Well, that’s one knock on expansion

From the Targum:

Rutgers Stadium posed a security issue for Secret Service with expansion construction going on in the end zone, Holodak said.

“They really had no choice but to find a venue that was available and had a very good layout for security and getting in and out and that would accommodate more people,” Holodak said. “It was a heartbreak; we just really wanted it to be at Rutgers, but it is understandable why and we just decided we will take Rutgers to the PNC Bank Arts Center.”

Tell ya what, Barack: if you’re really best buds with Gov. Corzine, come back in September and fill that sucker up.

Army at Yankee Stadium?

From Sal Interdonato’s blog, in reference to the announced date at YS between Army and Notre Dame:

Also, I’ve heard Rutgers and Boston College could be future Army opponents at Yankee Stadium in 2011, 2012 or 2013.

The AP adds:

The New York Yankees called a news conference for Monday. Army is expected to play more games in the future at the $1.5 billion baseball stadium, with Rutgers and possibly Syracuse involved, another person familiar with the scheduling told the AP on condition of anonymity.

I oppose giving Army road dates in the future on a home and “home” basis, but playing games in New York City would soften the blow. West Point has a great atmosphere, but this would take things to a whole new level. Still, finding quality opponents should trump other factors.

2009 Season Preview: Linebackers

Projected 2009 depth chart

SLB: Damaso Munoz (RS-SR 6′0, 220 lbs), Manny Abreu (RS-SO 6′3, 245 lbs)
MLB: Ryan D’Imperio (SR 6′3, 245 lbs), Jim Dumont (RS-JR 6′1, 215 lbs)
WLB: Antonio Lowery (JR 6′2, 225 lbs), Marvin Booker (SO 6′2, 220 lbs)

That was the depth chart from spring practice, and what I tentatively expect to see in the fall.

It’s probably unfair at this point to keep bringing up Munoz’s poor play in the middle in 2007 at every mention of his name, and I will try not to beyond this point. (Which is better than scrutiny for taking online courses, though.) He was stepping into a difficult situation, a lot of players suffer in comparison to D’Imperio, and much of this griping is motivated by star blindness – a desire to see Manny Abreu start because he was highly touted coming out of high school.

Munoz’s play on the outside last year was more than acceptable. He brings a similar skillset to the table as past Greg Schiano strongside backers like Terry Bynes or Brandon Renkart – Munoz isn’t flashy and won’t make a ton of plays, but he brings speed to the position, and respectable coverage. Munoz took over for Abreu as the starter at mid-season last year, in one of many roster tweaks at that time. It may not have been the definitive move in keying the turnaround, but Munoz more than held his own.

Q. What about the progress that Abreu has made?

“I think Manny is getting better. I just think that Damaso got better faster that’s why he started. But like I said the other day: Manny is a competitor. He’s not going to sit back and say `okay, let him take it.’ They’re going to compete and that’s what will make them both better so that’s a good thing.”

Abreu was by no means bad as redshirt freshman last year, being named to several freshman AA teams. He earned a starting job out of fall camp. He showed flashes of playmaking ability, but did look a step slow in coverage. Manny might be a better fit on the weakside, where Schiano could unleash him on a number of blitzes (even if Abreu doesn’t start, he will see a lot of time in special sub packages), and focus on blowing up players in space. Abreu may be the primary backup on the strongside, but I think he’s more in the mix at will, and that will be his primary spot at least for this fall.

Knight Pack

Tim Pernetti has announced $160 (end zone), and $200 Knight Packs that will only feature the cream of the crop from the whole schedule. There’s also a $120/$150 Scarlet Pack. I expect these packages to do well, as a lot of people were probably sitting on the fence for season tickets, apprehensive about spending $350 for a full package. Texas Southern is Homecoming, but selling out FIU and Howard will depend a lot on looking good on opening day. Can’t really say more until September approaches and we know the numbers.

The NY Post says that Fred Hill is interested in hiring Roy Rogers from the Nets. Is this for an administrative role, or is Craig Carter in trouble? Speaking of Hill, he’s having to work with a tighter budget.

SK.com has new expansion pics up.

Aditi sighting – she’ll be talking Mike Teel and Courtney Greene on Saturday at 3 pm, EDT.

Gannett ran a horrific op/ed yesterday in its papers. Not only is the point incomprehensibly stupid, but it also regurgitates false information printed in the Ledger last summer, reports that were refuted by the Home News Tribune! Whoever wrote the piece couldn’t even be bothered to run a cursory check of Gannett’s archives (which, as you may recall, was the same jaw-dropping gaffe that the Ledger made with their Nelligan non-story). This is a major black eye for the chain, which has to this point, provided by far (meaning compared to its two chief in-state competitors, not in regard to individual journalists) the most accurate original reporting on the finances of the Rutgers athletic department.

Essence Carson showed her true Scarlet Knight colors by returning home to Paterson and speaking to young girls at a basketball camp.

Quincy Douby continues to impress in Vegas. Anthony Farmer is still waiting by the phone.

Gil Brandt says that Kevin Haslam is the 13th best senior offensive tackle prospect. However, Brandt’s assessment of Haslam is awful and very inaccurate. I don’t want to cannibalize my upcoming OL positional preview, but I’d pretty much say the exact opposite in all respects to what Brandt wrote.

Todd Frazier is very close to the Big Leagues (a Bleacher Report post asks if he’s the next great Cincinatti Red). Casey Gaynor made the Cape Cod League All-Star team.

Is Kevin Brock the world’s strongest athlete?

One update on the recent Kamran Joyer story: the Tampa Tribune has a new story on the subject, long enough that I couldn’t really decide what would be the best paragraph to quote here. There are a lot of questions raised. Don’t draw any conclusions in either direction from that uncertainty, but there are questions.

Anthony DePetris is the newest member of the Rutgers BoG.