Preview of the ILLINI/Indiana Fan Fest Dual and the Cougar Clash

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

 

 

OVERVIEW: A SPLIT SQUAD

In the recent Coach's Corner podcast, ILLINI Wrestling Coach Mike Poeta indicated that the Cougar Clash, which is next Saturday, was initially the only thing on the schedule next weekend. Then, the B1G offered the Fan Fest dual in Indianapolis the day before the conference football championship. It also fell on the day before the Cougar Clash. 

Still, Coach Poeta said it was easy to agree to the offer. 

So, next Friday, December 6, the ILLINI will be in Indianapolis for the dual with the Hoosiers. The next day, Saturday, a split squad will show up to the Cougar Clash in Edwardsville. To wrestle in both events, the ILLINI starters in Indianapolis would need to get on the bus by 6:30 pm (Central), take a three-and-one-half-hour drive (225 miles) to Edwardsville, arriving around 10:00 to 11:00 pm (Central) for a tournament starting the next morning. 

Not impossible, but also not conducive to winning matches. All of the other big name schools at the Cougar Clash (Missouri, Minnesota, Little Rock, NIU and SIUE) have at least six days off before the Clash. Coach talks about the Fan Fest event near the end of the video at 33:40:

 

 

 

WHAT: B1G TAKEDOWN at the FAN FEST

WHO: ILLINI dual Indiana

WHERE: Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, IN

WHEN: Friday, December 6 @ 4:00 PM Central

TV/STREAMING: BTN

TICKETS: Ticket Prices are $12 adults, $6 children age 3-12 (Gets you into Fan Fest)

 

 

A DAY IN HISTORY

It was February 13, 2005, a Sunday. 

Your little brother still has three days to wait until the release of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, and he swears he's gonna stay locked up in his room until Moms buys him a copy of that video game. Hitch made Sony Pictures over ten million at the box office on the day. Feathery-voiced Mario topped the Billboard charts with Let Me Love You. 

But the real entertainment happened that Sunday afternoon in Huff Hall, as your soon-to-be 2005 B1G wrestling champions destroyed #19 Indiana by the score of 37-0. Mark Jayne captured his 99th varsity win, while Anton Dietzen and Kyle Ott each scored six points for the team. 

It was a long bus ride home to Roundballville for the Loosiers. Here's the box score:

 

 

 

TEAM MATCHUP

In all of the 2000s, the record between the two schools is thirteen wins for the ILLINI and zero wins for Indiana. Wow! That's an even worse record than Northwestern! It's been slow-going, but Angel Escobedo has steadily improved his team. Under the prior administration, they would have a nonconference schedule with D2 schools and lowest-tier D1 teams and end up with an undefeated record. 

Then, lose all of their B1G duals. 

According to Intermat, ILLINOIS' dual ranking is #11; Indiana's is #28. Wrestlestat.com has the ILLINI at #12, while the Hoosiers come in at #30. The prediction is for a 32-0 win for the good guys. Indiana is 4-0 on the season with wins over Cal Baptist, Cal Poly, a one-point win over #40 Central Michigan and a two-point win over #49 Columbia. 

The ILLINI are 5-0 with three wins over top twenty-five teams, including Missouri, ASU and North Carolina.

The remainder of the preview, including individual dual matchups and The Cougar Clash at this link.

 

[ILLINIWrestlingBlog]

Below's a video recap of the Fan Fest dual between the ILLINI and Indiana. At this link we do a written play-by-play of the action, as well as a critique of the production of the event by the B1G. Spoiler Alert: We loved it! Finally, we even have a few nice words for Angel Escobedo and his Hoosier team.