Rutgers' Obsession With Ohio State Defensive Coordinators Needs to End

Given the reports that have surfaced over the last month, it seemed to be written in the stars that Greg Schiano was making a long-awaited return to College Avenue. Shockingly, however, talks broke down and the former Ohio State defensive coordinator abruptly withdrew his name from consideration of the head coaching job of Rutgers' woeful football program.

But never fear, Piscataway faithful, because NJ.com has reported that the Scarlet Knights have their eyes set on another Buckeyes coordinator, first-year co-DC Jeff Hafley.

Athletic director Patrick Hobbs is scrambling to replace Chris Ash, who was fired earlier this season in the middle of this fourth year at the helm. Ironically enough, Ash himself is a former co-defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes.

Hafley, on the other hand, was actually a member of Schiano's staff at Rutgers for the 2011 campaign, but he ultimately stepped down when Schiano moved on to become the HC of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hafley even followed the former Scarlet Knights coach to Tampa and spent two seasons as the Bucs secondary coach.

Keep in mind that Hafley has never been a head coach at any football staff he has been a part of, so that should work in the favor of Rutgers, right?

Wrong. Dead wrong.

Can anybody please explain why the Scarlet Knights -- or Scarlet and Gray Knights, as it were - are hellbent on hiring every living defensive coordinator that has served in Columbus? They have been the laughingstock of college football ever since Schiano stepped down after the 2011 season; nothing has changed, nor will it, no matter which OSU assistant they target for their head coaching vacancy. Real, systemic change is needed, not whatever aspirational voodoo they're trying to work by poaching play-callers from the Big Ten's bigwigs.

That's the definition of insanity (or ineptitude), ladies and gents. Welcome to Rutgers football.