Maxwell Smart

There was a time that Iowa was elite, but when you win one title since the 2014-2015 season, you're not elite. Couple that with other programs producing more individual champions than you in that time period, and you're actually falling behind. My first post on this forum was that I didn't understand the adulation for Tom and Terry when the results didn't match the adulation. Wrestlers used to want to go to Iowa, doesn't seem that way any more. The transfer portal must be their friend.

10 year period with 9 tournaments. 2014-2017 average placement 3.5. 2018-2023 average placement 5.6. 2014-2023 average placement 4.6. Factoring in a first place finish in 2020 puts the at the 2018-2023 average at 5th place and the 10 year average at 4.3. Just the numbers. Jax to Lehigh, Bo to PSU, Marcus to Ohio State. All 3 will have an impact.

This post generated so much great material and absolutely must read rebuttal. The Hawkeyes will have to go to the portal every year. It'll be interesting to see how it all works out.

The transfer portal and NIL money are ruining amateur sports. Recruiting isn't what it used to be, transfers are a way of life. It was predicted that Iowa would have to use the portal, and it'll continue. All teams in all sports either use the portal or fall behind. It's not good for team unity but having better competition in the room could lead to improvement. It's rumored that Ohio State spent 20 million dollars of NIL money to put this years team together, all in order to beat Michigan and win a championship. There's always been an underbelly of college sports, now it's out in the open and out of hand.

There's no way to compare the two. This is a question for college football fans. Sounds like someone loves the hurricanes, they've been back for the last 23 years. All time great team but haven't been anything since. I think someone threw the flag for pass interference from the stands, it was that late.

Thanks for clarifying the Brands Bros high school record and recruiting. When you're infatuated, your memory plays tricks on you.

Throwing the "Brands Bros." in with Cael, Kolat, etc. and all the wrestlers that had amazing high school careers, again shows the sycophantic adoration for Terry and Tom. Their wrestling in high school was not extraordinary in any way. They improved in college and got much better, but including them in the post shows the adulation in the forum. Don't think they belong in the same sentence of the many wrestlers mentioned. It's not hate to point this out.

His club coach does a great job. Time will tell, he certainly can go where he chooses. CHA is certainly a great venue but OK State, PSU, and others get raucous also. Don't know what was meant by "at Iowa he can be known to more than just wrestling fans." His style looks more Messenbrink than Lee, although Spencer is held in high regard in the area. Everyone has NIL money.

Why would he go to Iowa when there are so many wrestling rooms that are better and closer to home. Lehigh, Cornell, and everyone's favorite team on this forum. David Taylor and Oklahoma State have a better shot if he leaves the state. It's laughable to be gaslighted by the repeated "the Iowa wrestling room is so tough that they beat each other up and are either injured or out of gas going into March." Pretty sure wrestling rooms are aggressive. Iron sharpens iron not weakens it. Other programs are getting better with solid recruiting, not NIL money.

To clarify, I meant the next few years. Hard to stay up there with the small # of top recruits coming from this class.

The Hawkeyes finished 6th in final recruiting on Flo. Angelo Ferrari #2, Miguel Estrada #48, and Kael Voinovich #99; Kyle Parco transferred in. Looks like they'll have to use the portal to keep up with everyone.

This topic has been brought up several times in the past 2 years, and each time the responses are more in depth and make for great reading. Thanks for all the excellent points made by all.

Don't the Hawkeyes get excellent recruits and AA transfers? Amazing they have 1 guy in the finals, I thought Real Woods would win at least 1 title, he seemed to plateau. Ditto for other transfers, disappointing for sure. Seems like a trend.

All part of the training and preparation. PSU is 56-7 in the semi finals under Cael. Pick it apart or make fun of it, the numbers speak for themselves. PSU's not the only one team sending this message and have wrestlers bring up a higher power. Perhaps that's what helps them get through the grind of being a wrestler at this level.

Absolutely understand his point, he's calling out the system that allows this to happen. Don't know the answer, but his wrestler would probably go 0-2.

Nelson Brands uses the same strategy as Lewan. Great defense and very little offense. Both look bull strong.

Was just pointing out the fact that out of 9 wrestlers, 5 went undefeated and 4 had 1 loss. Unfortunately, a previous post was included. Not saying the Brands brothers should be replaced, it goes back to the adulation of the writers and posters on this web site and forum who put them on a pedestal. They haven't developed the amazing talent that's been recruited or transferred in, yet you'd think they produce individual champions and championships like Dan Gable. They get way more credit than they deserve based on the results. They're driving an exceptionally fine race car and they can't seem to get it all working to place first. Just an opinion.

The nine PSU wrestlers either went undefeated or lost one match in the Big Ten Tournament.

No individual titles with 1 wrestler in the finals. Michigan and Nebraska finish ahead and several teams have more in the finals. Ohio State's team is young and talented. National talent at an all time high with 5-6 year seniors and incoming freshman ready to go. Teams are passing the Hawkeyes, they were once trying to catch up. IMO

The first post on this forum pointed out that the Hawkeyes haven't had near the success they had after the first 3 years of the Brands brothers and the brothers get all the raves about how they develop talent. Look at the program after that 3 year run; 14 years - How many NCAA titles? How many individual champions? Several teams have more individual champions, and don't compare them to PSU, it's very obvious who has the teams ready every year. Lehigh, Cornell, Ohio State and others now compete with the Hawks for a trophy. I knew this was a Hawkeye dominated forum. If someone opines their thoughts on the Brands brothers, the sick-o-phants(sp) come out in full force.

Props to T&T, are you serious? You're headed to 3-4th every year, and that's just theBig Ten.

No individual titles with 1 wrestler in the finals. Michigan and Nebraska finish ahead and several teams have more in the finals. Ohio State's team is young and talented. National talent at an all time high with 5-6 year seniors and incoming freshman ready to go. Teams are passing the Hawkeyes, they were once trying to catch up. IMO

Yeah, that's been their secret all these wins and titles. Totally explains everything.

Props to Glazier, great job. Pop the champagne, the Hawkeyes got a wrestler in the Big Ten final! All about the coaching.

Watch out for Lou Deprez from Binghampton at 197.