 "Photo: Will Schneekloth/Photography Editor")
 "Photo: Will Schneekloth/Photography Editor")
The Knight that he is, he rose to the occasion. This time not just figuratively.
He climbed the podium, grabbed the sword and showed it to all who were there.
He is the Scarlet Knight.
In raising that sword he declared without words what everyone already knew - that he was and is the face of Rutgers football. The crowning moment of fullback Brian Leonard's home football career could not have been written any better.
On a day that had been a long time coming, Leonard had the chance to show the fans at Rutgers Stadium that despite accepting a lesser role this season and blocking for Ray Rice, he still had what it takes to be a great runner.
"It's exciting," quarterback Mike Teel said. "It's what college football's all about, it's great to see him go out on that note."
The fullback carried the ball 19 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, setting another record with those two scores and passing kicker Kennan Starzell to become the leading scorer all-time in Rutgers history.
"It was an awesome feeling," Leonard said. "Coach told the guys at the 30 yard line, 'Leonard has one more play until his record,' and when I saw the linemen, the look in their eyes, they said, 'We're going to get it for you, just follow us.'"
But it appears Saturday was, in a way, a passing of the torch ceremony. Or, in knight terms, a passing of the sword.
For the first time, both Leonard and sophomore Ray Rice each gained 100 yards rushing. But it was still a day celebrated by all, made for Leonard and fueled by the fans.
A fan holding up a sign wishing for just one more 'Leonard Leap' had his wish granted. Almost.
"You know, one more leap for the hometown fans," Leonard said. "I thought about doing it, but it was more on instinct. I thought I was going to get over, but I obviously didn't. He got a piece of my shin."
Sorry, fans, even the superhuman Leonard couldn't leap over a standing 6-3 linebacker but he tried, and it was almost certainly the highest leap of his career.
Leonard's first significant workload in over a season was a picture perfect ending to a storied career. For a player as beloved in the Scarlet Knight fan base as he is, the opportunity to show the man himself just how appreciative they were was not allowed to go to waste.
By now, Leonard has probably lost all memory of plunging into the endzone to break the all-time scoring record, his last leap at Rutgers Stadium, and holding the knight's sword - his sword - high in the air.
By now he has dropped the sword for the ax, and has started chopping away at the tree that is the West Virginia Mountaineers.
But on Saturday, for one day, for one game, it was Brian Leonard's day.
It was the Knight's game.
Dane Truxell welcomes
comments at dtruxell@gmail.com
Be the first to comment on this article!