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Rutgers’ Humiliating UMass Loss Somehow Ended with the Saddest Fireworks Show in College Football
Rutgers entered as a 29.5-point favorite and paid UMass $1.55 million, but the Minutemen snapped a 16-game losing streak.
On Thursday, Rutgers lost 37-21 to UMass at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, snapping the Minutemen's 16-game losing streak in a season opener the school reportedly paid $1.55 million to host.
UMass entered as a 29.5-point underdog after losing 16 consecutive games over 677 days, but former Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak led the Minutemen to overcome an early 7-0 deficit with 30 unanswered points.
Minutemen running back Curtis Kimmons spearheaded a dominant ground attack, out-rushing the Scarlet Knights 200 to 30 yards while accounting for 78 rushing yards and a touchdown as UMass forced five turnovers.
Following the defeat, SHI Stadium hosted a pre-planned fireworks display while 'Zoo' played over the speakers; head coach Greg Schiano said postgame, "There's no other thing to say about it."
Rutgers faces a road game against Boston College next Friday, hoping to move past this opener and correct the 'woeful mistakes' that marred the beginning of Schiano's seventh season.