Maryland and Rutgers Announce “Big Ten Battle in the Bronx”

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – The University of Maryland athletics department announced Tuesday it will take part in the “Big Ten Battle in the Bronx,” a football and wrestling doubleheader between Rutgers and Maryland, at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. The event will be hosted by Rutgers University.
The outdoor wrestling match, which will be the first in the history of Yankee Stadium, will take place first, before DJ Durkin’s football program takes on Rutgers later that afternoon.
“We are thrilled to participate in such a prestigious event at one of the world’s most iconic sporting venues,” said Maryland director of athletics Kevin Anderson. “I am excited that our fans will have the opportunity to view both our football and wrestling programs on such a unique platform. We look forward to working with the New York Yankees, the Big Ten Conference and Rutgers University to make this a memorable event for all.”
The game will mark Maryland’s first game in a Major League Baseball stadium since it played Oregon State at then-AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., in 2007. While Maryland has never played at Yankee Stadium past or present, it did defeat Syracuse, 20-0, at the Polo Grounds on October 24, 1936.
Maryland leads the all-time football series against Rutgers, 6-5, dating back to 1920. The pair of programs has split its meetings as Big Ten foes, 1-1.
“We're thrilled to have the chance for both our football and wrestling programs to compete in such an iconic sporting venue," said Maryland head football coach DJ Durkin. "Playing in Yankee Stadium will be something that excites our players, staff and fan base. It's truly a unique opportunity and we're looking forward to it."
The Maryland wrestling program has a storied championship pedigree, including 26 conference championships with three coming under the direction of head coach Kerry McCoy. The team boasts 217 individual conference champions, 27 All-Americans and two NCAA Champions in its 76-year history.
“This is will be a special experience for our football and wrestling programs at Maryland,” said head wrestling coach Kerry McCoy. “It’s exciting to be a part of an event at the home of a franchise as historic as the Yankees, and I know our guys are looking forward to it. As a New York native, this definitely holds special value with me and will be a unique opportunity to showcase and grow our sport.”
Ticket information for the “Big Ten Battle in the Bronx” is still to be announced.

Rutgers release:
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – The Rutgers University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics today announced it will host the “Big Ten Battle in the Bronx,” a football and wrestling doubleheader between the Scarlet Knights and Maryland, at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. The wrestling match, which will be the first in the history of the Stadium, will take place first, before head coach Chris Ash leads the football team into action later that day.
“Never before has a doubleheader such as this taken place at a venue so iconic,” said Director of Athletics Patrick Hobbs. “We are thrilled to provide our fans this one-of-a-kind experience while enhancing the Big Ten brand in the world’s media capital. This is certain to be a very special day. We are thankful to the New York Yankees, the Big Ten Conference and the University of Maryland for helping to make it possible.”
Rutgers football is 2-1 in three games at the current Yankee Stadium, including two appearances in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl. Overall, RU has played 12 games at Yankee Stadium dating back to 1926 and 50 contests in venues that also serve as homes to Major League Baseball clubs. Maryland leads the all-time series dating back to 1920 on the gridiron, 6-5, but Rutgers has won two of the last three meetings. The teams have split a pair of Big Ten match-ups.
“We are excited to be a part of this event, bringing together college football and wrestling at one of the most iconic venues in sports,” said Rutgers head football coach Chris Ash. “The Scarlet Knight fan base is passionate about both its football and wrestling programs and the opportunity to play at Yankee Stadium offers a unique platform.”
Rutgers wrestling completed the best season in program history in 2015-16, placing two wrestlers on the All-America podium for a record 15th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The Scarlet Knights return nine NCAA qualifiers and host Princeton in “Battle at the Birthplace,” presented by Autoland, this Nov. 19 at High Point Solutions Stadium. The match-up will precede the football team’s primetime showdown against Penn State that evening. The Scarlet Knights own a 7-5-1 series advantage against Maryland on the mat.
"It is an incredible opportunity for our program to be compete inside Yankee Stadium,” said Rutgers head wrestling coach Scott Goodale. “We are absolutely honored to wrestle inside one of the greatest cathedrals in all of sport. I don't think we ever envisioned this when we started here 10 years ago. This is significant not only for the Rutgers and Maryland programs, but for the sport of wrestling. We sincerely thank Pat Hobbs, the University of Maryland and the New York Yankees for making this wrestling milestone a reality."
Ticket information for the “Big Ten Battle in the Bronx” is still to be announced. Season ticket holders will receive priority consideration for the exclusive event, which will be included in season ticket packages.
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