Yes...miracles do occur....

Rutgers University's football program has come a long way since 1976. In 1976 (the same year yours truly graduated from high school), Rutgers was ranked nationally. Fast forward 30 years....and in a truly spectacular upset, defeated #3 Louisville in front of a hometown crowd of 44,111 fans (plus one).

While I know that my dad died in July of 2006, there is some talk among my family that he's their lucky charm as he watches down over his beloved Scarlet Knights.

Whatever is happening, I'm so pleased to see that Rutgers is doing so well.

Back in my days at my beloved Ripon College I remember sending former President Bernie Adams and his wife, Natalie, sympathy cards whenever Rutgers beat Princeton. See, President Adams went to Princeton (class of 1952 I think) and Bob Gero, my dad, was Rutgers Class of 1951. My classmate Kathi P and I got to singing songs one night at dinner after a few too many beers at happy hour. The song we were singing..."On the Banks of the Old Raritan." Seems that Kathi's dad graduated from Rutgers in about 1941. She was an avid tennis player and often was paired with President Adams. When we found out about each others' affiliations with Rutgers we got together each year and sent the Adamses a sympathy card with newpaper cut outs. We made Rutgers REALLY big in the sympathy card....and Princeton REALLY small.

And now...the tradition started back in 1869, with the first ever collegiate football game continues.....

So....for all of you naysayers...Go Scarlet Ka-nig-its (as Dad liked to call them)....

Perhaps we'll see a Rutgers vs UW-Madison bowl game?

Or even better...Rutgers in a National Championship game.

I know who will be rooting them on.....

Update: Thanks Million Dollar Mary for the spell check (Scarlett v. Scarlet). Must have been confused with Scarlett O'Hara of Gone With the Wind.