Rutgers’ Greg Schiano can thank Gophers for his ‘best’ staff

INDIANAPOLIS — Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano said Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days that his current coaching staff is the “best” of his whole career.
Schiano, in part, has the Gophers to thank for that.
Schiano hired away former U offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca to take the same role with the Scarlet Knights after last season. And Schiano promoted ex-Minnesota safeties coach Joe Harasymiak to be Rutgers’ defensive coordinator after the 2021 campaign.
“Thank God we have (Ciarrocca), right?” Schiano said at Lucas Oil Stadium. “Because my job has changed so much in the last year.
“A lot of my time now is spent on (Name, Image and Likeness) and those type of things that have very little to do with offense or defense,” Schiano continued. “If (these coaches) weren’t there, I don’t know what would give. So I’m very appreciative and fortunate and blessed to have them in our program.”
Rutgers also nabbed Gophers’ top nickel back Michael Dixon in the transfer portal in the offseason. That loss stung the Gophers, with Dixon being counted on for the 2023 season.
Fleck was an assistant under Schiano at Rutgers (2010-11) and with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012). Fleck has credited Schiano for having a huge influence on his career.
And Schiano shared some phrases Wednesday that Fleck routinely utters.
“When your best players are your hardest workers, that really is a nice spot to be in,” Schiano said.
And, “We’re a developmental program.”
Pair honored
The Gophers were the only Big Ten West team to have two players — safety Tyler Nubin and tight end Brevyn Spann-Ford — named to the conference’s preseason honor list.
The other three honorees in the West were Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean and Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton.
In the East, preseason conference favorite Michigan also had two players on the list — quarterback J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum.
Bielema on Barbie
Big Ten Media Days has a way of bringing out off-the-wall questions. Illinois coach Bret Bielema received one odd query on whether he has taken his young daughters, ages 6 and 4, to the new “Barbie” movie.
“I don’t really get to talk a lot of Barbie, so I appreciate the question,” Bielema said. “Have not taken (them) to see it, but I’m sure we’re going to see it. We’re in the mermaid mode right now, so we’re still heavy into mermaids.”
Briefly
The Gophers-Hawkeyes game will air on new Big Ten TV partner NBC at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 14 in Iowa City, according to Action Network.