In discussing his team's 2006 win over Louisville at this year's Spring Blaze, Greg Schiano attributed much of his second half-play calling success that night to God.
Headlining the Christian themed concert held Saturday at the Louis Brown Athletic Center on Livingston campus was the popular alternative rock band Switchfoot.
Three other Christian influenced bands - Reilly, Justpassingthru and Luna Halo - also performed.
"Our outreach is primarily directed toward the athletes and coaches and their families," said John Maurer, the director of the University division of the campus sports ministry Athletes in Action. "[Spring Blaze] focused on bringing some great music and an inspirational message to, hopefully, thousands of people."
Maurer, chaplain for the football team who organized the event, said the event has been in planning since January and is part of an attempt to spread the message of Athletes in Action to wider audiences.
"We'd love to see it be an annual event," he said.
The Calvary Chapel of New Brunswick was one of several religious organizations to run information booths at the event.
Joe Fox, a member of the church, expressed his enthusiasm for the event.
"It's a great chance for people to come out and find out what it is to be a Christian," Fox said. "It allows people to see who Christians are."
The musical acts were a mix of old and new, with Reilly performing a cover of Buffalo Springfield's 1967 hit "For What It's Worth," and Luna Halo covering 1985's "Take On Me," originally by A-ha.
Schiano spoke after Reilly and Justpassingthru's performances.
The coach detailed his spiritual life growing up and conversion to born-again Christianity in 1997.
He said he was raised Catholic, but did not seriously practice the religion.
"When I would go to Catholic Christian Doctrine, I'd be playing tic-tac-toe," he said.
But Schiano said he felt there was a void in his life, even after he achieved coaching success at a relatively young age.
"I never quite felt at peace," he said. "I began to say to myself, 'there's got to be something more.'"
He said he converted while working as an assistant with the National Football League's Chicago Bears team.
He noticed that some devout Christian employees of the team, including Maurer, the Bears' chaplain at the time, had the peace of mind he lacked, he said.
Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano said the increased peace of mind he feels was never more evident than on November 9, 2006, when his team upset then-third-ranked Louisville, winning 28-25.
He said his confidence never wavered, even when Rutgers trailed 25-7 in the second quarter.
"I felt a peace like I've never felt in anything I've ever done," he said.
He said his conversion is an ongoing process, but he stressed its importance to his sense of happiness.
"I've been incredibly blessed," he said.
Zarephath Christian Church pastor Rob Cruver addressed the crowd after Schiano.
Cruver said devotion to one's faith goes beyond routines, such as going to church, and is always binding.
"You've got to do it when it's not even popular," Cruver said.
During its set, Switchfoot lead singer Jon Foreman addressed the crowd before performing the band's song "My American Dream."
"I feel like we're at a critical point as far as our nation is concerned," Foreman said.
He said the dream discussed in the song involves having dreams bigger than economic success.
He dedicated the song to both his grandfathers, who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
School of Pharmacy sophomore Katelin VanLeer said she enjoyed the show and Schiano's speech.
"It was awesome to hear Coach's testimony," she said. "He's such a figure for Rutgers."
School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Alicia Clarke said she was also impressed by the show.
Fox singled out Switchfoot's showing.
"I love the thought-provoking nature of their music," he said.
