TRENTON – On behalf of the entire New Jersey Legislature, Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) today presented the football team of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, with a joint ceremonial resolution to commemorate their remarkable achievements during the 2006 football season. The resolution, sponsored by Sen. Codey, Assemblyman John McKeon and Assemblyman Mims Hackett, lauded the Scarlet Knights for their 11-2 season and first bowl championship.
“This year the Rutgers football team managed to surpass all of our wildest expectations and galvanize the entire state with some nail-biting, hard fought victories. They brought national attention to our state and were a huge source of pride for all of us. In honor of all their successes, and what are sure to be many more in the coming years, we are proud to salute them with this resolution,” said Senate President Richard J. Codey.
Rutgers was one of only 14 teams in the nation to record 11 or more victories during the 2006 season. The 11 wins tied a single-season record for the Scarlet Knights and enabled them to become only the fifth team in Big East Conference history to reach that figure in a given year. The team was ranked No. 12 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USA Today/Coaches Top 25 polls. The No. 12 ranking is the highest in the university’s history, eclipsing its No. 15 standing in the final Associated Press poll in 1961.
Additionally, Sen. Codey presented individual ceremonial resolutions to Rutgers’ President Richard L. McCormick, Athletic Director Robert Mulcahy, and Coach Greg Schiano for their stewardship of the team’s successful season.
“We thank Senate President Codey and his colleagues in the Senate for their gracious recognition of this remarkable team, which brought national visibility to Rutgers and our state and intensified New Jersey citizens’ pride in their state university,” said President Richard L. McCormick, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Coach Schiano has been recognized as the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year, the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year, the Walter Camp Football Foundation Coach of the Year, Big East Conference Coach of the Year, and the Home Depot National Coach of the Year.
“The Rutgers football team would like to thank Senate President Codey and his colleagues in the Senate for honoring our team,” Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano said. “It was an exciting season and to see the entire state of New Jersey show its tremendous support and pride is overwhelming.”
Sen. Codey noted that in addition to amassing numerous accolades on the field, the Scarlet Knights also sparked a wave of pride throughout the Garden State – selling out stadiums, area hotels and restaurants, inspiring signs along state highways, and increasing enrollment interest at the university.