Illinois State University and the University of Illinois have a relationship that isn’t easily delineated. They both call Central Illinois home. They both sport large enrollments of in-state students—just about everyone at ISU knows someone at U of I, and vice versa. They both field Division I sports teams.
So, taking this in-depth expert analysis into consideration, I can conclude the two schools are pretty much the same. Great. End of article. So much for that “isn’t easily delineated” stuff.
On second thought, maybe not. I remember the day I told my grandmother I had chosen to enroll at ISU. I was the first grandkid to go to college, so I expected some excitement on the other end of the phone.
“Oh,” she said, taken aback, “So you didn’t get into U of I?” I remember another time, during my freshman year, when a friend of a friend revealed to me what the letters I-S-U stood for.
“I Screwed Up.”
I also remember the dozens of times I’ve flipped through the likes of ESPN, ABC, and CBS to see the Fighting Illini playing on a national stage. Also remembered are the times, maybe five of them, that I proudly watched the Redbirds lose on Comcast Sports Net. One time, they lost on ESPN 2.
All right, there’s definitely a bit of an inferiority complex between the two. In athletics, it’s easy to see. Take one look at the two schools and you’ll know who’s better at sports. Illinois plays in the Big Ten Conference, along with powerhouses Ohio State and Michigan State. Everyone and their grandmother (my grandmother, too) knows the Big Ten. ISU plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, along with neighborhood nerds Evansville and Drake. Most people outside of the Midwest probably couldn’t tell you what the letters MVC stand for.
The inferiority complex weighed on my mind Tuesday afternoon as I walked through the gate of Duffy Bass Field. The Redbirds (16-6) played host to the Fighting Illini (11-10) on an uncharacteristically warm March day. Although the hometown ‘Birds came in with a better record, it was hard to imagine them beating the big-conference visitors. Before I had time to find a good seat, my preconceived notion was confirmed on the field in front of me.
ISU’s starting pitcher, Johnny Lieske, was outmatched from the get-go. Two walks and an error resulted in the first Illini run. Another walk and a parade of hits resulted in the Illini batting around and scoring five first inning runs.
“You suck, Redbirds,” said a kid sitting behind me. “I’m voting for the other team.”
I laughed, but it was a painful laugh. The bottom half of the first started with the Redbirds’ first batter striking out on three pitches. The next two were retired in order, and the Illini tallied two more runs in the third. It was 7-0.
As I sat among the subdued ISU crowd, I sensed they weren’t expecting this. The media guide told me the two teams were facing off for the third consecutive year, and they had split the past two meetings. It also told me, however, the Illini were the reigning Big Ten champions.
Over the next few innings, the teams seemed more evenly matched. It was 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth when ISU decided they had enough of being the little brother. They scratched across two runs and managed to load the bases for second baseman Kevin Tokarski. Over his past 75 games, Tokarski had hit four homeruns, so he wasn’t exactly a threat to go deep. Also, he was batting leadoff on Tuesday.
So, naturally, he hit a grand slam and gave the ‘Birds an 8-7 lead. They never looked back. Relievers Jeremy Rhoades, Justin Hauer, and Kenny Long allowed only three hits and no runs over the final six innings, and the ‘Birds tacked on eight insurance runs to notch a 16-7 win. In total, they scored 16 unanswered runs.
The Redbirds cruise-controlled to their 17th victory and lined up to shake hands with the Fighting Illini, who had a quiet 50-something-mile bus ride on the horizon. Only a few hundred may have been watching, and the Illini’s reputation as superiors may still be totally cemented, but this day on the diamond belonged to the Redbirds.
It must feel pretty good to strike out your big brother on a curveball he didn’t see coming.