Savage returned to the starting lineup after missing the Scarlet Knights' last game with a concussion and threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown in leading Rutgers to a 42-0 victory over Texas Southern on Saturday.
Savage also upset his coach by scrambling six times and not once sliding to avoid a hit, although his 28-yard run did set up the first of Joe Martinek's two touchdown runs. The scariest of his jaunts was a 5-yard third-quarter run in which he dove and was upended.
"I talked to him a little about, 'Let's work your slide into your repertoire,"' Schiano said. "He is a competitor and he is sneaky fast. He is good, but we do need to get him to slide a little more."
Since Savage was named the starting quarterback after a dreadful season-opening loss to Cincinnati, Rutgers (4-1) has won four straight games.
However, the competition will pick up on Friday when Pittsburgh (5-1, 2-0 Big East) comes to Rutgers Stadium. The Panthers defeated Connecticut 24-21 on Saturday.
"You can't play scared," said Savage, who was 14 of 21 for 150 yards. "Definitely a couple of times I ran I should have got down. I have to learn these guys are bigger and stronger and faster than me, so I have to get down."
Offensive tackle Kevin Haslam was concerned about Savage after his third-quarter run and ran over to him.
"I asked him if he was all right," Haslam said. "He said, 'I'm good,' and I said 'Stop doing that."'
Savage's running was the only real concern as Rutgers became the 38th Football Championship Series school to win 600 games. The Scarlet Knights, who played the first college game against Princeton in 1869, are 600-591-42.
"The 600th win is a big accomplishment in Rutgers history. That's a great number to get to, and to do it today is great," said defensive end Jonathan Freeny, who had 2{ sacks. "We got Pitt coming up and they have a bunch of good players. They will challenge us."
Texas Southern (1-4) showed flashes, but was hurt by four turnovers and seven sacks. It finished with 126 total yards, including minus-25 yards rushing.
Arvell Nelson was 13-for-27 for 151 yards with two interceptions, including one returned 56 yards for a touchdown by David Rowe.
Martinek scored on runs of 9 and 15 yards and Jourdan Brooks added a 5-yard touchdown run in helping Rutgers take a 28-0 halftime lead. Savage and Brown combined for their score in the third quarter and De'Antwan Williams scored on a 44-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, when he carried 14 times for 117 yards.
Rutgers' win was its second over a Football Championship Subdivision opponent this season, so it will not count toward the six-win minimum to qualify for a bowl berth.
The positive for Texas Southern was that it got a $400,000 payday to come to the birthplace of college football.
Texas Southern coach Johnnie Cole had no regrets about playing the game. He even asked Schiano if the schools could play again next year.
"I think we are healthy, came out of the game very healthy, and that was one of the biggest things," Cole said. "It gave our kids a measuring stick so they will know how to work next year when it's time to get in that weight room and get after it."
Rowe gave Rutgers the lead for good, stepping in front of a Nelson pass at the Scarlet Knights' 44 and following a wall of blockers down the sideline for his first career touchdown.
Martinek's touchdown runs stretched the lead to 21-0 and Brooks scored late in the half for a 28-0 lead.
Savage's touchdown pass to Brown and Williams' run closed out the scoring.
George Johnson and Justin Francis had two sacks apiece for the Rutgers defense, which has scored a touchdown in three straight games.