While fellow first-year Big Ten coaches at Illinois and Maryland ease into their tenures against FCS opponents, Chris Ash is diving in at Rutgers.
Though the schedule was set before he arrived, Ash won't have to wait long for an idea of where Rutgers stands in relation to the best in the country. He should know by Saturday night, after visiting No. 14 Washington.
In fact, Ash used the idea of opening the season with such a stiff challenge as a source of motivation throughout the offseason workouts.
No dipping your toe in the beautiful waters that surround Husky Stadium.