PSULou64

It would seem that there are only 3 reasons not to the pull the shirt. 1. He can't beat the guy starting ahead of him. (Based upon what I've seen of them both this doesn't seem to be likely although maybe in the Iowa room things are different.) 2. He doesn't think he can beat Keck or CStar this year and would rather sit and wait till the weight class is clear and less challenging. (Possible but these guys generally are not looking to do anything but price the are the best and can beat anyone out there. Nothing would be more awesome for a young guy to beat a 4x and 1x in route to their own championship) 3. The coaches don't think he can beat Keck and CStar and think he doesn't give them the best chance to score more points and maybe the team national championship. (This would be my guess. I think he definitely scores more team points than Arnold for them and is definitely a podium contender.) Could he use more time to develop, especially in the bottom position, Absolutely, so could have Lilledahl at PSU this year but when you are the best guy at that weight in the room, give your team the best shot at a team title and getting on the podium and are hungry to be out there you convince your coaches.

At least I can say my feeling regarding Caliendo getting the major over Amine was justified. I also believe that they should pull Ferrari's redshirt. Maybe Arnold can go 174. Frankly I think he's probably a better option there anyway than Brands or Kennedy.

I'm not great at predictions and trying to go through the whole line up would probably just be bad but part of me thinks that Caliendo majors Amine. I think the constant attack rate poses a bonus point scenario there. