Iowa just does not have the talent

[VakAttack]

10 minutes ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

I don't see how they fix this issue.

Iowa's reputation has problems on multiple fronts.

 

The issue is "fixed" at least for now.  They're getting multiple top end P4P kids, most recently they got a relatively high profile guy you may have heard of.  Deluca, Ferrari the Younger, Gabe Arnold, Harvey Ludington, Bo Bassett (and hopefully Melvin Miller and Keegan Bassett).  Now as to whether they'll be able to compete with PSU with that kind of talent?  Up the air.  PSU is the standard right now, Iowa is trying to raise their game to match.

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

Just now, VakAttack said:

The issue is "fixed" at least for now.  They're getting multiple top end P4P kids, most recently they got a relatively high profile guy you may have heard of.  Deluca, Ferrari the Younger, Gabe Arnold, Harvey Ludington, Bo Bassett (and hopefully Melvin Miller and Keegan Bassett).  Now as to whether they'll be able to compete with PSU with that kind of talent?  Up the air.  PSU is the standard right now, Iowa is trying to raise their game to match.

I don't see how they can reliably recruit against PSU.

If there were just two universities and where to go was a binary choice, they might have a chance.
Even adding just Oklahoma State to the mix dooms Iowa.
Every blue chip kid that goes anywhere but Iowa dilutes the pool for Iowa and they have little margin for error.

 

[VakAttack]

3 minutes ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

I don't see how they can reliably recruit against PSU.

If there were just two universities and where to go was a binary choice, they might have a chance.
Even adding just Oklahoma State to the mix dooms Iowa.
Every blue chip kid that goes anywhere but Iowa dilutes the pool for Iowa and they have little margin for error.

 

Certainly possible.  I'm not the Iowa fan who's like 'it's all over now for PSU."  By the same token, as you say, high end guys going to Okie State are also not going to PSU.  Not something that will be felt by them in the next 3-4 years, but it may also bring PSU slightly back closer to the pack.

I hope you're wrong and I'm right that Iowa is on track to be more competitive with (and even beat) Penn State, but I can't get mad anybody doubting that anybody will beat that monstrosity in State College.

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

1 minute ago, VakAttack said:

Certainly possible.  I'm not the Iowa fan who's like 'it's all over now for PSU."  By the same token, as you say, high end guys going to Okie State are also not going to PSU.  Not something that will be felt by them in the next 3-4 years, but it may also bring PSU slightly back closer to the pack.

I hope you're wrong and I'm right that Iowa is on track to be more competitive with (and even beat) Penn State, but I can't get mad anybody doubting that anybody will beat that monstrosity in State College.

For the record, I'm not an Iowa or PSU fan.

I see PSU with a recruiting 'floor' that's much higher than Iowa's.
In future years, I see their floor being higher than Iowa's ceiling due to some of Iowa's recent decisions.

[VakAttack]

Just now, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

For the record, I'm not an Iowa or PSU fan.

I see PSU with a recruiting 'floor' that's much higher than Iowa's.
In future years, I see their floor being higher than Iowa's ceiling due to some of Iowa's recent decisions.

I could understand why someone would feel that way.  I think the commitment of Bo Bassett, arguably the biggest star in American wrestling with the young ones, is a potential game changer.  But I could also be wrong.

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

Just now, VakAttack said:

I could understand why someone would feel that way.  I think the commitment of Bo Bassett, arguably the biggest star in American wrestling with the young ones, is a potential game changer.  But I could also be wrong.

That's a good land, no doubt.

However, if I'm a wrestling dad with a kid about to go to college, PSU is vastly more appealing than Iowa... unless they're throwing money at us and we need it that bad.

I don't want to watch Iowa bring in some one-year-wonder from the portal, in an attempt to win a single weight in a single year, that screws my kid's career.

On the soft side, I've met both Brands brothers and I've met Cael.
Another plus for PSU on personality alone.

[VakAttack]

7 minutes ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

That's a good land, no doubt.

However, if I'm a wrestling dad with a kid about to go to college, PSU is vastly more appealing than Iowa... unless they're throwing money at us and we need it that bad.

I don't want to watch Iowa bring in some one-year-wonder from the portal, in an attempt to win a single weight in a single year, that screws my kid's career.

On the soft side, I've met both Brands brothers and I've met Cael.
Another plus for PSU on personality alone.

Eh.  The portal kids have been brought over to shore up weaker weights, not over the top of elite level recruits; it was more a result of their old school recruiting style not bringing in the elite recruits and not being able to turn EVERY top 30 guy into an AA wrestler.  I do not believe the Bassetts are in desperate need of money, but also Penn State has "recruited over" elite level recruits anyway, and nobody seems to be holding that against them.  It's going to be up to the Brands to actually succeed with the elite level recruits they have now.

[BruceyB]

27 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

Eh.  The portal kids have been brought over to shore up weaker weights, not over the top of elite level recruits; it was more a result of their old school recruiting style not bringing in the elite recruits and not being able to turn EVERY top 30 guy into an AA wrestler.  I do not believe the Bassetts are in desperate need of money, but also Penn State has "recruited over" elite level recruits anyway, and nobody seems to be holding that against them.  It's going to be up to the Brands to actually succeed with the elite level recruits they have now.

Mesenbrink coming in over Facundo who was a top #3 recruit with 3 years of eligibility remaining.

Dean coming in over Beard who was a returning AA with 3 years of eligibility remaining.

Then recently their abundance of wrestlers who will be overlapping in eligibility and weights.

@VakAttack you know I have my fair share of criticism towards Iowa, but I also find the hypocrisy of always casting Iowa as the villains amusing. Nearly every school is going to bring in a high level transfer if they have the means and a spot that is questionable in their line-up. Wrestlers, just like coaches, should be aware that in today's college landscape, no athlete is guaranteed to stay at your program for their entire career, and likewise the athletes should know that if they aren't getting the job done, these top programs will go out and find someone that will. 

The difference between PSU and everyone else is that they have turned high level recruits into national champions at a rate that hasn't been even remotely comparable by any other team in the past 15 years. 

1 hour ago, Saylors_Tiny_Willie said:

However, if I'm a wrestling dad with a kid about to go to college, PSU is vastly more appealing than Iowa... unless they're throwing money at us and we need it that bad.

I don't want to watch Iowa bring in some one-year-wonder from the portal, in an attempt to win a single weight in a single year, that screws my kid's career.

What about Facundo's parents who watched PSU bring in a four-year-wonder from the portal that wipes out their son's ability to get in the line-up at his optimal weight for the rest of his career? The Mirasola's who may or may not make the starting line-up next year, especially if Ghadiali transfers in. Joe Sealey who committed and then Mesenbrink comes in, and PSU recruits PJ Duke?

[Saylors_Tiny_Willie]

4 hours ago, BruceyB said:

What about Facundo's parents who watched PSU bring in a four-year-wonder from the portal that wipes out their son's ability to get in the line-up at his optimal weight for the rest of his career? The Mirasola's who may or may not make the starting line-up next year, especially if Ghadiali transfers in. Joe Sealey who committed and then Mesenbrink comes in, and PSU recruits PJ Duke?

It's a valid point, but the problem seems more pervasive at Iowa as they scrabble.

[camoflauge50]

On 3/10/2025 at 9:34 PM, Spencerlee said:

The Iowa coaches weren’t even in the top 5 most obnoxious staffs  at B1Gs. 

They have loads of competition but they certainly hold their own. Even with all the “good gollys” and “gee willikers.”