beast

All-Conference
Jul 26, 2001
7,530
3,622
72
I was at that game. In my memory that play was with 1 minute to go, lol. Because when that happened, the feeling was like “oh we’ve got this game”.

Ray Rice was so good along with the D.

Lots of trash talk leading up to the game by Nicks who guaranteed a W. They were expecting a big year so this was a huge road win at the time. Their QB Joe Dailey was a NJ kid. They turned out to have a bad season but ours just kept building- week after week.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ashokan

Shelby65

All-Conference
Apr 1, 2008
8,524
4,716
66
Shelby was a spectator at Kenan that day. Not quite the Gary Reasons goal line tackle but a great play by DT which also changed the course of the game.

UNC QB Joe Dailey hailed from NJ (St, Peters Prep). Also played for Nebraska.
 
Last edited:

Extra Point_rivals157299

All-Conference
Aug 9, 2001
13,166
4,692
0
And Thompson identified the ball carrier in a fraction of a second and used a body to push off from and pounce like a cat on top of the ball carrier.
 
The Knight Report

Latest

  1. 01 On3 USA Today ranks Top 100 players in college football ahead of 2026 season
  2. 02 The Knight Report Rutgers Football Fall Camp: Get 75% off The Knight Report - Final Day!
  3. 03 The Knight Report Rutgers Football announces Dylan Lonergan as QB1 - TKR Pod
  4. 04 The Knight Report Statistical Profile Comparison: 2025 Dylan Lonergan versus 2025 Athan Kaliakmanis
  5. 05 Rivals 2029 ATH Darnell Engoto's stacking big offers as recruitment continues to build