Branch/Wyoming

[GreenandGold]

Is it time for Branch to hang up his spurs and ride off into the hills? The guy hasn't had a winning season in 6 years and still keeps the coaching demeanor of a John Smith smugness. His guys just work the edge yet don't really shoot even then. From watching last night's dual, it looks like he has more interest in trying to manipulate a ref and fight with fans, which if I was an AD, I'd be pretty annoyed with having that lack of class running around wearing my school's logo.

 

Wanted to get others feel as not that long ago, this guy's name was being thrown around as a potential to be the next OSU coach, now it seems he can't coach his way out of his own ego.

[Santos]

He's a good coach and person

[666]

6 hours ago, GreenandGold said:

Is it time for Branch to hang up his spurs and ride off into the hills? The guy hasn't had a winning season in 6 years and still keeps the coaching demeanor of a John Smith smugness. His guys just work the edge yet don't really shoot even then. From watching last night's dual, it looks like he has more interest in trying to manipulate a ref and fight with fans, which if I was an AD, I'd be pretty annoyed with having that lack of class running around wearing my school's logo.

 

Wanted to get others feel as not that long ago, this guy's name was being thrown around as a potential to be the next OSU coach, now it seems he can't coach his way out of his own ego.

Branch is doing pretty well considering what he's got to work with. Imagine his pitch to hot HS wrestlers: "yeah, we're within a thousand miles of an RTC and it's colder here than a witch's titty 90% of the time.  Going outside is a pretty bad idea for 5 months of the year, so get used to some pasty-albino chubby chicks around the university swimming pool. There is nothing to do in the state of Wyoming if you don't plan on joining a white supremacist militia or herd cattle. We do have lots and lots of cold, open space". 

[BruceyB]

8 minutes ago, 666 said:

Branch is doing pretty well considering what he's got to work with. Imagine his pitch to hot HS wrestlers: "yeah, we're within a thousand miles of an RTC and it's colder here than a witch's titty 90% of the time.  Going outside is a pretty bad idea for 5 months of the year, so get used to some pasty-albino chubby chicks around the university swimming pool. There is nothing to do in the state of Wyoming if you don't plan on joining a white supremacist militia or herd cattle. We do have lots and lots of cold, open space". 

They used to field tougher teams than they have in recent years. They may not have had a high volume of AAs but they had consistent respectable lineups. With Volk out, I couldn't name a wrestler in their lineup.

[ChickenWing]

57 minutes ago, 666 said:

Branch is doing pretty well considering what he's got to work with. Imagine his pitch to hot HS wrestlers: "yeah, we're within a thousand miles of an RTC and it's colder here than a witch's titty 90% of the time.  Going outside is a pretty bad idea for 5 months of the year, so get used to some pasty-albino chubby chicks around the university swimming pool. There is nothing to do in the state of Wyoming if you don't plan on joining a white supremacist militia or herd cattle. We do have lots and lots of cold, open space". 

https://wyowrestlingrtc.com/

[ionel]

1 hour ago, 666 said:

Branch is doing pretty well considering what he's got to work with. Imagine his pitch to hot HS wrestlers: "yeah, we're within a thousand miles of an RTC and it's colder here than a witch's titty 90% of the time.  Going outside is a pretty bad idea for 5 months of the year, so get used to some pasty-albino chubby chicks around the university swimming pool. There is nothing to do in the state of Wyoming if you don't plan on joining a white supremacist militia or herd cattle. We do have lots and lots of cold, open space". 

Or he could just tell them about the fly fishing and hunting.  

I bet those Wyoming kids spend at least twice as much time outside as the east coast boys.

[MNRodent]

Hmmm, Green and Gold. This sounds like a topic started by an NDSU fan whose team just got beaten soundly last night by this horrible Wyoming team.

[666]

2 hours ago, ChickenWing said:

https://wyowrestlingrtc.com/

My bad, I meant RTCs with world class wrestlers, not a bunch of R24 types. Buchanon left Wyoming a couple years back and he's still listed, btw

 

[Gantry]

Not an easy place to coach or recruit, while he's down a bit recently overall you have to say he's done a good job.

I think the emergence of both SDSU and NDSU (pre Kish leaving) hurt them quite a bit, as they are likely fighting for the same limited pool of recruits. 

[666]

2 minutes ago, Gantry said:

Not an easy place to coach or recruit, while he's down a bit recently overall you have to say he's done a good job.

I think the emergence of both SDSU and NDSU (pre Kish leaving) hurt them quite a bit, as they are likely fighting for the same limited pool of recruits. 

I had Branch near the top of the list of guys to replace John Smith, along with Coleman Scott. I was stunned when OSU hired David Taylor (but pleased). 

[ChickenWing]

I was impressed that Volk came back after getting AA last year beating Braeden Davis and exposing Davis's inner temper tantrum. Pretty sad Volk recently got injured and is now out for the year.

 

Weather is a little over stated for Laramie. Sure it can get brutal but visit Minneapolis, Lincoln or Iowa City a few days later when the front moves thru. If a recruit is looking for bright lights and big city night life then Laramie is not it (along with Iowa City, Stillwater and Ames).  Any kid who's an outdoorsman knows Laramie is perfectly positioned for world class hiking, camping, fishing and hunting within an hours drive. (skiing is probably a no-no for wrestler knees)

Branch has embraced Wyoming culture with some unique duals at the Frontier Days locale and a private dual at a ranch.

https://cowboystatedaily.com/2023/11/24/battle-at-the-barn-wrestling-match-was-the-most-wyoming-thing-ever/

https://county10.com/wyoming-wrestling-opens-with-dual-at-cheyennes-frontier-park/

Branch is doing fine at UW. I'm sure the NIL will be a constant hurdle. (Wyoming needs to get out of FBS football and join the Dakota, Montana and Idaho schools in FCS)

Edited Sunday at 03:49 PM by ChickenWing

[GreenandGold]

On 2/1/2025 at 4:54 PM, MNRodent said:

Hmmm, Green and Gold. This sounds like a topic started by an NDSU fan whose team just got beaten soundly last night by this horrible Wyoming team.

