I want Iowa below Rutgers. Those fans are jumping ship already and it will get worse next year.
Why??? Because that opens more seats up for us at Bigs and Nationals.
Is Iowa our biggest rival?
- Thread starter Shepdogg
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I want Iowa below Rutgers. Those fans are jumping ship already and it will get worse next year.
Why??? Because that opens more seats up for us at Bigs and Nationals.
Serious question here - would you really want that? I like it when you have teams like Iowa, tOSU and Cornell sending out what seem to be really good, competitive teams that, at least on paper, have a shot at winning everything. Then our guys go out and put on an even better performance and still leave those other teams holding participation trophies. When we do that, everyone knows we earned it. (Even better, some of the parents of the wrestlers may end up leaving some broken glass in the stands.
)
Serious question here - would you really want that? I like it when you have teams like Iowa, tOSU and Cornell sending out what seem to be really good, competitive teams that, at least on paper, have a shot at winning everything. Then our guys go out and put on an even better performance and still leave those other teams holding participation trophies. When we do that, everyone knows we earned it. (Even better, some of the parents of the wrestlers may end up leaving some broken glass in the stands.
Yes, less Iowa fans in the seats the better. Have you seen the OkSt women in the stands at Nationals? They are the 2nd best.
Iowa fans are already more realistic than Rutgers'. After this weekend's narrow Rutgers win over Rider, they're figuring out how they will beat Minnesota - because, you understand, Rider and Minnesota are basically equal teams.
ASU really doesn't send a whole lot of their female fans, so who is first?
Don't you wish Texas, USC and FSU had wrestling teams?
My opinion is college wrestling needs a strong Iowa.
Their struggles are real and they seem to be in some sort of free fall, but college wrestling needs to maintain some sort of strong foundation.
Their struggles are real and they seem to be in some sort of free fall, but college wrestling needs to maintain some sort of strong foundation.
Iowa?
the third best wrestling team in Iowa? 4th best if you count the woman’s team.
the third best wrestling team in Iowa? 4th best if you count the woman’s team.
What if you count Sebolt?
sure, wrestling needs several good teams. None have to be Iowa.
I think other programs passing Iowa will help the sport. Iowa fans are the closest thing to cubs fan wrestling has going. Each off-season new optimism abounds with each mid level transfer. Most other programs need a legitimate reason for optimism. Get the best results where they are needed.
I’d like to keep this topic on course, but for the past 50 years Everyone knows that the girls in the stands watching Wrestling versus any other sport Are the hottest. (sorry if I’ve offended anyone).
Serious question- how many AAs does Iowa have next year?
Ferrari. Then maybe Gabe and Keuter. Maybe Deluca depending on how he comes out.
I see 4. Maybe someone else like Block or Williams will catch fire, but over/under is maybe 3.5, assuming no transfers. I think transfers will be fewer with the new NIL rules and no pay-for-play. We shall see.
That’s a recipe for maybe 50 points. They will vie for 6-10th place.
Ferrari. Then maybe Gabe and Keuter. Maybe Deluca depending on how he comes out.
I see 4. Maybe someone else like Block or Williams will catch fire, but over/under is maybe 3.5, assuming no transfers. I think transfers will be fewer with the new NIL rules and no pay-for-play. We shall see.
That’s a recipe for maybe 50 points. They will vie for 6-10th place.
Bob will find a way to buy a transfer or two. Of course that doesn't guarantee anything. The other consideration is the rumor at the end of December was Bob wasn't making his allowance payments. Maybe Iowa struggles to get any transfers this year.
However OKST also has some of the tradition... we just don't face them enough... but with an insider (DT) going there and taking many of our kids with him.... the lofty goals and potential for winning (that is the kindling for a big rivalry - in another year or two).
Right now.... I would say that Iowa is still our biggest rival even if they are not our biggest competitor
Ohio State is quickly moving into that role as we have had some epic matches over the Cael era,,, with a lot of meaning behind them
OKST seems to potentially one of the biggest moving forward
and VTECH may be the biggest threat to our winning ways down the road but not a rival (dont face them, no pedigree, tradition or history)
100%
My thoughts also.
Right now.... I would say that Iowa is still our biggest rival even if they are not our biggest competitor
Ohio State is quickly moving into that role as we have had some epic matches over the Cael era,,, with a lot of meaning behind them
OKST seems to potentially one of the biggest moving forward
and VTECH may be the biggest threat to our winning ways down the road but not a rival (dont face them, no pedigree, tradition or history)
100%
My thoughts also.
141 is senior-heavy (6 of the top 9) this year. I'd expect Bailey to make the podium next year unless he gets Hawk-itis next year.
They'll need to import a 133 -- if Joey Cruz is their starter next year, that's a real bad sign.
Possibly also 197. They like Ludington, but he's not good enough to block an import.
Still, making the podium isn't enough with placement points. Ferrari is the only potential finalist out of that group. Nobody else seems like a Top 4.
Iowa will probably also do better than 6-10 -- let's say something like 3-6 -- simply due to attrition elsewhere:
- Tan Tom loses Mendez, Kharchla, and Gallagher.
- Iowa State loses Bastida, Elam, Echemendia, Dean, Zerban, and Poulin.
- Nebraska loses Hardy, Allred, and Lamer.
- NC State loses Trumble, Jack, and Redding.
But I don't see any way they sniff PSU or OKST next year, even with major imports at 133 and 197 (whoever that might be). And they're probably behind VT with Henson and Bassett added to the lineup.
