Rutgers At Tulane: Kyle Flood Debuts As Scarlet Knights' Head Coach

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights will kick off their 143^rd season of football as they line up against the Tulane Green Wave on Saturday, Sept. 1

Kickoff is scheduled for 8:03 p.m.

This will be the second time the squads have matched up in the past three seasons and the first time they will match up at Tulane since the Scarlet Knights' 45-40 victory in 1995.

A season opener is important no matter what, but the Scarlet Knights have a little more on their game one plate than just reputation and ego.

Saturday marks the first of the month and the first on-field appearance by brand-new head coach Kyle Flood and first-year starting quarterback sophomore Gary Nova.

Flood is no stranger to the Rutgers sideline, although Saturday marks the first time he’ll put on a head coaching headset. The Iona grad spent the last seven seasons as part of the Scarlet Knights assistant coaching staff and his already-established reputation with his players and fellow coaches is expected to be a major benefit throughout the 2012 season.

Nova, meanwhile, will begin 2012 as the starting QB, after getting some experience in five starts under center last season. The sophomore’s expectations are through the roof after overcoming a position battle and showcasing a strong and accurate arm throughout the preseason.

Perhaps no one has higher expectations than Khaseem Greene, last season’s Big East Defensive Player of the Year.

In his final season with the Scarlet Knights, Greene will anchor the Rutgers’ defensive unit at linebacker, where he hopes to lead his teammates back into nationally ranked recognition.

There’s no doubt the Scarlet Knights are a young team, but what on paper looks like a warning, is actually a team made up of incredibly experienced players and coaches alike.

Later this week, check back for an in-depth preview on Tulane and a final preview of the Scarlet Knights pre-game outlook. See On The Banks for more about the Scarlet Knights.