Friday night has the potential to be a special atmosphere at Jersey Mike’s Arena, with No. 13 Rutgers set to host No. 8 Virginia Tech. It is an advantage in the stands that Big Ten Network wrestling analyst Shane Sparks says is one of the very best in the nation.
Rutgers comes into this match off wins against Duke and Cal Poly to start the season. This could well be one of the top matches of the weekend, featuring two programs ranked top 15 in the nation.
It should be a big crowd for Rutgers at Jersey Mike’s Arena on Friday night, making for a special and intense atmosphere. Sparks, a former collegiate wrestler, is one of the top voices of the sport.
As such, his ability to travel around the nation covering wrestling has given him some insight into what the environment will be like at Rutgers this weekend.
“I live in Wisconsin. I’ve been to every Big Ten venue and for lack of a better way to say it – it’s just Jersey. Like it’s different. I mean, it’s tough. I mean, I’ve said this oftentimes Jersey is a different place! And I mean that with the utmost respect!” Sparks told Rutgers Wire.
“They are tough, they are gritty. They are blue collar, they are passionate – like they want to come and see a fight. These people want to come and see a fight! That’s what they want to see. So that’s how they are there. I love it. I love that place because it’s going to get…there will be plenty of tension in that arena. And, you know, I’m sure Virginia Tech is well aware. I mean, they were at Ohio State and that’s a really good environment.
“But I would say from a national standpoint, Jersey Mike’s Arena is one of my favorite places because it is go time – it’s go time.”
Last week, Virginia Tech lost at Ohio State in a result that was largely seen as an upset. Saying that Virginia Tech is going to ‘look to right the wrong,’ Sparks sees the Hokies as coming into Friday night with a point to prove.
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This is a big early-season test for both programs.
“So you got a Virginia Tech team that is kind of a wounded dog. I mean, those guys gonna be hungry. Tony Robie has done a great job with one of the best teams in the country. I mean, they want to right the wrong,” Sparks said.
“They just lost to the Buckeyes so I think they’re going to come in hungry. Probably very focused. I think against Ohio State, they probably – it was kind of a little bit of a wake-up call.
“Rutgers, last week -they did a really good job, but this is a different level. They understand that. So I just think it’s a very even matchup. You got ranked matchups up and down. And then in wrestling, we call them toss-up matches where it’s like they’re toss-ups. where you could see them going either way.”