What if.......?

[Tripnsweep]

I don't know why I thought about this, maybe because of such a contrast in methodology but I'm curious what everyone thinks would have happened if this has occurred instead of how things played out. Keep in mind this isn't intended to be disrespectful, minimize any tragedy, or anything like that. 

In January of 1996, John DuPont while hunting on his property guns down a police officer who he believes is plotting against him. The police end up arresting him and he goes to jail for murder. Due to his incarceration and unsure future, Dave Schultz takes a lead role at Foxcatcher as the acting leader of the program. DuPont's estate and lawyers realize DuPont isn't getting out of prison and take steps to slowly phase out the wrestling program. Schultz sees the writing on the wall and with the influence/help of guys like Royce Alger, and the Brands brothers, relocates to Iowa City as the coach of the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, partially out of respect for Gable. Schultz loses a thriller to Kenny Monday in the Olympic trials and turns his full attention to coaching. Gable makes Dave a full time assistant coach after the Olympics, and then is able to successfully lobby for Schultz to succeed him as head coach, bypassing Zalesky. Schultz manages to keep everyone around, except Zalesky who leaves to be an assistant coach elsewhere. 

How would this have changed not just college wrestling, but USA Wrestling and what trajectories would have been different? Would Iowa have been able to maintain their status for a longer period of time? Would Schultz have dramatically changed the Iowa program to be more progressive thinking in regards to changing their tactics? 

Let's hear it. 

[nhs67]

College Wrestling

If Dave Schultz had succeeded Dan Gable at Iowa:

• Continuity of dominance: Iowa likely maintains its dynasty deeper into the late 1990s and 2000s. Schultz’s Olympic pedigree plus loyalty from top athletes would’ve slowed the rise of Minnesota and Oklahoma State.

• Coaching culture: Schultz was collaborative and technical. Iowa would’ve shifted from Gable’s grind-first, attrition-heavy approach to a more tactical, skill-driven style. This likely keeps Iowa fresh and attractive to evolving recruits.

• Zalesky’s exit: Without Zalesky’s short-lived tenure, Iowa avoids the post-Gable “dip” and retains more of its elite room.

USA Wrestling

• Coaching impact: Schultz in Iowa City bridges college and international wrestling more seamlessly. The Hawkeye Wrestling Club could’ve become the national training hub, rivaling Colorado Springs.

• Athlete pipelines: The Brands, Royce Alger, and others feed through Schultz, reinforcing Iowa’s hold on senior-level talent. USA Wrestling would’ve had a tighter college-to-international pathway, less fragmentation.

• Technical direction: Schultz’s progressive outlook (emphasizing technique diversity, international styles) accelerates U.S. adaptation to freestyle, possibly improving Olympic/world results sooner.

Long-Term Trajectories

• Iowa’s status: They remain the flagship longer, delaying the peaks of Minnesota (early 2000s) and Penn State (Cael era). PSU’s eventual rise still comes, but later and maybe harder.

• Style evolution: Schultz’s approach makes Iowa a laboratory for evolving tactics—leg attacks, scrambling, chain wrestling—years before those became staples nationwide.

• Broader culture: His presence keeps a gentler, more globally aware influence at the sport’s forefront, balancing out the raw intensity of Brands-led coaching.

[Ragu]

8 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

College Wrestling

If Dave Schultz had succeeded Dan Gable at Iowa:

• Continuity of dominance: Iowa likely maintains its dynasty deeper into the late 1990s and 2000s. Schultz’s Olympic pedigree plus loyalty from top athletes would’ve slowed the rise of Minnesota and Oklahoma State.

• Coaching culture: Schultz was collaborative and technical. Iowa would’ve shifted from Gable’s grind-first, attrition-heavy approach to a more tactical, skill-driven style. This likely keeps Iowa fresh and attractive to evolving recruits.

• Zalesky’s exit: Without Zalesky’s short-lived tenure, Iowa avoids the post-Gable “dip” and retains more of its elite room.

USA Wrestling

• Coaching impact: Schultz in Iowa City bridges college and international wrestling more seamlessly. The Hawkeye Wrestling Club could’ve become the national training hub, rivaling Colorado Springs.

• Athlete pipelines: The Brands, Royce Alger, and others feed through Schultz, reinforcing Iowa’s hold on senior-level talent. USA Wrestling would’ve had a tighter college-to-international pathway, less fragmentation.

• Technical direction: Schultz’s progressive outlook (emphasizing technique diversity, international styles) accelerates U.S. adaptation to freestyle, possibly improving Olympic/world results sooner.

Long-Term Trajectories

• Iowa’s status: They remain the flagship longer, delaying the peaks of Minnesota (early 2000s) and Penn State (Cael era). PSU’s eventual rise still comes, but later and maybe harder.

• Style evolution: Schultz’s approach makes Iowa a laboratory for evolving tactics—leg attacks, scrambling, chain wrestling—years before those became staples nationwide.

• Broader culture: His presence keeps a gentler, more globally aware influence at the sport’s forefront, balancing out the raw intensity of Brands-led coaching.

Awesome use of chatGPT guy

[nhs67]

5 minutes ago, Ragu said:

Awesome use of chatGPT guy

I agree.

[BloodRound]

Minnow makes AI slop about Dave Schultz instead of the Brands Bros.

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

7 minutes ago, BloodRound said:

Minnow makes AI slop about Dave Schultz instead of the Brands Bros.

This is also possible to do with chatgpt

[RandolphTJones]

1 hour ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

This is also possible to do with chatgpt

ChadGPT