MARYLAND AT RUTGERS Postgame update 10/22/07 Gameday Tailgate Photos and Recap: Maryland 34, Rutgers 24 Click here for pictures of the Terps/Rutgers gameday. About 30 members of the Terrapin Nation met at the Rutgers Student Center by 10:30 a.m. to participate in a caravan to Lot 51. Unfortunately it didn't stay that way. Aim satelites in parking lots and cook great food — that we can handle. Navigating New Jersey's bass-ackwards road system proved to be another matter. Despite a split and a longer-than-expected (and needed) tour of downtown New Brunswick, we did arrive in Lot 51 on schedule for the 11 a.m. Raising of the Flags, happy to find several Turtle supporters already having set up shop. As per the norm with road tailgates, everyone stepped up their game — the fellas taking to the G.M. early and often and the ladies doing whatever fruity shooter they were doing. Some well-cooked wings from Yancy supplemented the traditional Brats and salmon from PK, but credit the UM students who parked next to us for contributing Old Bay chicken and, later, marinated steaks for postgame. Hanging out with the students brought back memories for some of the A-Game veterans as the UM seniors struggled with grill set-up and the like. But they showed great initiative with their recipes and are on the right track to becoming professional tailgaters. We enjoyed some games on Sirius satelite radio (namely Navy's win over Air Force and Notre Dame's loss to Purdue) before getting the Terrapin Nation together for some group photos and heading into the stadium. There, 3,000 Maryland supporters helped make up the second-largest crowd in Rutgers history (43,803). The Turtles established their line-of-scrimmage advantage early and surged to a 14-3 lead, but a we've-seen-this-before collapse by the defense late in the first half allowed the Scarlet Knights to go into the break ahead, 17-14. With starting QB Jordan Steffy knocked out due to a cheap shot, backup Chris Turner played cool, calm and collected, and directed a thankfully-agressive Maryland offense to 20 points in the second half, all while the Turtles' once-passive D played with more tenacity, hopefully turning a corner this season. The play of the game may have been a diving catch on third down by freshman WR LaQuan Williams (from Poly HS in B-more), which set up the game-winning TD by Keon Lattimore. With cheers of “R-U Leaving?” and “ACC!” and renditions of the Maryland Victory Song, we celebrated a 34-24 win over the country's alleged No. 10 team. Looks like the Maryland Gridiron Network will be purchasing another tombstone for the practice fields to continue the tradition of marking Top-10 foes to fall to the Turtles. After the game, we cooked up all the food, and the victory tailgate lasted until 10 p.m. Game Info Tickets ($30 each) New Brunswick Restaurant/Bar Options Maps and Directions to Tailgate Lots (change to previously posted info) Click here for a PDF map of all football parking at Rutgers. “Game Day Cash Lots 51, 63 and 66” are highlighted (as are the other colored, season-permit lots closer to the stadium and the RAC lots in the northeast corner). Lot 51 surrounds the Rutgers Federal Credit Union. Click here for a google.com map of Lot 51, which is the large lot sandwiched between Bartholomew Rd. and Davidson Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854. Click here for driving directions to Lot 51, as per maps.rutgers.edu. Lot 63A and Lot 66 are on Bevier Road and adjacent to Administrative Services Building Annex 2. Bevier Road is right off of Bartholomew Road. As you turn from Bartholomew onto Bevier, you'll first see Lot 63A on your left, followed shortly by Lot 66 on your left and Lot 66A on your right. At the back of Lot 66 is a connector lane to Lot 63. Click here for a google.com map of the intersection of Bartholomew Rd. and Bevier Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854. You'll see these lots just to the east of this intersection, along Bevier Road. Click here for driving directions to Administrative Services Building Annex 2, as per maps.rutgers.edu. Spot-a-pots are available in these lots. For what it's worth, the Rutgers Web site indicates tents are prohibited. Generally speaking, to get to the lots above or the Wendy's for the caravan below, take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 9, Route 18 North. Follow Route 18 North to New Street (for the caravan, below) or, ultimately, Campus Road (for the lots, above). Portions of some New Jersey roads are toll roads. Caravan onto Campus Raising of the Flags Route 18 Construction Conditions and Forecast Official Web Sites Team Hotel Alternate Hotels Somerset Plaza Hotel Bring the Flag
|
