{"id":124398,"date":"2024-11-10T23:45:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-10T16:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=124398"},"modified":"2024-11-10T23:45:00","modified_gmt":"2024-11-10T16:45:00","slug":"why-rutgers-qb-athan-kaliakmanis-was-center-of-attention-after-big-win-over-minnesota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=124398","title":{"rendered":"Why Rutgers QB Athan Kaliakmanis was center of attention after big win over Minnesota"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NNLOFAUIW5BAXJJZPYLGQZ2OOY\">As the final seconds ticked off the clock at SHI Stadium, soon after he rose out of the victory formation against Minnesota, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/rutgersfootball\/2024\/08\/with-family-near-athan-kaliakmanis-starts-fresh-at-rutgers-will-he-solve-its-qb-conundrum.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Athan Kaliakmanis <\/a>was surrounded on all sides.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"3UBWR6T425GKXEWX4YP57PB6D4\">They flocked toward the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/rutgersfootball\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rutgers<\/a> quarterback from all over the field, everyone wanting to get a second of his attention after he led the Scarlet Knights to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/rutgersfootball\/2024\/11\/athan-kaliakmanis-outduels-his-successor-to-lead-rutgers-to-win-over-minnesota.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">an emotional 26-19 win over his former team.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NNGOEJ3FH5HKJFESJFDGOI66SI\">It started with many of his former Golden Gopher teammates, who dapped him up and hit his helmet and hugged him as though they were still together on the same side. There were so many of them to greet that Kaliakmanis missed the beginning of head coach Greg Schiano\u2019s impromptu huddle on the far sideline.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"GDZU35HNFJES5BK3HHI4VNKOAI\">\u201cThat meant everything to me, if you want the honest truth,\u201d Kaliakmanis said. \u201cThey all came up to me, it was like the entire team. But that just shows that it wasn\u2019t on bad terms. I left and we still talk to each other. I still care about those guys. I\u2019m somewhere else, but I still care about them, and I still have relationships with them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"QNMX4EPSHBD3JGSY24ZQF7ST7U\">When the huddle broke, Schiano embraced his quarterback before they both headed over for a postgame interview with NBC. While the coach spoke to sideline reporter Caroline Pineda, Kaliakmanis hugged his father Alex, sharing a moment they won\u2019t soon forget.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"SHL7TKHDIJA47NLP7EWMC5F5WE\">The quarterback then handed him the game ball he was holding in his left arm since the final play of the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"ILWSO3I2ZFEB3OS5JV5THIE7UM\">\u201cThis ball is going with all my other sports memorabilia,\u201d Alex Kaliakmanis told NJ Advance Media, \u201cbut this gonna be my pride and joy. I\u2019m just really, really happy and that\u2019s probably an understatement of how I truly feel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"7KEWLFHFO5A6TOTC4R47LXHZCA\">Kaliakmanis hugged his older brother Dino, who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/rutgersfootball\/2024\/01\/what-is-rutgers-getting-in-qb-athan-kaliakmanis-scouting-report-how-he-compares-to-gavin-wimsatt.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">transferred with him to Rutgers from Minnesota this offseason<\/a>, and shared a moment with offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, who recruited him to Minneapolis and Piscataway.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"D5C3OHHAEZHZ5FZN57XGOYJIDE\">At one point, Minnesota coach PJ Fleck found his former quarterback to share a message.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"A573RZH7X5GJ5IAMPBQSOJJW2Q\">\u201cHe told me that he was happy for me, and that meant a lot to me to hear from him,\u201d Kaliakmanis said. \u201cHe went out of his way and came up to me and told me that he was happy for me and happy for what I\u2019ve been doing. I\u2019m really happy for him, too, and I had a great relationship with him for three years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"VEICTDL73FA6DNIGL2CKXJJU3Q\">After wrapping up his own interview with NBC and before he headed up the tunnel to the locker room \u2014 where his <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/RFootball\/status\/1855363100083454316\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">current teammates held him up in celebration<\/a> \u2014 Kaliakmanis shared a moment with his head coach and his father.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NLJIOC3QXBFLRFDDCFNKJRUC6A\">\u201cNothing was really said (in that hug), but nothing needed to be said,\u201d Alex Kaliakmanis said. \u201cIt was just an enormous amount of happiness and jubilation. The team won. We won a big game.