Tom Ryan HAS to go

[Jimmy Cinnabon]

14 minutes ago, enterdisplayname said:

says you...

Penn State has 6 guys in the portal currently (all backups) and nobody is freaking out about it.

[BAC]

2 hours ago, boconnell said:

The worst was his challenge in a match they were winning, and the challenge resulted in losing points and eventually losing the match.  That might have been the most active negative I've ever seen from a coach in a wrestling match.  If he just skips work that day Cannon beats Fish.

Rumor has it that Tom is still in the Wells Fargo Center today, waiting for the refs in the booth upstairs to come down so Tom can have a chat with them.

[Wrasslin]

ehh, Tom Ryan's not going anywhere, especially when he takes my advice and hires a social media manager to ramp up his Tiktok and Insta! 

On a separate note, I'm pretty high on Ben Davino. If they can develop him properly, he's gonna be a good one! 

[NormMacDonald]

What Blueblood program isn't in trouble right now that isn't Penn State.  Oklahoma State just because they got David Taylor.  The big issue is that most everyone wants to wrestle for Penn State and while I don't blame them, it sucks for the sport. 

[Dark Energy]

From the media stuff I’ve seen about Tom, he has a very big focus on character and personal development.  Helping these young men become great men.  Fair?  Others agree?

Note, not talking about wrestling prowess.  Talking about strength of character.  
 

If it is true - that goes for a lot.  Some may say that all / most coaches do this.  I tend to think some lean into it more than others but just a hunch.

[ionel]

9 minutes ago, Dark Energy said:

From the media stuff I’ve seen about Tom, he has a very big focus on character and personal development.  

... and yet the brick. 

[InsideTrip]

3 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Penn State has 6 guys in the portal currently (all backups) and nobody is freaking out about it.

Because they know they’ll reload next year, and the next, and the next, etc. PSU’s backups would start for MOST other big name wrestling programs, but unfortunately for them, they’re stuck behind finalists. 

[BAC]

3 hours ago, NormMacDonald said:

What Blueblood program isn't in trouble right now that isn't Penn State.  Oklahoma State just because they got David Taylor.  The big issue is that most everyone wants to wrestle for Penn State and while I don't blame them, it sucks for the sport. 

I mean, if you look at it in a certain way, the Welsh situation beneficial for everyone *except* Ohio State, if its' true he's going to PSU.

Pre-transfer, two of the top 184s next year were Ryder and Welsh.  If Welsh transfers, that means one of the two is benched.  That's one less obstacle to qualifying for NCAAs, and one step higher on the podium that the 184lbers of every other school can get.

The more talent that PSU hoards on its bench, the better other schools can far vis-a-vis each other.

[NormMacDonald]

4 hours ago, BAC said:

I mean, if you look at it in a certain way, the Welsh situation beneficial for everyone *except* Ohio State, if its' true he's going to PSU.

Pre-transfer, two of the top 184s next year were Ryder and Welsh.  If Welsh transfers, that means one of the two is benched.  That's one less obstacle to qualifying for NCAAs, and one step higher on the podium that the 184lbers of every other school can get.

The more talent that PSU hoards on its bench, the better other schools can far vis-a-vis each other.

good point!

[wrestle87]

You buckeyes fans have been massively spoiled if you are calling for the resignation of one of the top three head coaches in the past decade.

I will not completely dismiss this, bc the indicators of program health are more instantaneous movers than they were pre-NIL, and it is always possible for a coach to just go on tilt and lose their touch, but placing 5th in this years tournament and this year’s field is a solid accomplishment.

Where did things go wrong? Only one place.  Welsh.  Having Kharchla and Rogotzke in and Welsh on the bench was disastrous.

Bouzakis doesn’t have the top end needed to AA.  He may get over the hump with a lucky draw, but he just isn’t as solid as people are in love with him over.

Feldman is already way too injured.  He doesn’t have a frame that stands up to heavyweight.  

The only thing Ryan can be accused of being is sentimental, giving Sasso and Kharchla more focus than they warranted this season.

Also, no offense, but who do you guys think Ohio State is?  5th is a pretty market-standard performance based on who is in the room guiding practices.  There is one world medal on the entire staff, and it was from the immediately post-olympics watered down worlds tournament.

Ryan is a great helmsman for the program, you guys need better in the room assistant coach talent.  

The Buckeye RTC is not strong, and in the current era, college success is a trickledown result of a strong RTC.  RTC athletes are extra assistant coaches just on a different payroll.  And all great college wrestlers get that way bc of their international aspirations.  When tervel left he took 99% of the international experience with him.

If anything, the buckeye program needs to refocus on bigger goals.  The last person to legitimately chase a medal was snyder, and he put himself in that position.

[ionel]

13 hours ago, RandolphTJones said:

He needs to go James he needs to go. Bring in some fresh blood and more lively asst. coaches. 

Pretty sure there's a song about it on the other thread.   

[jackwebster]

He's a seer. Long ago, he prophesied dark places, and it has come to pass.

