Ahead of Saturday’s game against Michigan, Greg Schiano touched on the issue of tunnel safety and security. The Rutgers football head coach acknowledged the plan to eventually have separate tunnels for the teams entering and exiting the field at SHI Stadium.
The issue is especially poignant in college football and for Schiano ahead of this Saturday’s opponent.
Two weeks ago, Michigan and Penn State got into a minor tussle in the tunnel (note: video in the story includes some strong language). Last week, Michigan’s Gemon Green suffered a concussion from a fight that broke out following the Wolverines’ win over Michigan State.
Again, the incident took place in the shared tunnel between the two teams that takes them to and from the field to their collective locker rooms. The tunnel was named this year in honor of legendary Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr.
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Rutgers football and the visiting locker room share a tunnel to the field at SHI Stadium.
“I witnessed the same thing, so I understand the question. We’ve never had an incident that I know of, at least when I’ve been here, we have not had an incident,” Schiano told reporters on Monday.
“I think our guys do a great job with who goes when and it’s all very controlled and maybe some people feel like it’s too controlled but case in point, it needs to be controlled. That’s just the way we are built right now. There will be a day when we have two tunnels. I’m not worried about that. But right now this is the way we’re built so this is the way we’ll do it. But we have a plan, that’s for sure.”
Earlier this season, Rutgers and Ohio State players got into a brief fight on the field in the fourth quarter of their game. Schiano ran across the field to separate his team from the Ohio State sideline.
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Both Schiano and Ohio State head coach Ryan Day spoke appreciatively of each other after the game in their handling of the situation.
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