Rutgers Football Success New Challenge For Local Paper

By: Joe Strupp When it comes to covering big-time college football, Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. is not usually among those in the discussion. Neither is the Home News Tribune in nearby East Brunswick, N.J.

But this season, as Rutgers hits its longest undefeated stretch in decades, the team and its hometown paper are dealing with something unusual. At 8-0, Rutgers is nationally ranked for the first time in years and sits among just five undefeated Division I teams in the country.

For the Home News Tribune, a 54,000 daily circulation paper unaccustomed to reporting on a potential National Championship contender in its sports pages, the university's success has meant both increased readership, and more demanding coverage.

"By this time, we are usually turning our attention to basketball," said Sports Editor Jack Genung, who has headed the Gannett Co. Inc. paper's sports department for 10 years. "They have been so bad by this time each year. It is kind of new to us that Rutgers is having success like this."

Although four other undefeated teams remain in contention, along with a handful of top-ranked colleges with one loss, Rutgers is likely the only one with a local paper new to such successful football coverage.

The Ann Arbor (Mich.) News and South Bend (Ind.) Tribune, which cover the University of Michigan and Notre Dame University, respectively, may be similar in size to the Home News Tribune. But they are more familiar with covering a national contender in their own backyard.

Even undefeated Boise State University, covered by the Idaho Statesman Journal, has had more success than Rutgers in recent years, offering numerous undefeated stretches in just the past few seasons.

Rutgers' surprising turnaround has sparked increased coverage by Genung's troops this year. For the first time under Genung's oversight, the paper has two beat writers covering the football team instead of one, with a new policy of sending both to road games and usually adding a third reporter for home contests.

"We kind of went into this season with the idea that they would be better," Genung said, noting the team's first bowl appearance last year in more than 20 years. "We wanted to be more competitive about it."

The paper also launched a stand-alone football preview section on Fridays, which leads with Rutgers stories and also has high school and professional coverage. "We knew going in it was going to be a very good team," he said.

The team's new success is taking its biggest stage this week as Rutgers is set to host the University of Louisville, also undefeated, on Thursday night. For that game, The Home News Tribune plans to send five writers, nearly half of its 11-person sports staff, and two photographers.

"I've borrowed a columnist from the Asbury Park Press to give me another body that night," Genung said, referring to the paper's sister publication on the Jersey Shore. "I have pulled in as many bodies as I can."

Rutgers media director Jason Baum said Home News Tribune is one of numerous sports outlets demanding increased access to Thursday's game, including The Star-Ledger of Newark, which has requested seven credentials. Baum said some 300 game press passes have been issued, nearly three times the average for a home contest.

In addition, Home News Tribune launched a short-run blog by columnist Rick Malwitz, which began last week and will continue until at least Thursday.

Genung said he does not believe that the team will reach the National Championship game, even if it remains undefeated. "They have to prove themselves," he said. "Now they have an opportunity. They've got to beat Louisville, they've got to beat West Virginia. That is when they prove it."