[Coastal]

17 hours ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

Like six months ago people were saying what a great coach and mentor Ryan was after getting Sammy Sasso back on the mat. Then tOSU finishes in the top 5 (2nd behind the big 3) and a bunch of folks start freaking out. Fans need to take a deep breath.

Now that Sasso is done wrestling, can we finally admit that it was a drug deal gone bad?

[Ohio Elite]

23 minutes ago, Coastal said:

Now that Sasso is done wrestling, can we finally admit that it was a drug deal gone bad?

You got any proof to that rumor? Evidence?

[TNwrestling]

2 hours ago, Coastal said:

Now that Sasso is done wrestling, can we finally admit that it was a drug deal gone bad?

It was a car jacking gone bad. Not a drug deal.

[MidwestMan]

On 3/28/2025 at 8:45 AM, RandolphTJones said:

He needs to go James he needs to go. Bring in some fresh blood and more lively asst. coaches. 

Maybe he and Brian Smith can leave at the same time.  Both have been instrumental in building great programs, but every coach gets to that point where a program may need a new direction.  The longer the delay, the more damage to legacy.  Mizzou has a good recruiting class set to hit CoMo for 2025.  Guess their success will serve as a good litmus test.  Mizzou's showing at nats was just more of the same underperforming (to seeds) we saw at the previous two nat tourneys.  

[Paul158]

18 hours ago, ionel said:

... and yet the brick. 

If I would have known there was a complete idiot up in the review box I would have sent several hundred dollars up to him at the beginning up the session. Just to insure I would get a fair shake in case I threw an ill-advised brick during a match. If I am up by 3 with 1 minute to go and my guy is wrestling well. I'm not going to throw the brick. I would tell Cannon who loves to scramble to dial it down a notch and secure the win. I will say ref upstairs did an extremely poor job in his review of the 2 points that he took away. The ref upstairs was from Oklahoma. He should have recused himself.

Edited Saturday at 02:12 PM by Paul158
missed a word

[BarSeries]

20 hours ago, Jimmy Cinnabon said:

Penn State has 6 guys in the portal currently (all backups) and nobody is freaking out about it.

lol Penn State has a literal busload of talent 

[Paul158]

3 hours ago, Coastal said:

Now that Sasso is done wrestling, can we finally admit that it was a drug deal gone bad?

I think we can all admit that you need some help. Your statement is based on some ill-advised conjecture

[ionel]

2 minutes ago, BarSeries said:

lol Penn State has a literal busload of talent 

Don't tell MP ... he might jump buses.   

[Paul158]

11 hours ago, wrestle87 said:

You buckeyes fans have been massively spoiled if you are calling for the resignation of one of the top three head coaches in the past decade.

I will not completely dismiss this, bc the indicators of program health are more instantaneous movers than they were pre-NIL, and it is always possible for a coach to just go on tilt and lose their touch, but placing 5th in this years tournament and this year’s field is a solid accomplishment.

Where did things go wrong? Only one place.  Welsh.  Having Kharchla and Rogotzke in and Welsh on the bench was disastrous.

Bouzakis doesn’t have the top end needed to AA.  He may get over the hump with a lucky draw, but he just isn’t as solid as people are in love with him over.

Feldman is already way too injured.  He doesn’t have a frame that stands up to heavyweight.  

The only thing Ryan can be accused of being is sentimental, giving Sasso and Kharchla more focus than they warranted this season.

Also, no offense, but who do you guys think Ohio State is?  5th is a pretty market-standard performance based on who is in the room guiding practices.  There is one world medal on the entire staff, and it was from the immediately post-olympics watered down worlds tournament.

Ryan is a great helmsman for the program, you guys need better in the room assistant coach talent.  

The Buckeye RTC is not strong, and in the current era, college success is a trickledown result of a strong RTC.  RTC athletes are extra assistant coaches just on a different payroll.  And all great college wrestlers get that way bc of their international aspirations.  When tervel left he took 99% of the international experience with him.

If anything, the buckeye program needs to refocus on bigger goals.  The last person to legitimately chase a medal was snyder, and he put himself in that position.

Great post I would add a couple things. College Wrestling is evolving, you have to change in order to keep up. Tom needs to hire someone who is really good with the NIL program and the Portal system. 

[lisa morales]

The good news is Sasso is all set for his life after wrestling with that valuable degree in Sports Industry.

[AgaveMaria]

He has always seemed like a good coach who really cares about his kids. Works hard for them. A tireless promoter for his team and school.

When it is finally time to go I hope he knows it and doesn't hang on like Bucky Maughan at NDSU.

[Paul158]

46 minutes ago, lisa morales said:

The good news is Sasso is all set for his life after wrestling with that valuable degree in Sports Industry.

Nice cheap shot. I hope you feel better.

[MPhillips]

13 minutes ago, Paul158 said:

Nice cheap shot. I hope you feel better.

After your acknowledgement, probably.

C'mon Brother...