So much so that he ?guaranteed it.
“We’re going to go out there, and we’re going to win,” Glashen told reporters earlier this week.
Glashen’s prediction isn’t quite Joe Namath’s Super Bowl III guarantee, but it is a bold prediction considering Rutgers has lost three in a row and is coming off of a blowout loss against Wisconsin before a bye last weekend.
Rutgers will get a chance to prove Glashen’s prediction Saturday at 3:30 p.m. in Piscataway, N.J., when the Hoosiers (3-6, 0-5) and Scarlet Knights (5-4, 1-4) meet for the first time in the programs’ histories.
Rutgers’ confidence doesn’t come as a surprise to IU freshman receiver J-Shun Harris.
He said he figured Rutgers would be confident considering his own team’s recent struggles and Rutgers’ urgency for a win.
Rutgers next two opponents, Ohio State and Maryland, sit second and third in the Big Ten East Division. The Hoosiers are in last.
Harris can read between the lines.
“I just know based off of my own sense that they would think, ‘Oh okay, we’ve got Indiana coming up. We can do this. We can beat them,’” Harris said. “But no, we’re not going to have that. We’re going to come out with our best effort.”
The Scarlet Knights are led by veteran quarterback Gary Nova, who has played 37 games in his career and is the Rutgers all-time leader in passing touchdowns.
Nova’s career has been characterized by inconsistencies and mixed results, which freshman safety Chase Dutra said IU will look to capitalize on this weekend after coming up with two interceptions last week against Penn State.
Nova started the year well, leading Rutgers to five wins in six games to start the season with the lone loss coming against Penn State on Sept. 13.
In that game, Nova threw five interceptions.
In a 37-0 loss to Wisconsin last week, he was just 5-for-15, throwing with 46 yards and an interception.
Those results aren’t all that unlike IU freshman quarterback Zander Diamont, who threw for 68 yards and two interceptions last week against Penn State.
With IU’s points scored dropping each week, IU Coach Kevin Wilson was blunt in saying his offense simply needed to score more points and keep up with his defense, which turned in a season-best performance last weekend in a losing ?effort.
Wilson added that he was pleased with Diamont’s progression but added teams don’t win many football games without scoring an offensive touchdown.
Diamont has had three full games and only has three games left. Wilson said it’s time to get the offense closer to where it was at the beginning of the season.
“We need to get back up to speed,” Wilson said. “Our ability to make one-on-one plays is not where it needs ?to be.”
Wilson has amped up the physicality at practice in the last few weeks hoping it helps rejuvenate his Hoosier team.
It worked well for the defense last week. IU’s 13 points given up to Penn State was one of the better defensive games the Hoosiers have played all season.
Now it’s just a question of how the offense will respond after four consecutive weeks of declining output.
“They’re an outstanding defense,” IU offensive coordinator Kevin Johns said. “They do a great job of stopping the run. It should be a fun and great challenge.”
