At one point in the fall of 2015, Rutgers quarterback Hayden Rettig walked out of a class past a fellow student wearing a T-shirt that said "Free Rettig."
It was a reference to a social media hashtag that took on a life of its own among fans who wanted to see the backup get his chance during a spiraling season.
"I walked right by him and he had no idea who I was," Rettig said Monday, chuckling at the memory. "The fans have always been behind me, which is great. I really do appreciate them.