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One play after Syracuse head coach Dino Babers had a personal foul called against him along the sidelines, Rutgers football running back Kyle Monangai ran for an 11-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead for the Scarlet Knights. That moment in the third quarter was perhaps the tipping point for Rutgers, who beat Syracuse 17-7.
The penalty call on Babers turned a looming third-and-long from just outside the red zone into a first down on Syracuse’s 11-yard line. Monangai’s touchdown run on the very next play was a dagger for Syracuse after a strong defensive effort up until the midpoint of the third quarter.
“I’m 60-years old and it was my first personal foul penalty,” Babers told reporters after his team’s loss.
“And I’ll say the exact same thing that I always say: none of us are worth 15 yards in a game.”
Babers did not lash out at the referees following the game, even as he explained the leading up to the play that caused the personal foul call. Had it not been for that moment and the fresh set of downs following Babers’ penalty, Rutgers might have had to settle for a field goal.
Deserved or not, the whole game changed when Babers was whistled for his conduct on the sidelines.
“I’m not quite sure what happened. I thought I saw a play – and I’m trying not to get fined,” Babers said.
“I thought I saw a play where we tackled a guy and he got pushed back. I’m sitting there waiting, I saw a personal foul called. I didn’t see a targeting. I’m trying to figure out how the personal foul got called.
“When they came over and told me, they told me the back was picked up and body-slammed. I didn’t see it…I’m like “I didn’t see anybody body slam anybody.’ I got a personal foul penalty called against me…As far as I know – I know I’ve never had a personal foul penalty called on me as a head coach. I know I’ve never had one called on me as an assistant coach. And I’m pretty doggone sure I’ve never had one called on me as a player and I’ve been playing since the 60s. So, I didn’t use any profanity but I guess my English was too strong.”