I learned how to wrestle in the Iowa era so without a doubt there’s a bit of Iowa wrestling that I liked and still a slight fan of. A strong however, I can never understand how horrible Tom Brands is at interviewing. I know wrestlers that know him personally and say he’s a quality guy, which is likely true, but dang can someone give this guy a few pointers on how to conduct an interview, is he serious or what is going on there? I can’t stand him on tape, so hard to listen to, he makes no dang sense. If I was Iowa PR (which I’m not and I’m only giving my opinion because that’s what this board is for) I would ask him to never say a word again without some coaching. I say that jokingly and with full seriousness, their AD needs to coach him up on how to talk to the press. He’s garbage there.
If VATech looks superior to Iowa then I am guessing more than a year out that Iowa will finish 5th at best next year.
The question then becomes what does 2 trophyless years in a row do to the Brands tenure?
141 will be very tough next year. Ech is back for ISU,Larkin from ASU will move there most likely,Stanich,Vega,Who knows what PSU does but say Davis, Basset. Mendez is having some effect on making it a weight to avoid but that crazy talent at 133 isn't all going to stay there. I won't be surprised if Bailey doesn't AA next year. I might be more surprised if he is still at Iowa.
Iowa seems to be in a bit of a quandary. If they fire TNT they risk current and future defections. And they lose their money man. The new coach will need some of his own recruits and a new money man.
If they don't fire TNT they risk current and future defections. But they keep Slumlord Bob.
If they don't fire TNT they risk current and future defections. But they keep Slumlord Bob.
No. wrong guy. Ech already has the injury year from last year. You are thinking of the 133 lb. Cuban.
Considering Bob is, generally speaking, an embarrassment to the university. They would be better off with new coaching blood and a different supporters.Iowa seems to be in a bit of a quandary. If they fire TNT they risk current and future defections. And they lose their money man. The new coach will need some of his own recruits and a new money man.
If they don't fire TNT they risk current and future defections. But they keep Slumlord Bob.
How do we know that Bob is not pressuring the university to fire TnT and bring in someone else?
Because he's said publicly when Tom is done so is his $. And hes definitely not out of $.
I know he's stated that publicly but something tells me his ego talks him into staying.
Depends on who their coaches are. If they replace the Brands with Nolf and his hand picked staff, guys like Ludington and Gabe will immediately be AA candidates as well. It's difficult to overstate how far they've fallen behind in training and coaching in the dying days of the monkey brothers. Everyone saw the impact DT had at Ok St last year. Look at what one season in the PSU room has done for Rocco. Nolf will do that whenever he takes a HC position. If Ok St overachieves again at nationals and finishes 2nd while Iowa is fighting for 5th or 6th, I think the writing will be on the wall.
If the Brands are still coaching next season with the electric staff of Bobby Telford and Morningstar, then, yeah, 6-10th if they are lucky, and it could completely go off the rails with Cali, Ayala, and PK gone. They have some decent recruiting classes coming. It would behoove them to make sure those guys are brought along under whatever the next regime is going to be or else they will be ground into the ground like everyone else by this staff.
Slumlord Millionaire is a different issue, but if they replace the Brands with someone who will generate excitement around the program like Nolf or Dake or Burroughs, I can't see any elite recruit looking at that and saying no thanks, I'd rather stick with the stalling and hand fighting and being injured by tournament time.Iowa seems to be in a bit of a quandary. If they fire TNT they risk current and future defections. And they lose their money man. The new coach will need some of his own recruits and a new money man.
If they don't fire TNT they risk current and future defections. But they keep Slumlord Bob.
No slight intended towards Nolf, but how can you be sure he would bring about the results you're describing? As Penn State fans, we hold him in very high regard, but he's not coaching anywhere at the college level. For all we know, maybe he doesn't want to do it. Being a head coach for a major program is a big job that involves a lot more than just knowing a lot about wrestling. You have to deal with stuff like budgets, recruiting, medical issues and all kinds of things that are outside the scope of just wrestling. I've looked at what head coaches for high school teams have to deal with and I really respect them for their effort and dedication. Iowa wrestling has a big pair of shoes to fill, and I'm not talking about TnT. Zelesky wasn't up to the task, and it doesn't appear that TnT are the answer either. I think Iowa fans are looking at a long stretch of continued frustration.
I don't think it is much of a gamble to bet that Nolf is smarter than the Brands twins combined, so he can figure out everything they have learned over the last 30 years in a couple of weeks. He could easily bring in an older experienced guy to handle compliance,budgets,travel and such. The excitement would be high in Iowa City.
One of the only problems is - Jason Nolf was absolutely one of my favorite wrestlers ever, and it’d be hard to continue to hate Iowa in the proper way if he took the job.
Nolf graduated with a 4.0, has a great sense of humor (which to me shows certain level of intelligence), he doesn’t have to know everything, he’s a quick learner, magnetic personality. Picked up BJJ and highly skilled within a matter of months. If he doesn’t burn bridges at PSU it’s hard for me to believe that he won’t continue to be friends/ good relationships with the staff @ PSU and learn as you go. He didn’t have any freak attributes while a wrestler, like extreme length, extreme strength; he’d look like a Chemistry Teacher if he wore a lab coat. He has a variety of attacks, he’s relentless. Can-do guy.
He’d be my first pick without any super-notorious coach-in-waiting.
What’s Iowa (or any decent wrestling program) got to lose with enlisting Jason Nolf as a Head Coach? I think he could be the next… you can fill in the blank.
Zelensky and Brands have won 7 titles between them. Not Gable, not Sanderson, and not Smith, but Brands has more than JR and Zelesky as many.
Compared to Gable or Sanderson the two post Gable coaches are not up to par, but they trail only Smith in championships won in the past 40 plus years.