Mike Stephans was an American football player for the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights. He was the team's starting quarterback in 1996.

College

Stephans was from Morristown, New Jersey.[1] He played both baseball and football.[2] As a football player, he was a quarterback and played 3rd baseman on the baseball diamond.[3]

He started the season as the third-string quarterback behind Corey Valentine and Ralph Sacca.[4] During the first Rutgers game, a win over Villanova, Stephans played in the second half and completed two of four passes for 29 yards. He also had one rushing touchdown.[1] The following week against Navy, he again received some playing time in the second half; he was 2 for 6 passing for 29 yards, and the Scarlet Knights lost.[4]

Before the third game against #10 ranked Miami, Rutgers coach Terry Shea announced that Stephans would be the starter.[3][4] "Mike has a strong arm and is just what the team needs to have," said Shea. "He's probably the most gifted of our three passers, but he's had no chance."[4] It was Stephans' first collegiate start, and he completed 12 of 20 passes with two interceptions in a 33–0 loss.[3][5]

Stephans continued to see action during the next few games. On October 12, he was 16 for 24 passing with 246 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Army.[6] However, in a game against Boston College, Stephans broke his left thumb and missed some time the rest of the year because of that.[7][8]

Overall, Stephans finished the 1996 season with 1981 passing yards and 8 touchdowns.[6] He led the Scarlet Knights in both passing yards and total offense. In all, Stephans played three seasons with the Scarlet Knights after transferring from the University of Tennessee.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Cavanaugh, Jack. "Rutgers's Bad Start Becomes a Victory". nytimes.com. September 1, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  2. ↑ Wallace, William N. "Lowly Rutgers No Match for Miami". nytimes.com. September 13, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Ferguson, Green to Return for MU". Lakeland Ledger. September 11, 1996.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Tatum, Kevin. "Rutgers Gives Third-String QB Starting Job". articles.philly.com. September 10, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ Cyphers, Luke. "Canes Blow Out Rutgers". articles.nydailynews.com. September 13, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  6. 1 2 Boyles, Bob and Guido, Paul (2007). 50 Years of College Football. Skyhorse Publishing Inc. pp. 584–1156.
  7. ↑ Robbins, Lenn. "Rutgers QB a Maybe". highbeam.com. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  8. ↑ Mallozzi, Vincent M. "Rutgers Self-Destructs Early and Often". nytimes.com. November 10, 1996. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Rutgers Football Year-by-Year Leaders" Archived 2011-10-07 at the Wayback Machine. scarletknights.com. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
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