Rutgers is chopping again.

Kind of.

Chris Ash did away with the “Keep Chopping” mantra that became a program staple during the Greg Schiano era when he was hired as the Scarlet Knights’ coach, replacing it with “The Hunt” instead upon his arrival. But Rutgers has a new team motto - albeit a more internal one - and it is chop-involved.

Ash made a curious wardrobe choice Tuesday for his press briefing following Rutgers’ fifth training camp practice. The fourth-year coach pulled a black button-down t-shirt with the phrase “CHOP WOOD CARRY WATER” embroidered in red lettering on the right breast over his usual sweatshirt. It’s the same shirt the entire team wore in pictures of the first meeting of camp last week.

So, what does it mean? Rutgers is not saying - at least officially.

“That’s private,” Ash said. “Team deal. I was going to take it off so you didn’t ask. It’s just a shirt. Just a nice old shirt."

Well, it’s a little bit more than that. The motto is inspired by author Joshua Medcalf’s “Chop Wood Carry Water: How to Fall in Love with the Process of Becoming Great," people close to the program told NJ Advance Media, after the team read the personal development book during the offseason. The goal is for coaches and players to wear the special shirt to each team meeting.

When asked by NJ Advance Media to confirm the connection between the book and the team, Ash smiled and said, “I can’t give away secrets.”

Will a new motto, a good book and some t-shirts lead to wins for Rutgers in 2019? Even the most optimistic fan could not claim that with any conviction. But it is an interesting, if incomplete, look into how Ash is approaching his critical fourth season leading the program. He has stressed his pleasure with the culture of the team, and this motto seems to be part of the reason he believes there is cohesion and unity.

It also further emphasizes Rutgers has been on a bit of a personal development kick of late. The team has held a “Life Beyond the Game” speaker series for players since Ash took the job, but this offseason the team has hosted entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk and motivational speaker Damon West, co-author of “The Coffee Bean." The other co-author, Jon Gordon, has an endorsement printed on the front jacket of “Chop Wood Carry Water.”

Ash also instituted a series of team-building exercises that were received positively.

Middle linebacker and team captain Tyshon Fogg declined to confirm the genesis of the motto as well, but did say a bit more than Ash, offering the general gist.

“It’s about going to work every day, getting better each and every day,” he said.

In other words, chopping away.

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.