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It was a tough Saturday afternoon for Rutgers football, but one positive impression left on head coach Greg Schiano happened away from the field and in the stands. Schiano noted that despite a big win by Ohio State this past weekend that he was impressed with the volume and size of the Scarlet Knights turnout.
Before an announced crowd of 51,006, Rutgers football may have had a flat performance but the atmosphere at SHI Stadium during pregame and throughout the first half remained positive and upbeat. After talking during the week about making the gameday atmosphere more intense and electric, the Scarlet Knights experienced that for parts of Saturday’s game.
“I was really pleased. That’s why I feel equally disappointed because we had a great turnout. Our students were unbelievable. Our fans were — even as poorly as the game started, our fans stayed in it,” Schiano told reporters after the game.
“And I’d just ask them to hang in there. We’re going to get there. And this is going to be an electric place to come to a game. We just didn’t do it today.”
🏃💨 🙌@Ac_Hollywood_ // @RFootball pic.twitter.com/zxQS3wwUwd
— Rutgers On BTN (@RutgersOnBTN) October 2, 2021
Attendance at SHI Stadium has improved this year for Rutgers, now 3-2 following Saturday’s loss. Two weeks ago, 40,129 came out for a 45-13 win over Delaware. And the season opener drew an announced 52,129 on a Saturday afternoon. The game was moved back from its original Thursday night sell-out due to flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.