Rutgers Shuts Out Illinois, 33-0

The Scarlet Knights’ home opener was nearly perfect. The weather was great and the 41,038 Rutgers’ fans in attendance witnessed the first RU shut out in four years and the first time in six years that a RU football squad started the season 2-0.

Special teams and defense each posted touchdowns in the first quarter on a blocked punt and an interception return. Punter Joe Radigan set a school record with a 78-yard beauty on the fourth play of the game that backed the Illini up on their own four. The punt return team then blocked the Illini’s attempt, recovering in the end zone. Redshirt freshman Devin McCourty returned his first career interception 38 yards for a TD.

Ray Rice rushed for over 100 yards for the fourth consecutive game with a 108-yard day and a TD. Unfortunately, his performance was marred by a fumble at the goal line late in the first half that kept even more points off the board.

Jeremy Ito connected on two field goals from 38 and 39 yards. Ito has now made 12 consecutive field goals.

Both senior FB Brian Leonard and senior TE Clark Harris made catches to extend their consecutive game streaks. Leonard has now caught a pass in 36 consecutive games while Harris’ streak is now at 32 games.

Mike Teel led the Knights offense with calm and precision marred only by an interception in the end zone that also kept points off the board.

The defense continued to stifle the Fighting Illini preventing them from converting on third down situations the entire game. Illinois was 0-for-12 on third down.

Next up is a Homecoming game against Ohio.

Up stream Red Team
Red Team up stream

(Game Story and stats here.)

Mets Drub Bums 7-0

I listened to the Mets game as I was driving back to NJ this evening. The Mets beat the Dodgers 7-0. Jose Reyes had an inside the park homerun in the 6th inning. The announcer’s call made it sound like Reyes flew around the bases. I just watched the replay on ESPN. Jose actually was slowing down as he rounded first and headed to second. When he saw the ball rebound off the wall he kicked it into gear and it was like a dragster hitting the nitro button. He beat the throw home by two body lengths! Yet he dove in just for the heck of it. Like a kid on a slip-n-slide he enjoyed himself immensely.

The Mets' magic number is now 7.

Dodger starter Brad Penny (the National League's only 15 game winner so far) lost the 8th game of his career in Shea Stadium. Shea is a noted pitchers' park, yet Penny is just 1-8 there. The Mets' radio announcer said Penny would probably love to push the plunger when they demolish the stadium.

Thoughts from the Road

Change of plans….After loading the U-Haul van with the aid of Terry’s cousin and my fishing/hunting buddy Joe, we also loaded my pickup. At 1 o’clock, I took the pickup to the Adirondacks…and drove back, arriving home by 10 PM. Tomorrow morning we, Terry and I, head out to PA with the U-Haul full of furniture.

Since April I’ve put about 16,000 miles on the pickup. Enough to go from Bar Harbor, Maine to Seattle, Washington to San Diego, California to Miami, Florida and back to Bar Harbor…three times. And I’m not done yet.

During the summer I’ve seen gas prices as high as $3.25 and now down to $2.65…at the same gas station.

This fall (I know, I know, “Fall” doesn’t start for two weeks), I’ve seen more Monarch butterflies making their migratory flights south than I saw last year. That’s good news considering the decimation of their wintering grounds by fire two years ago. And they have lots of food resources in the form of goldenrod growing in abandoned pasture and along field and road edges.

Baseball is better than football on the radio.

There are way too few oldies radio stations.

While I like country music, hearing the same songs over and over again on what are essentially Top 40 stations is driving me crazy.

If you travel at the speed limit (65) on either I-80 or the NY Thruway, some one is going to run up your butt!

Some folks out there have to remember to stay to the right except when they are passing.

The U-Haul online reservation system is very, very convenient.

If the gent at the U-Haul rental place in Parsippany, NJ is to be believed, there are a lot of New Jersey folks heading to North Carolina, Tennessee and Arizona. (He said he rented out 100 trucks to each of those destinations in August alone.)

Log Home Update: Part 42On the road again still

I've made three trips already this week (Adirondacks on Sunday and Wednesday, PA on Tuesday) and will make yet another trip to PA on either Thursday afternoon or, more likely, Friday morning.

I stopped to talk with Don and Adam on Tuesday. They continue to work on the electric, plumbing and, now, the phone lines. The phone lines are CAT-5 lines and will also carry the TV and computer services.

After my visit last week, the white trailer that had been our on site storage unit was hauled away. It's really amazing how that really opens up the front yard. There will definitely be a sunny area for Terry's tomatoes and flowers. And being on the side of the hill, any cold air should cascade away from the plants so frosts shouldn't be a problem.

After Friday's trip with all the larger pieces of furniture, I'll have just one more solo trip to the Adirondacks (either Saturday or Sunday) with some odds and ends.

Saturday the kittens (actually they have grown considerably in the month they have been here and should be called cattens, that is miniature cats) get their boosters and papers from the vet before they have to hit the road with us.

The NJ property closing is scheduled for Tuesday and we will then be outta here!