"It killed me last year us getting fifth," Scott said. "It was totally different than the previous years. I can't be satisfied with second place. People expect you to go out there and show that you are good since you have that orange singlet on. That's something you've got to live up to, but it's a good feeling when you do come out on top."
Coleman Scott (Photo/Oklahoma State University Sports Information)"It got to the point where I was tired of thinking about it and I had to tell myself to get something accomplished and make those strides in the summer that I needed to," Scott said. "Once I got back into my live wrestling and drilling hard I sort of forgot about it, but then the next day it came up. It's just a motivator now though, it helps me out instead of burning me."
So for the first time in four years, Oklahoma State entered this past offseason not wearing the target of defending champion on its back. The feeling was a first for Scott, who was part of championship teams in each of his first two seasons with the Cowboys.
"It was a big change coming into this season not being the national champion and knowing that we've got to climb a ladder and not everybody is chasing us anymore," Scott said. "But we've made a lot of strides since the beginning of school. Everybody is getting a lot better and we're going to be in good shape by the end of the year.
"I'd rather have the target on because that's when you know you're at the top, when everybody is gunning for you and that's a good feeling," Scott said. "It doesn't bother me to be the underdog, but I think by the end of the year we will have that target on us."
In line with the adjustment to no longer being the defending champion, OSU head coach John Smith has shaken up his team's preseason workouts, specifically the conditioning. Scott says the difficulty of the workouts has increased significantly and the results are already apparent and have helped a Cowboy squad full of fresh faces gain confidence that was missing at times last season.
"It was a lot different this year, we took a totally different approach," Scott said. "This team is by far in the best shape we've been in this early. It was hard, but I think it's going to pay off in the end.
"It gives guys a lot of confidence when they get out there and they know they're in way better shape than their opponent is," Scott said. "Last year some guys lacked a little bit of confidence, but the guys on this year's team are definitely not going to lack any confidence in their conditioning or their skill. We think it'll be a good year."
Another change in the Cowboy wrestling room has been the transition of senior leadership. During Scott's first three years in Stillwater, there was a wealth of experience and leadership in the room from the likes of Zack Esposito, Jake Rosholt, Johny Hendricks and Steve Mocco. Now, a new group of young Cowboys looks to Scott and fellow senior and two-time All-American Nathan Morgan for guidance, a role that Scott feels ready to embrace.
"It's definitely different," Scott said. "You go from being the little guy on the team and looking up to all those guys, and now people are looking up to you. It's hard at first when you realize that there are people looking at you for what to do. Overall it's a good feeling though and I learned a lot from all those guys.
"We had such a tight team the last few years and those older guys were so good at bringing me along my freshman year and all the way through my career," Scott said. "I think that me and Nate and the other guys have to step up and do that now."
Although the team may have lost the target on its back, Scott hasn't. He is ranked No. 1 in the nation at 133 pounds by every preseason publication. Being the leader at his weight class hasn't gone to his head, however, as he's continually fueled by the eligibility clock he knows is ticking.
"I don't have any more time, I've got to win an NCAA title this year," Scott said. "I've gone through it the last three years and I haven't gotten there, so I've got to do it this year. Getting second last year wasn't a good feeling and I don't ever want to have it again. I know I have a target on my back, but I like everyone chasing me trying to get that No. 1 ranking."
Although in the short-term Scott's goals are aimed squarely on becoming an NCAA champion, long-term he hopes to continue wrestling on the international and Olympic stage. It's a goal that's all the more attainable if you look at the resources the Cowboy wrestling room has to offer. From former Olympians like Smith and assistant coach Eric Guerrero to current ones like Daniel Cormier and Mo Lawal, Oklahoma State's room is a breeding ground for future Olympians.
"I've wrestled freestyle ever since I was about 12 years old and that's always been my goal to be an Olympic champ. I'm going to train here for as long as I can and hopefully be on the Olympic team."
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