Chris Ash is delivering a public service announcement every Monday it seems. He’s become accustomed to talking about the state of the program before diving into his weekly press conference.

Ash had another one this week, this time after a 38-17 home loss to Illinois. It was the first B1G win for the Illini in 700 days. The Rutgers head coach attempted to reassure fans that this is a long-term process and that the program is continuing to make strides.

Yes, I actually can hear your eyes rolling.

“There was a lot of work that needs to be done,” Ash said on Monday. “We’ve done a lot of work. There continues to be a lot of work to build the program to the level that we want it to be.”

Since its season-opening win against Texas State, Rutgers has dropped its last five games, most of which have come in blowout fashion. Most embarrassingly, the Scarlet Knights fell to Kansas, Buffalo and Illinois by three touchdowns or more.

Ash continues to send the same message, though, and he believes the sky isn’t falling on his program, even in Year 3.

“A lot of people think when you’re 1-5 the sky is falling,” Ash said. “I know on the outside when people are not here every single day, that’s the perception, that’s the thought. But that’s not reality.”

“I am pleased with the attitude of this football team.”

Rutgers travels to take on Maryland this weekend in an attempt to score its first B1G win of the season.

You can view Ash’s full statement from the weekly press conference below.