Dark Energy

I’ve been around the sport for decades. I agree with him. Sometimes a new, fresh perspective can provide for excellent / simple questions that can challenge the ‘this is how it’s done’ mantra. And I love that he can step back and keep track of higher priorities. Some here have warped priorities.

Again, it is a needless distraction. Too much of the ‘sport’ is who is the better weight cutter. We all know it is the worst part of the sport. Makes other kids think the sport is crazy / stupid. Makes the wrestlers miserable. Stresses out parents. My wife was so pissed at my son’s cuts. I was too. Nothing crazy. But eat your dinner!!!

This weight cutting crap is a black eye on the sport. Unhealthy. Saps enjoyment.

Sounds like he feels the decision to go to OK State and Coach was rushed and not thought through well. And on multiple occasions mentioned not getting along ‘with staff.’

Your question is so fundamentally basic and simple. The answers you get will either 1) point to logistics difficulties, 2) worry about too many forfeits, or 3) in a subtle way defend weight cutting. My perspective - there is no good answer. The scales should be matside. Weight in can occur when on double deck. Fosters wrestling at a more natural weight.

Wow, talk about an exchange which is ripe for fan speculation.

He also had a major backer in the AD who was retiring. Was able to slot in Mike Grey as he left. All in all I think Koll departed on his terms and made it all work.

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.

Amen … freaking goes back to 1800’s. I know people whose great great great grandparents suffered and led a lesser life, resulting in lesser lives for their offspring through multiple generations. Impaired their wealth and happiness. They are due!!!!

Question - will the schools split up into their own divisions? Those that accept and those that don’t? Seems to make sense. Seems like the ones that don’t accept, given the examples above, are more academic oriented and aren’t big money sports schools.

@boconnell you make fair points. A reason for making the thread was that I was seeing a lot of heat towards Penn State and I wondered whether others thought there were teams that would NOT recruit/ actively welcome transfer wrestlers over wrestlers who had already committed to the program from day 1, invested time / energy, created a life in the program, and showed strong character and were a great teammate. I think most will say no. There are not programs like that if a good transfer comes along. Some are pointing out programs that haven’t had many transfers, but I’m thinking it is because they weren’t attractive to the transfers, perhaps because the program didn’t have resources to provide. If the program had the resources they would be happy to use them to get / attract transfers. These programs wouldn’t say ‘no thanks, we have our guy and we are loyal to him.’ If I’m right, Penn State doesn’t deserve to be singled out as the whole system is like this.

Wait, how would you define loyalty? I am loyal to my wife. I will not slide in a new one to replace her. I am loyal to my country, I will not pledge to another. How do you define loyalty? I recognize others may not define it the same. Back to other comments - seems like most are saying if the program has resources, generally no. Super interesting about talking to your team about bringing in a transfer. Really taking their input as a truly important part of the decision is something that I’d say fits in the loyalty bucket.

Do you believe there are teams / coaches that would not ‘accept’ a transfer that has a good chance of beating a current wrestler on the team who has shown commitment / desire / heart — no matter how good the current wrestler is? By ‘accept’ I mean be supportive of the wrestler transferring in and help to make it happen. Again, current wrestler is bought in and working hard. Not a slouch.

All fair points.

Curious about active wrestlers where other active wrestlers (perhaps a bit younger - thinking camp experience) believe they would make a great coach. Could be senior freestyle or greco guys too. Not looking for distant speculation. Looking for word from the troops that have experienced the teaching / coaching. Some guys may be good wrestlers but don’t have the mix of skills to be a good coach. Curious about those that have live reports that they’d make great coaches.

I can’t picture Koll or UNC wanting this. Would AJ even get accepted to UNC?

Potentially related to ileofemoral, pubofemoral, ischifemoral ligaments. Potentially inguinal or sacrospinous ligaments. Or obturator membrane or femoral head. How exact do you want? Let’s get his Ortho on here.

True - I can see this logic. But I think the more defensive person would still be at risk of being put on a shot clock. I suppose the concern is that the better wrestler (Zare) would lose. But I think the result would have ended up the same … 2-0 Zare.

Thanks for interacting on this and thinking about it. I’m not sure someone needs to go on shot clock by end of first. Why do you think it is needed? Worst case, match finishes 0-0 and the winner is the one that got criteria at start of match. Kinda like 1-1 criteria win. I agree that a full point to start match would be too much of an advantage. But a full point is given for the forced 1st period shot clock situation. Which, perhaps is worse? Now, the optics of a 0-0 win suck. I get it. But not really different from a 1-1 win where both points were shot clock points. Both are creating arbitrary winners. I’m thinking it is unlikely a match would go 0-0 distance. Someone likely to be called for passivity in that situation. But, it could happen.

I agree. Never said you did.

Huh? You wrote ‘American Exceptionalism is the belief that …’ You wrote it’s a belief. I’m confused. I wrote that ….. ahhh, perhaps I should have said ‘If a person doesn’t believe that …’ You seem to be thinking that I was attacking you …. Still, not sure how since I used the word ‘if’ … but anyway, I made no assumption on what your belief is. Feel free to correct me. Skins can be thin.

What did the tweet say? I missed it and can’t find it.

If you don’t believe that, you don’t know much about world history, geo-politics, global economic disparities, and military budgets / experience.

If your hypothesis is correct, then very bad idea. Not sure I agree it is that much of an advantage. But don’t know.

Quick thought - figure get reactions. In chess, one player has the white pieces, another black. Some feel there is a slight advantage to player with white pieces since they move first. Idea - random assignment to red or blue wrestler as basically having criteria to start the match. Now, from very start, someone is winning, someone is losing. Objective - promote scoring, avoid artificial passivity / shot clock moments. Just an idea - curious on reactions.