The Falcon rugby club will look to extend its Indiana winning streak to 10 games at home Saturday.
The Hoosiers, who boast Dallas Maverick’s owner Mark Cuban as a former player, is the second Big 10 semi-finalist in a row that BG is taking on. Indiana is gearing up for the Big Ten finals on April 6.
BG is riding a seven-year, nine-game winning streak over the Hoosiers. In fact, the winning streak is one of the factors that cost the past two Indiana coaches their jobs.
“I guess when you’re getting paid $23,000 a year, you are expected to be a bit more successful over little schools out in the cornfields,” said Director of Rugby Roger Mazzarella.
In contrast, BG’s coach Mazzarella doesn’t get paid anything.
The series between the two squads are misunderstood by the winning streak. Every game has been close and has come down to who has best kept their composure in the end.
The last game was a 30-27 win by the Falcons. Four of those seven years, the BG—Indiana match determined the Midwest champion and a ticket to the national finals.
This weekend shouldn’t be any different. BG’s winning streak is drummed into them every single game.
There have been many Indiana alumni who have beaten BG, so the Hoosiers will be on a mission this weekend to try and snap the streak.
“One of the keys to the season so far has been the play of lock Justin Stevens,” coach Tony Mazzarella said. “Never says much, never celebrates a score, a strong runner and a deadly tackler. An offensive breakdown? Justin will be one of the first two people on the scene.”
Against Ohio State a week ago, Stevens snagged a fumbled ball and returned it 50 yards for a try to break the game open for the Falcons.
Year in and year out, the Indiana—BG match is labeled as one of the best rugby games in the country.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m. at College Park.