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"article__image\">\n<div class=\"article__image-wrapper\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 500px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/resizer\/v2\/EBNHPDNG3BBRXDELWXEW63HVHQ.jpg?auth=db984ac652505f569cb82d69bbda3b96ecc43409fd7f4ca6dfcadcd8d60e3b5e&amp;width=500&amp;quality=90 500w\"\/><source media=\"(max-width: 800px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/resizer\/v2\/EBNHPDNG3BBRXDELWXEW63HVHQ.jpg?auth=db984ac652505f569cb82d69bbda3b96ecc43409fd7f4ca6dfcadcd8d60e3b5e&amp;width=800&amp;quality=90 800w\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/resizer\/v2\/EBNHPDNG3BBRXDELWXEW63HVHQ.jpg?auth=db984ac652505f569cb82d69bbda3b96ecc43409fd7f4ca6dfcadcd8d60e3b5e&amp;width=1280&amp;quality=90 1280w\"\/><img src=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/resizer\/v2\/EBNHPDNG3BBRXDELWXEW63HVHQ.jpg?auth=db984ac652505f569cb82d69bbda3b96ecc43409fd7f4ca6dfcadcd8d60e3b5e&amp;width=500&amp;quality=90\" sizes=\"auto, 50vw\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Rutgers Minnesota Football\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"article__image-content\" height=\"600\" width=\"300\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"article__image-caption\">\n<p class=\"article__mm-image-caption-text\">Rutgers quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16, right) and his dad, Alex (right) have an emotional moment with head coach Greg Schiano (center) after the Scarlet Knights beat Minnesota, 26-19, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, in Piscataway, N.J. (Andrew Mills\/NJ Advance Media via AP)<span class=\"article__mm-image-credit\">Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"XK5PWXI6NZBN3LUUGSLE4V6IGA\">The Scarlet Knights won in part thanks to a solid showing from Kaliakmanis, who finished with 240 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 17-of-33 passing (51.5%).<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"4PZDPSOUBFGARNKX52FQJ3Q6OA\">The quarterback completed 14 of his 18 attempts, including a career-high 65-yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Ian Strong. He threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns in the first three drives of the game, handing Rutgers 14-9 lead in the second quarter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"XI3ZRY7CSBCRVOFNI4OPN6FV7A\">\u201cWe were just responding really well to each other in the passing game and offensive game,\u201d Kaliakmanis said. \u201cWe were balanced. We were throwing the ball, making the routine plays, and that\u2019s something I got to be able to do that the entire game, and that\u2019s something I need to work on. I need to be able to do that the entire game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"JWBVU2IM2JHHJG7YBFG5PPSTHQ\">Kaliakmanis had plenty to learn from Saturday\u2019s game. He completed just three of his final 15 pass attempts \u2014 including a back-breaking interception at Minnesota\u2019s 9-yard line \u2014 in the final 35 minutes as the Scarlet Knights struggled to move the ball in the second half. But his final completion \u2014 a four-yard pass to Strong \u2014 proved to be the game-winning play.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"VZCQWH6KWZCZLEBV46JSD46RX4\">The up-and-down game came at the end of what had the potential to be a roller-coaster week for Kaliakmanis, who was facing his former coach PJ Fleck and multiple former teammates for the first time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"NS6CWT25ENDEXP3NIFIRZWAN5A\">He admits it was \u201ca really unique experience\u201d to see them on the opposite side after spending the first three seasons of his college career in Minneapolis, starting 12 games for them last fall before electing to transfer last offseason. While Schiano praised Kaliakmanis for his ability to \u201ccompartmentalize perfectly\u201d this week, the quarterback now admits it was \u201chard.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"FNAHRMTLDRD2LADNOC5S7WXMIQ\">\u201cI had relationships with those guys, too. I played there. I <i>lived<\/i> there for three years,\u201d Kaliakmanis said. \u201cI\u2019d say that it was just awesome to share the field with them again, and then with this new team that we have now, and the relationships I\u2019ve built here, and being able to play with the guys that I\u2019ve built relationships from here, it was awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"3APKZN6JM5CWXF3UOBCSEE5UYA\">Kaliakmanis overcame the emotions and helped his new team earn a much-needed victory that snaps a four-game losing streak and puts the Scarlet Knights back on track to make a second consecutive bowl game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"APQJ7OSMHBE45HCJ72SSDP3XK4\">After he shook hands with former teammates and coaches, he embraced his new life in Piscataway and the possibilities they still have together.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"R4HUCB47LJDVHDGAAABF42XSIE\">\u201cThese last four weeks really tested us as a team, but we stayed together,\u201d Kaliakmanis said. \u201cWe did it out of love for each other. Today, it was for each other. It wasn\u2019t for anybody else. We just kept chopping.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"2LGHUMUZ5RFW5JNGREKDV5DIDM\"><i>Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.<\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"article__paragraph article__paragraph--left\" id=\"C7TRUC2NFREO3A7CUH6BSY7VOM\"><i>Brian Fonseca may be reached at <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/rutgersfootball\/2024\/11\/mailto:bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com\"><i>bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com<\/i><\/a><i>.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nj.com\/rutgersfootball\/2024\/11\/why-rutgers-qb-athan-kaliakmanis-was-center-of-attention-after-big-win-over-minnesota.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the final seconds ticked off the clock at SHI Stadium, soon after he rose out of the victory formation against Minnesota, Athan Kaliakmanis was surrounded on all sides. They &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=124398\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=124398"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/124398\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=124398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=124398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=124398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}