History will be made on January 21st at 11:30 AM Eastern, as the Big Ten Network will televise a live swimming dual meet for the first time in the 5-year history of the network.
The Indiana-Purdue showdown will pit a pair of top-20 matchups, as the #10 Indiana men against the #20 Purdue men; and the #8 Indiana women against the #18 Purdue women.
The showing will air immediately after a 30 minute special titled “Big Ten Icons: Mark Spitz” about the former Indiana All-American who won 9 Olympic gold medals in his storied career.
This will be an opportunity for the swimming community to show that swimming belongs on live television more than once a year. If you get the Big Ten Network, be sure to tune in. There are plenty of great storylines in this meet. This is a big in-conference rivalry, and with the Purdue men and women both swimming very well, should be an extremely competitive meet against the Hoosiers, following the women’s 30-point upset last year.
The meet will be anchored by announcers Rowdy Gaines, who is the godfather of swimming television, and former Florida swimmer Bernie Guenther.
And the Hoosier Women prevail…winning by 102 points over Purdue.
Let’s keep in mind that yes, last year the Purdue women may have beat the Hoosiers in the same duel meet, but ended up 5th at Big Tens…
“…with the Purdue men and women both swimming very well, should be a more competitive meet than ever against the Hoosiers.”
Give the Boilermaker women get the credit they’ve earned. Purdue women don’t have to be more competitive against the Hoosiers than last year – because Purdue defeated the Hoosiers 161-139 last year. That score was a reversal of a lady Boiler loss in 2010, 166.5-133.5. Both meets were closely contested. Not sure John Klinge’s squad can do it again in 2012 because he’s got very limited diving support, but the swimming part of the meet ought to be a blast to watch.
I’m excited. Just checked BTN out here on the west coast and it wasn’t listed yet, but I’ll be sure to continue checking.