Pilch earns captain’s nod on Rutgers team
Local product makes transition to center
for Scarlet Knights
BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer

RUTGERS ATHLETICS Ray Pilch has come a along way since walking on to the Rutgers University football team three years ago; he has been named one of three captains of the team.

Ray Pilch, who formerly attended both St. Joseph’s High School and Piscataway High School, has been named one of three captains of the Rutgers University football team.

Pilch, who played only one year of high school football and ran track during most of his high school years, made the Rutgers football team in 2001 as a walk-on. He impressed then and continues to do so three years later.

Pilch, who has played both fullback and tight end, will try out a new position this year — center. He earned a reputation as a punishing blocker at tight end, so it will be interesting to see the kinds of blocks he will be making at center.

Pilch, who played well last year as tight end catching eight passes for 161 yards, welcomes the switch to a new position.

"I don’t mind the switch. I’ll do whatever it takes to win," he said. "If that means changing positions from one year to the next, then that is what I will do."

However, the transition was not an easy one. Along with working with quarterback Ryan Hart and the coaches, Pilch had to gain 25 pounds from last year, going from 240 to 265 pounds, with hopes of reaching 270 pounds by the time the season opens.

One thing that will be difficult for him will be adapting to calling out plays for the rest of the offensive line. This is something a tight end or a fullback never has to worry about. Despite having to gain the weight and adapting to calling plays, Pilch is confident that he’s made the necessary adjustments.

"The transition has been a smooth one," he said. "Everyone has helped a lot and this makes it easier."

Pilch believes that having the fans behind the Rutgers team will really help the team.

"We notice when the fans are behind us," he said. "It pumps us up to listen to the crowd cheering. It’s what we live for. It makes you as a player try that much harder."

Pilch added that head coach Greg Schiano also makes him play harder and that he loves playing for him.

"Coach is great. He is always pushing us to be the best we can be. He always prepares us and makes sure that we are ready for our opponents. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else."

Since Pilch joined the Rutgers team in 2001, coaches, players and the fans noticed quickly how hard he plays every snap. He plays every play like it could be his last.

"I give everything I’ve got," he said. "I try to do whatever I can to help the guy next to me."

This attitude has earned him the role of captain on a football team that is expected to play very well this year. It would be hard to find a better person to take on this role.

Along with being great on the field, Pilch has also been hitting the books. In 2003, Ray Pilch was named to the 2003 Academic All-District II Team, selected by members of CoSIDA, which include student-athletes playing at institutions in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, who must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point average and be a starter or significant reserve.