PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Oct. 12, 2012) – The Rutgers football program lost one of its all-time great leaders when former Scarlet Knight letterwinner and head coach Frank R. Burns passed away at the age of 84 on July 14. The winningest coach in RU history will be honored with a special video board tribute and representatives of the Burns family will be recognized during halftime of the Rutgers-Syracuse game (12 noon kickoff) at High Point Solutions Stadium.

Through the 2012 season, the Rutgers football team will wear a “FRB” sticker on their helmet in honor of Burns. Burns attended Rutgers from 1945-48. He was elected president of his class and as quarterback and linebacker, helped lead Rutgers to a combined 27-7 record. He received All-East recognition and played in the East-West Shrine game.

Burns also participated with the Eastern College All-Stars against the NFL Champion New York Giants and was named MVP with 17 tackles. He returned to his alma mater in 1961 as an assistant football coach.

As head coach, from 1973-83, Burns earned the most wins in school history, 78, including an undefeated season in 1976. He was named the Walter Camp Foundation Coach of the Year in 1976 and the New Jersey Football Writers Coach of the Year in 1976, 1978 and 1979. In 1993, Burns was inducted into the Rutgers Hall of Distinguished Alumni. He was also a member of the Rutgers Athletic Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Athletic Hall of Fame.

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