The Rutgers football team joins the ranks of teams with two oppenents in Division 1-AA, adding Texas Southern as the 12th opponent of the regular season.

The game will be played Oct. 3 at Rutgers Stadium as the Knights will also host 1-AA opponent Howard Sept. 12.

The Scarlet Knights did not just add this game however as they also announced future home-and-home series with Penn State, starting in 2014, Miami, starting in 2018 and Tulane, starting next season.

“We have worked diligently for months to complete our 2009 schedule with a Football Bowl Subdivision team,” said Athletic Director Tim Pernetti in a statement. “We were unable to convince any of the institutions with openings to come to Rutgers, including numerous BCS conference opponents. It is vital to our growth, development, and fan experience that we have seven home games in each season.”

After injuring his right leg in a Thursday practice, sophomore running back Jourdan Brooks may miss the spring, but will not require surgery according to Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.

Brooks’ immediate status is unknown, but he is able to walk without help and has not practiced since his injury.

The Jermantown, Md. native led all Rutgers running backs last season with six rushing touchdowns and was second on the team behind Kordell Young with 516 rushing yards.

Rutgers sophomore running back Jourdan Brooks got his legs tangled with linebacker Marvin Booker during practice No. 7 of the spring yesterday and injured his lower right leg.

Brooks remained down for approximately five minutes before standing up and limping around with assistance. The extent of his injury is not yet known, but head coach Greg Schiano said that he will be evaluated later and that he is concerned.

As a redhsirt freshman last season, Brooks ran for 516 yards in 11 games and led all RU running backs with six rushing touchdowns.

Rutgers Pro Day will take place Monday at 2 p.m. at the Scarlet Knights’ practice bubble featuring many former RU football team members.

NFL Combine participants Kenny Britt, Tiquan Underwood and Courtney Greene are expected to attend the event, aiming to improve on their original combine numbers.

Other NFL hopefuls expected to attend include RU quarteback Mike Teel, defensive tackle Pete Tverdov, linebacker Kevin Malast and defensive backs Jason McCourty and Glen Lee.

Hours before the beginning of spring football camp, Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano announced the hiring of Robb Smith and Randy Trivers to fill vacant coaching positions.

Smith, former assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Maine, will coach special teams and outside linebackers for Rutgers in 2009.

Trivers coached Syrcuse running backs for the last two seasons and will fill the same role with the Scarlet Knights.

Saturday, Sept. 5 – Cincinnati* [date subject to change]

Saturday, Sept. 12 – Howard

Saturday, Sept. 19 – Florida International

Saturday, Sept. 26 – at Maryland

Saturday, Oct. 10 – TBA

Friday, Oct. 16 – Pittsburgh* (ESPN at 8 p.m.)

Saturday, Oct. 24 – at Army

Saturday, Oct. 31 – at Connecticut*

Thursday, Nov. 12 – USF* (ESPN at 7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, Nov. 21 – at Syracuse*

Saturday, Nov. 2 – at Louisville*

Saturday, Dec. 5 – West Virginia (ABC/ESPN/ESPN2)

*denotes Big East game

Wide receiver Dennis Campbell was dismissed from the Rutgers football team today for a violation of team policy according to a press release.

Campbell played in 35 career games for the Scarlet Knights prior to what was supposed to be his senior season. He had 25 catches for 307 yards and will be best remembered for his 18-yard touchdown catch (the only one of his career) in Rutgers’ 63-14 rout of Louisville on Senior Night last season.

With Campbell off the team and Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood heading for the NFL, senior Tim Brown is the only remaining member of the Knights’ wide receivers with any real experience.

The Miami, Fla. native had 565 receiving yards and six touchdowns last season as he, and the few remaining members of the wide out corps, prepare for the start of spring camp March 22.

CBS College Sports analyst and Rutgers alumnus Tim Pernetti was named today as the next athletic director at Rutgers University at a Rutgers University Senate meeting in Newark according to the Associated Press.

Pernetti replaces Robert E. Mulcahy, a 10-year athletic dircetor, who was fired Dec. 31.

He was one of three finalists to the position according to a story that ran in The Star-Ledger along with the current athletic directors of Akron and UNC-Wilmington.

Pernetti, 38, graduated from Rutgers with a degree in journalism and media studies where  also played tight end for the Rugers football team.

He has served as a color analyst on Rutgers Radio alongside SNY’s Chris Carlin since 2001 for football games.

Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano announced today that Kirk Ciarrocca and Kyle Flood will take the title of co-offensive coordinators for the upcoming football season. Ciarrocca and Flood will take the place of former coordinator John McNulty who left to become the wide receivers coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Ciarrocca and Flood, currently the quarterbacks coach and offensive line coach respectively, will serve in their previous coaching roles along with offensive coordinator.

Schiano also announced that linebacker coach Bob Fraser and secondary coach Ed Pinkham will serve as co-defensive coordinators.

Rutgers offensive coordinator John McCnulty took a job today as the new wide receivers coach for the Super Bowl runner-up Arizona Cardinals.

McNulty spent six years with the Scarlet Knights and two as the offensive coordinator. In his two years as offensive coordinator, quarterback Mike Teel had two 3,000-yard seasons and 46 touchdown passes.

“We wish John and his family nothing but the best as they embark on a new challenge with the Arizona Cardinals,” Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano said in a statement. “John was an integral part of the Rutgers football family and we will miss him.”

It is not yet known who will take McNulty’s place calling plays for the Scarlet Knights this season.