Notebook: Turzilli's Year Works Out
Dec 23 | Football
By Tom Luicci
ScarletKnights.com
DETROIT - This is all uncharted territory now for Andrew Turzilli, who could always count on one thing during his four years at Kansas: He would be able to spend Christmas at home in Butler, N.J., with his family.
But after what he had to adjust to in a short time this season - a new team, new coaches, an entirely new offense - he doesn't envision any problems being away for the holidays.
Fact is, he's relishing it.
"It's different, but I'm definitely enjoying it," said the lanky wide receiver following Rutgers practice today at Ford Field for Friday's Quick Lane Bowl against North Carolina. "Like I've said before I'd normally be planning to have Christmas with my family (at home), just hanging out watching all of the (bowl) games, looking forward to hanging out with my friends again."
A fifth-year graduate transfer, Turzilli spent four years at win-starved Kansas, where the Jayhawks were 9-39 during his time there, before graduating last spring and transferring to Rutgers to use his final season of eligibility.
His goals were simple: Help the team win and help the team get to a bowl game. Mission accomplished.
"I got an opportunity to have my family see me, my friends saw me, I got an opportunity to go to a bowl game, had an opportunity to keep playing against some of the best competition in the country," he said. "When I transferred I felt Rutgers fit everything I was looking for and it worked out almost exactly the way I hoped it would."
The 6-3, 195-pounder had just nine catches, but most of them were meaningful, since he averaged 34.8 yards per catch with three touchdowns. The highlight was a stadium-record 93-yard reception against Tulane - one of two scores of at least 80 yards.
His only misgiving was missing three games, including the final two of the regular season, due to injuries.
"It was real challenging to come in as a one-year guy. It's tough, honestly," he said. "You don't know anybody. You don't know coaches. You don't know the staff. And it's tough to get acclimated with a new offense in a short period of time. But if you go to a good program it helps.
"I always felt like if you want to be successful you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. To give myself a chance to be successful I had to make a change and I'm happy with the way it worked out."
Turzilli was quickly accepted because he came in with a clearly-announced intention: To help the Scarlet Knights reach a bowl game in their inaugural Big Ten season.
"I didn't come in with the mindset that I was going to start or take anyone's spot. I think that helped with the adjustment," he said. "I just came with the idea that I would do whatever it takes to help the team and do whatever it takes to gain the respect of my teammates. Guys notice that. They saw I didn't come here with an agenda, that I just wanted to blend in and help."
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The bowl injury report issued by head coach Kyle Flood today offered mixed news, with star wide receiver Leonte Carroo (upper body injury) listed as probable but placekicker Kyle Federico (upper body injury) being questionable.
Flood said he expects Carroo to be "100 percent" by Friday's 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
He was less certain about Federico, terming the junior "a game-time decision."
If Federico can't go, Flood said Nick Borgese would handle field goals and extra points and that Nick DeLouisa will have kickoff duty. Neither has played this season, with Borgese last attempting a field goal (a missed 42-yarder) in overtime against Virginia Tech in the 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl.
Also listed as probable on the injury report were RT Taj Alexander (lower body), CB Nadir Barnwell (upper body), RG Chris Muller (lower body) and Turzilli (lower body).
In addition to Federico, CB Andre Boggs (lower body) and DB Delon Stephenson (lower body) are questionable.
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Flood wore a patch supporting the NYPD during practice today, a tribute to two officers slain last week and to his strong family ties to the department.
"I'm the proud sibling of a sergeant on the NYPD," he said. "My brother (Jerry) has been a member of the force for the last 23 years. He is a Sergeant with what they call Emergency Services.
"They've gone through a tough time over I guess the last week and I thought it was important for me as a family member ... my grandfather was a member of the NYPD to my uncle to my brother (to) three of my cousins, my family is really entwined with that organization. We live under their protection and I wanted to support them in whatever way I could."
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Though quarterback Gary Nova said he is "sure" that graduate assistant coach Mike Teel doesn't want him to break his record as the school career leader in passing yards, he said his fellow Don Bosco Prep graduate has been an enormous help this season.
Nova needs 310 yards on Friday to supplant Teel in the school record book. Both went unbeaten in two years as high school starters before their current status as 1-2 as the program's career passing leader.
"He helps me as much as he can," Nova said. "We've kind of gone through the same path so it's always funny when I do something he's done already."
Nova said Teel is always the willing to share and lend his experience.
"He's on the side when I come off from doing our team reps and when I come off he's the first guy who usually grabs me and says something to me," he said. "He's a guy that we've done a lot of the same things and he can relate to pretty much every situation that I'm going through right now. It's a great shoulder to lean on and someone I can almost vent to."
