AJ Ferrari with the double fake out announcement. Haters will seethe.

[WrestlingRash]

"I didn't see a single wrestler drinking alcohol, I didn't see a single wrestler doing the wrong thing." 

 

He has grown up a lot and is a massive get for UNC. 

[CHROMEBIRD]

The way Pyles glitched 

[BarSeries]

CP had to check his drawers 

[ionel]

6 minutes ago, BarSeries said:

CP had to check his drawers 

I heard CP say he should go to 

[Not creative name]

actions speak louder than words.

is he truly a changed man? or was it all an act? it's a mystery wrapped in a twinkie.

[JimmySpeaks]

Congrats to him.  I wish him to nothing but the best 

[MPhillips]

27 minutes ago, WrestlingRash said:

 

Quote

4 Hours earlier

Initially claimed he was going to PSU to start at heavyweight but then flipped to Iowa before eventually making it official with UNC 

[BAC]

Ferrari's always going to be Ferrari, but I respect that he's trying to dial it back and at least stay out of trouble. He had all season to implode, and it didn't happen.  At NCAAs, won and lost with class.  Hope it works out at UNC.

[whaletail]

If nothing else, I thought academics would be an issue at UNC. 

I'm not sure where any NIL money would come from either. No fan support that I've ever noticed, and no prior NIL acquisitions to speak of.

Makes me even less confident in the numbers being thrown around elsewhere, as it's hard to imagine AJ turning down that kind of money to attend UNC.

 

[Dark Energy]

Koll is a CEO type coach.   He has learned to rally alumni and potential donors - and he is effective at it.  Did an incredible job while at Cornell and I think he did well at this at Stanford.   Perhaps there is more money than is being assumed.

[Gene Mills Fan]

Did he indicate 197 or HWT?

[VakAttack]

34 minutes ago, whaletail said:

If nothing else, I thought academics would be an issue at UNC. 

I'm not sure where any NIL money would come from either. No fan support that I've ever noticed, and no prior NIL acquisitions to speak of.

Makes me even less confident in the numbers being thrown around elsewhere, as it's hard to imagine AJ turning down that kind of money to attend UNC.

 

I think AJ was named like a scholar athlete at CSUB, so i think he does well at school, despite the Flat Earther thing

 

[CHROMEBIRD]

3 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

I think AJ was named like a scholar athlete at CSUB, so i think he does well at school, despite the Flat Earther thing

 

That sentence just made my head explode

[MPhillips]

2 minutes ago, VakAttack said:

I think AJ was named like a scholar athlete at CSUB, so i think he does well at school, despite the Flat Earther thing

 

I believe it's possible to be smart and ignorant at the same time...

[ionel]

Just now, MPhillips said:

I believe it's possible to be smart and ignorant at the same time...

[MNRodent]

23 minutes ago, Gene Mills Fan said:

Did he indicate 197 or HWT?

He said that he wasn't sure yet but it was a fairly tough cut this year and he now weighs 225.

Edited April 7 by MNRodent

[MidniteToka]

14 minutes ago, CHROMEBIRD said:

That sentence just made my head explode

Glad I wasn't the only one. 

[Leg rider]

I am a UNC guy, and I really hope he can keep his head on straight because I have serious concerns about him, though as mentioned he at least dialed it back some this year.  As far as NIL (and I have zero inside information) I know Coach Koll has a reputation for building programs and pulling in resources, and there are a few very financially successful UNC wrestling alums out there as well as general UNC alums that value athletics so it is possible he found a source of NIL funding that previously wasnt there or was at a lower commitment level than they are now

Edited April 7 by Leg rider

[MPhillips]

6 minutes ago, MidniteToka said:

Glad I wasn't the only one. 

Bro, your minds been blown...

[BarSeries]

Big 12 champion, Pac 12 champion, ACC champion. 

So, what Big 10 school for 2027?

[CHROMEBIRD]

I'd take the B1G field over AJ. He wouldn't have won 197 this year.

[Dogbone]

UNC is a good school but its not impossible to get into.  Has admissions standards similar to Michigan and other top B1G schools. Plus they make exceptions for really good basketball players, I am sure they can get AJ in, who probably has a respectable transcript. 

I assume UNC main donor/NIL person s the guy that lured Koll to comback.   I haven't seen the rumor of AJ's deal, but I would almost bet its going to be inflated more than his actual deal.

[Caveira]

1 hour ago, whaletail said:

If nothing else, I thought academics would be an issue at UNC. 

I'm not sure where any NIL money would come from either. No fan support that I've ever noticed, and no prior NIL acquisitions to speak of.

Makes me even less confident in the numbers being thrown around elsewhere, as it's hard to imagine AJ turning down that kind of money to attend UNC.

 

If I run a business.   Do I need any involvement with a particular college to want to sponsor a kid?   If a kid has a presence of some kind…. A brand if you will.   The college he or she competes for could be irrelevant.  If I sell let’s say better athletic socks and want him to do an instagram with it for me why would I care if it’s unc or Iowa or Canada?

[CHROMEBIRD]

We all know exactly what the recruiting pitch was like:

Koll: AJ, we'd love to you have you on board here at UNC

AJ: UNC? Where's that?

Koll: It's in North Carolina. Chapel H--

AJ: SOLD! Praise Jesus!
 

[boconnell]

This is an awesome thread title.  

He didn't fake out anybody.  The news leaked days earlier and anybody who listens to FRL knew before he said anything.  

And the haters are mostly imaginary.  More fans yawned then seethed.