Nova, Johnson Keeping Focus on Bowl
Dec 22 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - The finality of it hit two of Rutgers' most accomplished seniors as late Sunday night bled into early Monday morning, before they would practice for the last time today at the school's indoor practice facility.
Quarterback Gary Nova and left guard Kaleb Johnson, good friends and long-time roommates, spent their final night on campus cleaning out their apartment for the final time until about 12:30 a.m.
"It was actually weird," Nova said following his final practice on campus and before the Scarlet Knights boarded a flight to Detroit, where they will face North Carolina on Friday in the Quick Lane Bowl. "Kaleb and I usually joke around with each other all the time. We were dropping off his mattress somewhere and he kind of looked at me (and said) `dang, it's starting to hit me.'
"It kind of sunk in that moment that it was going to be our last night at the apartment, our last time living together."
Johnson said he is doing all he can to keep his thought process on the game and not on the ticking clock of his distinguished college career. The Quick Lane Bowl will mark his 50th consecutive start - the most by any offensive lineman in program history.
"I'm trying to keep it under control," he said "It's kind of emotional. I'm trying to stay focused on the game and do everything I can to get the win."
For Nova, his last on-campus practice wasn't any easier emotionally than packing up his belongings and leaving his apartment for good was.
"I'm a pretty mellow guy but (fullback Michael) Burton and I were stretching today and we both kind of realized this was our last (time doing this) in the bubble," Nova said. "It just kind of hits you. You appreciate all that you've gone through and you appreciate all of the last moments that are coming up now.
"There are a lot of memories in (the Bubble). It's kind of weird it's the last one but it's a good feeling at the same time."
Both Nova and Johnson will leave a gaping void after they peel off their Rutgers uniforms for the final time after Friday's game.
Nova, despite some rocky career moments, needs 310 passing yards to supplant Mike Teel as the school's career passing leader. He already holds the school record for career touchdown passes with 71.
The 6-4, 300-pound Johnson will leave with the unique claim of being a four-year starter, kicking off his career by earning freshman all-America honors. Only former defensive lineman Scott Vallone has started more consecutive games (51) among non-specialists in Rutgers history.
"It really is a huge accomplishment," he said. "It's not just one person's glory, though. It just kind of happened with the help of a lot of people and I'm thankful for it."
Though their focus is squarely on the Tar Heels, both have started to make plans for life after college football.
Johnson said he will head home to Jacksonville, Fla. immediately after the bowl game to spend time with his family.
"Then I'm going to start training (to enhance his NFL Draft status)," he said, having settled on EXOS in Gulf Breeze, Fla. (near Pensacola) for his post-college workouts.
Nova will head home as well, re-uniting with his family in Elmwood Park, N.J.
"I'll probably spend some time at home and try to relax and get my body feeling as good as it can," he said. "Then, hopefully, I'll start training."
He said he has yet to speak with Teel, a graduate assistant for the Scarlet Knights, about what he needs to do to catch the attention of NFL scouts. Teel was a sixth-round pick in the 2009 draft.
"He's a big help, but when I approached him one day (to talk about the NFL) he said `we'll talk after the bowl game,' " Nova said. "So it's all focus on the game and getting a win and then (I'll) think about that stuff."