Yes, I was there and it was a beating. I've also watched Branch's teams/coaching for the past 15 years or so since he has been at Wyoming hence my question of what is going on. Even when they have had down years, they have been a classy program. What I saw this past weekend was most everyone (coaches and wrestlers) more interested in everything but wrestling. I have no inside information so am genuinely curious if there is something going on or just a one off.

[GreenandGold]

On 2/1/2025 at 1:50 PM, BruceyB said:

They used to field tougher teams than they have in recent years. They may not have had a high volume of AAs but they had consistent respectable lineups. With Volk out, I couldn't name a wrestler in their lineup.

With all of the transfers and NIL recruiting, I have a difficult time naming more than a handful of wrestlers on the mid-major programs I typically follow. It feels like each year is a new team with whomever did well the year prior absent.

[GreenandGold]

On 2/2/2025 at 9:46 AM, ChickenWing said:

I was impressed that Volk came back after getting AA last year beating Braeden Davis and exposing Davis's inner temper tantrum. Pretty sad Volk recently got injured and is now out for the year.

Jore has been fun to watch through the years. Coming from Minnesota, I always like to see them do well no matter where they go to college. It's never good to see guys limited time on the college mat get eaten up/set back due to injuries.

[GreenandGold]

On 2/1/2025 at 1:38 PM, 666 said:

Branch is doing pretty well considering what he's got to work with. Imagine his pitch to hot HS wrestlers: "yeah, we're within a thousand miles of an RTC and it's colder here than a witch's titty 90% of the time.  Going outside is a pretty bad idea for 5 months of the year, so get used to some pasty-albino chubby chicks around the university swimming pool. There is nothing to do in the state of Wyoming if you don't plan on joining a white supremacist militia or herd cattle. We do have lots and lots of cold, open space". 

I will admit, traveling to Laramie for duals in college was not a highlight of the season. One year the power was actually out in most of the athletic building and had to hold a dual in the wrestling room. As an adult, I actually love visiting the Wyoming/Montana areas but less appealing to a teenager, unless you grew up in a similar terrain or climate.

[Wyowrestling]

Wyoming fan who is also a fan of coach Branch here and couldn’t disagree more! You obviously don’t know much about our program but you will soon, some really good young kids in the program (Joey Novak, Jore Volk) to name a few and more on the way. The last two years have been an adjustment, coaches and wrestlers leaving in November hurt the program. Next year if healthy we should have ranked guys at 8 of 10 weights. We will be a top 15 team very soon! Go

[alex1fly]

23 hours ago, GreenandGold said:

I will admit, traveling to Laramie for duals in college was not a highlight of the season. One year the power was actually out in most of the athletic building and had to hold a dual in the wrestling room. As an adult, I actually love visiting the Wyoming/Montana areas but less appealing to a teenager, unless you grew up in a similar terrain or climate.

I went to one last year. Bit of a hoof from Denver, but hey. Campus was pretty, Laramie is like any other college town I've been to, just in the middle of the frontier. 

[Spencerlee]

I was out on Branch when he poked fun at Iowa for having a section empty in a 15,000 seat arena. Does he know where he coaches at?

[666]

41 minutes ago, Spencerlee said:

I was out on Branch when he poked fun at Iowa for having a section empty in a 15,000 seat arena. Does he know where he coaches at?

I bet Branch would leap at the opportunity to jump even to B10 bottom-dwellers like Michigan State or Wisconsin at this point. Can you imagine spending 15 years in Wyoming? 

[666]

1 hour ago, alex1fly said:

Laramie is like any other college town I've been to, just in the middle of nowhere. 

Corrected your spelling. 

[alex1fly]

On 2/4/2025 at 10:14 AM, 666 said:

Corrected your spelling. 

Thanks for quoting me so I could learn about another state you don’t like lol

[Idaho]

Losing Buchanan was a real gut punch... I am surprised they have been able to keep Volk. Don't tell Bob about him. 

[ionel]

On 2/4/2025 at 10:13 AM, 666 said:

I bet Branch would leap at the opportunity to jump even to B10 bottom-dwellers like Michigan State or Wisconsin at this point. Can you imagine spending 15 years in Wyoming? 

I doubt it, you should ask him.  Can you image spending 2 years in East Lansing?  

[Husker_Du]

McCade Ford actually has been doing a really great job recruiting. 

Branch does fine, imo. they aren't world beaters but they have a really stable program with some podium threats. 

not entirely sure what you're looking for. 

also - not that anyone asked - but i hate the elitist 'who would want to live there' mantra. 

different strokes for different folks. for instance, you couldn't pay me a king's sum to live in anything remotely considered a 'major city'. 

[Gus]

5 hours ago, Husker_Du said:

McCade Ford actually has been doing a really great job recruiting. 

Branch does fine, imo. they aren't world beaters but they have a really stable program with some podium threats. 

not entirely sure what you're looking for. 

also - not that anyone asked - but i hate the elitist 'who would want to live there' mantra. 

different strokes for different folks. for instance, you couldn't pay me a king's sum to live in anything remotely considered a 'major city'. 

Agreed. I would take living in Wyoming over many, many places.