Tag: James Gandolfini

Former Rutgers standout Mike Tverdov fires back at Michigan State’s Barstool affiliate for Sopranos troll post

Mike Tverdov took umbrage at a troll job by Michigan State fans.

Ahead of Saturday’s game against Rutgers football, the Barstool affiliate account for Michigan State took quite a shot at their Big Ten rival. In going after Sopranos star James Gandolfini, they went after everything that New Jersey holds dear.

The late Gandolfini, an alum of Rutgers, is up there in the pantheon of New Jersey lore along with the battle of Princeton, Thomas Edison, pizza and bagels. Gandolfini is revered around New Jersey, and as loyal son of Rutgers, to see him in another Big Ten team’s colors does not sit well with most Scarlet Knights fans.

It is important to note that Barstool and its campus subsidiaries are known for banter and trolling. The site doesn’t shy away from these moments.

And the campus social accounts embrace this fandom mentality with an edit of Gandolfini that had Rutgers fans seeing scarlet.

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Tverdov, a former Rutgers standout now in the XFL, was one of those having none of it. He fired back at Barstool Spartans on Thursday:

 

The Barstool Spartans account is not affiliated with Michigan State.

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Gandolfini served as an honorary captain for Rutgers in 2005 ahead of the Insight Bowl. That was the second-ever bowl game appearance in program history.

The Spartans have beaten Rutgers in their last two meetings.

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Rutgers hosts Michigan State on Saturday at SHI Stadium. The noon kickoff will be broadcast nationally on the Big Ten Network.

 

 

Rutgers alumni: Scarlet Knights’ most famous graduates and attendees

Rutgers is rich with sports history, but there are plenty of famous alumni throughout the school’s history

As an academic institution, Rutgers University has gone through a renaissance in recent years. Not only is the program certainly pointed up athletically, but the research institution and the academic standing of Rutgers has seen it become one of the elite higher learning institutions in the nation.

On the playing field, Rutgers has done well with the Olympic sports for years but has seen surges in success from the large sports such as basketball, led by head coach Steve Pikiell, and football led by head coach Greg Schiano.

What you may not realize is the rich, proud history of Rutgers’ graduates and former attendees that have made their impact felt across the country and beyond. Whether it be actors, politicians, or authors – Rutgers is well represented outside of the playing fields.

Call it pork roll or Taylor Ham…it doesn’t matter. Rutgers has put its stamp on the nation in major ways.

Check out some of the most notable alumni who have eaten at the grease trucks, spent a Friday night (and a few early Saturday morning hours) at Old Man Rafferty’s or have skipped class to go to Menlo Park Mall.