Which school do the Mudsharks play for? Any idea? Really?! Shame on you!
Earlier this fall, I had the opportunity to watch the Indiana University Mudsharks play their final home game of the season against Ohio State. The Mudsharks are IU’s rugby club team, a non-revenue sport that, on many occasions, is more exciting that anything Kevin Wilson’s football team has produced.
The game I witnessed was filled with high energy, hard hitting and tackling, screaming coaches, and die-hard fans. When I arrived to the field right after the start of the game, it was as if I stumbled into a secret cult on campus that no one knows about.
While it is true that American football is still very important to IU’s athletic program, both from a revenue-generating standpoint and a cultural one, sports like rugby often get left behind and forgotten by the student body.
Conor Delehanty, a senior at IU who has previously held a Captain position on the team, can attest to the desire for more support, stating “I feel like we get a good fan-base at games, but I wish we, and club sports in general, were more recognized by the university.”
The IU team has been very successful in recent years, even beating some of the top clubs in the nation’s collegiate premier league that features the best programs (that can afford long-distance traveling and other costs) in the United States.
Now one can understand that many Hoosiers may be wary of going to rugby games simply because they don’t know enough, if anything, about rugby, its rules, and its culture. However, such excuses are hard to validate these days, especially with all the knowledge the Internet can provide at our fingertips.
All you have to do is type in “rugby rules” into Google and countless sites pop up with all the basics you need to know to get comfortable with the game so you can enjoy watching a match without feeling lost.
Go to a game. Fortunately, IU’s Mudsharks like to play. A lot. So unlike football and basketball, the IU rugby team has two seasons, one in Fall and one in Spring, so you can still catch them play this school year. Whenever it’s warm enough, they have a season.
If you want to be more than just a fan, the team is always looking for new students to join. They have an A and B squad so even if you have never played before, the Mudsharks will give you an opportunity to learn the game and play right away. “Everyone gets playing time,” according to Delehanty.
In the very least, put a rugby game on your bucket list before you graduate from IU. As Conor adds, “rugby is a lot more dynamic that some of the other sports on campus and there is always consistent action. When you go to a rugby game you are right there. There is no barrier between the players and the fans.”
Mark Cuban is a Mudsharks alumnus and while being part of the IU rugby world may not guarantee you a future filled with billions of dollars, it will make your experience here at IU all the more memorable.
For more information on IU’s rugby team, go to iurugby.com.
