Norries Wilson Has A Rutgers-ian Press Conference

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Rutgers interim coach Norries Wilson was in a unique mood following Saturday night’s 28-3 loss to Penn State.

The former head coach at Columbia also now is handling all media availability in Flood’s place.

For Rutgers, that is the new normal for at least two more games.

Wilson, normally the assistant head coach and running backs coach, is serving as interim coach while Kyle Flood serves a three-game suspension.

All-time series – Penn State leads, 23-2.

“The program isn’t out of control”.

Wilson, on the other hand, chose to take a different approach.

Quarterback Chris Laviano played poorly again. Without Carroo, a dazzling talent when on the field, Laviano overthrew receivers and failed to move the chains. But Wilson did receive a briefing from Flood, who will command the team throughout the week of game-plan preparation, Sunday morning when the Scarlet Knights returned home from Penn State.

“That’s going to be evaluated through the week”, Wilson said.

Backup Hayden Rettig would replace Laviano if a switch is made.

Of course, Flood isn’t available to be interviewed by the media as he sits through his three-game suspension.

“Because it had been spoken of in hushed tones from a lot of people, I wasn’t shocked or taken aback by it”, Wilson said of his initial reaction to stepping in for Flood on the most attention-getting day of the week. He was then asked whether he had the authority to make the change.

“I thought we had a good game plan, ” Laviano said afterward.

Wilson maintained that he was comfortable in leading Rutgers in Flood’s absence, but he wanted to make one thing clear with Flood away.

“Coach (Flood) came in and talked about it and outlined what the situation was”.