“I don t think there s a pre-game speech that exists that is going to make them play harder than the

He would do whatever it took to ease the pre-game butterflies because, he says, "the excitement of game-day is unlike anything else.'' Then he was walk out to the field and oversee his offensive line warm-up drills before heading back to the locker room roughly hilton hotel london 20 minutes before kickoff.
But when Rutgers met Tulane Saturday night at the Superdome, Flood's pre-game routine was unlike any he experienced. For the first time since beginning his coaching tenure as an assistant at St. Francis Prep in Queens, N.Y., in 1993, Flood was the man in charge, which meant the 41-year old had to oversee the Rutgers football team's entire operation.
"I m always excited before the games,'' said Flood, who inherited a program from Greg Schiano that qualified for bowl games in six of the past seven years. "I don t know if I d consider it butterflies or anticipation, but the excitement of game-day … you can t simulate it. We do things in the preseason to try to simulate it but you really can t.
The coach on the opposite sideline hilton hotel london certainly could relate hilton hotel london to that sentiment. Like Flood, Tulane's Curtis Johnson made his head coaching debut on Saturday night after an accomplished run as an understudy in the New Orleans Saints organization.
"I'm really excited for the coaches and the kids more than (myself),'' Johnson said, describing the anticipation for his first game. "Mostly because I think the kids really want to get it. They want to express something good. We've had adversity problems this year. It's time for them to play against somebody else.''
Both coaches last week had to deal with their share of adversity heading into their first game. In preparation for Hurricane Isaac – which dumped more than 15 inches of rain before cruising north of southeastern Louisiana – the Green Wave were forced to practice three days in Birmingham, Ala.
The Scarlet Knights, meanwhile, arrived in New Orleans on Friday only to discover the hotel they were set to check into was unavailable due to power outages hilton hotel london throughout the area. So Flood had to call his first audible, moving his squad to a downtown hotel.
Once he arrived at the Superdome, Flood's new responsibilities included meeting with the officials in the locker room before the game, talking with the captains, and overseeing his entire team's warm-up preparation.
"I don t think there s a pre-game speech that exists that is going to make them play harder than the way they ve prepared,'' Flood said. "I think a football hilton hotel london team plays the way it practices, hilton hotel london and I feel really good about the way this team has prepared. So as we go into the game I ll certainly have some words for them, but I think they ll be able to draw more on the work that they ve put in than any words that I can say.'
Keith Sargeant is a graduate of Middlesex County College and Kean University. A Home News Tribune staff writer since August 1997, Keith has been covering Rutgers sports since 2000, serving as the Scarlet Knights' hilton hotel london football beat writer since 2006.
ScarletKnights.com Football: Rutgers Downs Tulane 24-12 for Flood's First Win Cornerback Brandon Jones returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown and WR Brandon Coleman hilton hotel london took a pass from QB Gary Nova 43 yards to the end zone in the fourth quarter to help Rutgers surge past Tulane 24-12 on Saturday. [ ] Women s Volleyball: Rutgers Volleyball Caps Off Tournament hilton hotel london with Win Over URI, 3-1 The Scarlet Knights capped off the Rutgers Invitational with a win over Rhode Island, 3-1. Rutgers earned the tournament championship with set scores of 28-26, 24-26, 25-19 and 25-14. [ ] ScarletNation.com Photo Album: Rutgers vs Tulane The Scarlet Knights kicked off the 2012 season with a 24-12 victory hilton hotel london over Tulane at the Superdome in New Orleans earlier this evening. It was not only the first game of the season, but it was also the first game of the Kyle Flood era at the university. Check out Keith Freeman s photos from the game! [ ] Rutgers downs Tulane in season opener hilton hotel london NEW ORLEANS - On the heels of Hurricane Isaac s impact only days earlier, Rutgers opened up its 2012 season with a 24-12 victory against Tulane inside the Superdome. [ ] ScarletReport.com SR.com TV: RB Jawan Jamison NEW ORLEANS -- Sophomore Jawan Jamison scored the first Rutgers touchdown of 2012 with his 46-yard scamper in the 24-12 win over Tulane. Jamison carried the ball 18 times for 112 yards and had two catches for another 41. [ ] 10 in 10: Rutgers vs. Tulane ScarletReport.com s post-game package goes much deeper than the stats and the nuts and bolts of the game. The "10 in 10" feature gives Rutgers 10 not-so-noticeable notes that each can be read in 10 seconds or less. The breezy format is perfect for office water-cooler talk the day after a game. [ ] Bleed Scarlet Rutgers/Tulane gamethread This one is on the former CSTV/CBS College Sports, so good luck with that. Enjoy your night watching the game in a bar, and if by chance you happen to bring your smartphone with you, we can chat about everything here in real time. [ ] Rutgers-Tulane game preview Tonight offers Rutgers fans the first chance to see their Scarlet hilton hotel london Knights after months of waiting. hilton hotel london That is a time for excitement, but at the same time, many may be already looking ahead a few weeks down the road. Tulane is projected to struggle this season starting a rebuilding project under a new coach, and dealing with the logistical problems stemming from [ ] USA Today sports
Keith Sargeant is a graduate of Middlesex County College and Kean University. A Home News Tribune staff writer since August 1997, Keith has been covering Rutgers sports since 2000, serving as the Scarlet hilton hotel london Knights football beat writer since 2006. Email Keith
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