1969 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team

The 1969 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football team represented Rutgers University in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. In their tenth season under head coach John F. Bateman, the Scarlet Knights compiled a 6–3 record and outscored their opponents 212 to 150.[1][2] The team's statistical leaders included Rich Policastro with 1,690 passing yards, Steve Ferrughelli with 564 rushing yards, and Jim Benedict with 650 receiving yards.[3] The team was scheduled to play at the College of the Holy Cross on November 15, but the game was cancelled due to an outbreak of hepatitis there.[4][5]

1969 Rutgers Scarlet Knights football
Conference	Middle Three Conference
1969 record	6–3 (1–1 Middle Three)
Head coach	John F. Bateman (10th season)
Home stadium	Rutgers Stadium

1969 NCAA University Division independents football records
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2 Penn State			–					11	–	0	–	0
No. 17 West Virginia			–					10	–	1	–	0
No. 12 Houston			–					9	–	2	–	0
No. 5 Notre Dame			–					8	–	2	–	1
Buffalo			–					6	–	3	–	0
Rutgers			–					6	–	3	–	0
Villanova			–					6	–	3	–	0
Florida State			–					6	–	3	–	1
Colgate			–					5	–	3	–	1
Air Force			–					6	–	4	–	0
West Texas State			–					6	–	4	–	0
Boston College			–					5	–	4	–	0
New Mexico State			–					5	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss			–					5	–	5	–	0
Syracuse			–					5	–	5	–	0
Army			–					4	–	5	–	1
VPI			–					4	–	5	–	1
Georgia Tech			–					4	–	6	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					4	–	6	–	0
Pittsburgh			–					4	–	6	–	0
Dayton			–					3	–	7	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					3	–	7	–	0
Tulane			–					3	–	7	–	0
Utah State			–					3	–	7	–	0
Navy			–					1	–	9	–	0
Xavier			–					1	–	9	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

This year was celebrated as the centennial of college football, one hundred years since the 1869 game between Rutgers and Princeton. The game against Princeton, which Rutgers won 29-0, was broadcast in the Eastern Region by ABC Television.[5][6] Two weeks later, Rutgers was upset by Lehigh in a 7-17 loss.[7]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	TV	Result
September 20	at Lafayette*	Fisher Field Easton, PA		W 44–22
September 27	Princeton	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ (rivalry)	ABC, Eastern Region	W 29-0
October 4	Cornell	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ		W 21-7
October 11	Lehigh*	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ		L 7-17
October 18	Navy	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ		W 20-6
October 25	Columbia	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ		W 21-14
November 1	at Delaware*	Delaware Stadium Newark, DE		L 0-44
November 8	at Connecticut*	Memorial Stadium Storrs, CT		L 22-28
November 22	Colgate	Rutgers Stadium Piscataway, NJ		W 48-12
*Non-conference game Homecoming

References

1. "1969 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
2. "Rutgers Yearly Results (1965-1969)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
3. "1969 Rutgers Scarlet Knights Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
4. Neagle, Michael E. (Fall 2004). "1969: The Missing Season". Holy Cross Magazine.
5. "1869–1969, The Centennial of Rutgers Football" (PDF). Rutgers Football Media Guide. Rutgers University. 1969.
6. White, Gordon S., Jr. (September 30, 1969). "Princeton Finds a Little Policastro Goes a Long Way; Rutgers' 5-Foot-10 Quarterback Seen Best in East; Passing Outstanding in Rout of Tigers in 100th Game". The New York Times.
7. Werden, Lincoln A. (October 12, 1969). "Lehigh Defense Halts Rutgers, 17-7, Despite 29 Completions by Policastro; UPSET IS MARKED BY INTERCEPTIONS". The New York Times.