With Rutgers Head Coach Kyle Flood facing a three-game suspension due to improper contact with a university faculty member, assistant head coach/running backs coach Norries Wilson was tabbed to lead the Scarlet Knights out of the abyss as the program attempts to right the ship with Big Ten conference play approaching. Being in charge means you can do things a little differently, and that’s exactly how Wilson handled his first postgame press conference as interim head coach.

Typically, a head coach begins his postgame press conference with an opening statement before opening the floor to the media to ask questions. Media members typically wait for a microphone to make its way around the room as the coach awaits each question.

Wilson, on the other hand, decided to take a different approach. Unsure of how press conferences were conducted in Happy Valley, Wilson asked members of the media about the standard procedure. When told that media members would simply yell over each other, he decided to alter the course of his press conference.

“Yell over each other? We’re not gonna do that,” Wilson said, as he proceeded to call on media members like a teacher would a student. After asking their name and affiliation, he prompted reporters to ask their question. This approach is definitely out of the ordinary, but made for some interesting storylines after a listless performance from Wilson’s Scarlet Knights.

Albeit unusual, Wilson’s approach seemed respectful and orderly, as he prevented reporters from talking over one another — common practice in the postgame setting. It’ll be interesting to see how Wilson handles his next press conference as the Scarlet Knights return home to Piscataway to take on the Kansas Jayhawks.

When asked if he thought Penn State and Rutgers were rivals, Wilson gave it to them straight.

“When you look at the all time series — I think Rutgers has beat Penn State twice and PSU has won now 24 — I would think we would have to win some more games against them before someone would call it a rivalry.”