PISCATAWAY, N.J. — In a game that showed the strength and conviction of the Rutgers football team’s character, perhaps no sign of this program’s family atmosphere was seen than in the second quarter. Following Tyreem Powell’s ejection for a controversial targeting penalty, the entire Rutgers team rallied around their star linebacker.
It is safe to say that they played for Powell while he was forced to look on from the sidelines.
This included teammates like defensive back Robert Longerbeam, Powell’s roommate, who said after the game that he wanted to step up and help the team after the ejection call. On the next play after the call on Powell, Longerbeam created a Michigan State fumble and recovered the ball.
And after the game, Powell was brought in by his teammates to celebrate what was an incredible and improbable comeback by Rutgers.
“Definitely did feel that from my teammates, the whole game,” Powell said on Tuesday. “Countless guys coming up to me after the play, just cheering me up and they had my back the whole time. So I thank all of them.”
He admitted that the second quarter call was a difficult one. But in his effort to move on and focus on Indiana, Powell can still reflect on the difficult emotions felt after his ejection.
His focus, he said, remained unchanged in that he still wanted to help his team, even though he couldn’t help them on the field in that game.
“It’s frustrating just not being out there with your teammates and battling with your brothers,” Powell said.
“But you just got to focus on the way you can cheer them on and do what you got to do. To help them in any situation.”
Powell has been tremendous this season for Rutgers. With 49 total tackles, he is on pace to better his career-best numbers from a year ago (Powell had 70 total tackles in 2023).
Head coach [autotag]Greg Schiano[/autotag] teased that at least the call happened in the first half so Powell would not have to miss any of this Saturday’s game at Indiana.
” I felt bad for him. It’s tough. I mean, those are the rules and you’ve just got to play within the rules. So it’s a good lesson, I guess, for everybody,” Schiano said.
“We talked about it. We showed it, and just got to make sure that you leave it beyond a shadow of a doubt, and that’s what we try to do. Some things are unavoidable I think. Sometimes you get into a situation, it’s just an unfortunate situation. But Tyreem will be back and he’ll be ready to roll.”