PISCATAWAY -- At the end of his in-person interview to be the next Rutgers football coach, Chris Ash was handed a copy of the 2016 schedule.
Athletics director Pat Hobbs wanted to gauge his top candidate's reaction to facing so many of the top teams in the nation, especially in the first half of his first season.
"He said, 'Yep, that's why you do this,'" Hobbs said. "You love to hear that answer."
Ten months later, the schedule hasn't disappointed, but it's left outspoken fans with unrealistically high expectations feeling discouraged as Rutgers prepares for its third game against a Top 5-ranked opponent within the first six weeks of the season.