newjerseynewsroom.com

BY MIKE VORKUNOV

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Welcome to the New Meadowlands Stadium, I'm here sitting high in seat 56 of the press box with a corner view of the field. My first time in here and it all feels so futuristic and somewhat anti-septic.

We're up for a battle of the Knights today, Scarlet vs. Black. Both teams come in a high thanks to huge offensive outbursts last week. Rutgers, thanks to the unforeseen brilliance of Chas Dodd in his first career start. He was good, winning Big East Offensive Player of the Week, that he relegated Tom Savage to the bench for another week. Dodd threw for 322 yards and two touchdowns and lead the Knights to two late scores to pull out a win.

Army has some momentum of its own. They beat up on Tulane last Saturday, down in the Superdome, 41-23. Tulane, of course, being the team that shut down Rutgers only two weeks ago on Homecoming weekend. The transitive property gives Army the edge here.

The Black Knights, though, are a changed team from what they've been the last few years. They have been transformed under coach Rich Ellerson, with a 4-2 record, with a win at Duke. Josh McNary is eighth in the nation in sacks per game and the offense is improved in sophomore QB Tren Steelman's second year at the helm.

Games with the service academies always have a special feel, and this one is no different. It is the first ever college game at the New Meadowlands. These two teams have played nine teams in the old Giants Stadium, with Rutgers winning seven of them. Army won the last time these two played here* in 1996.

Follow the game along with us in our live blog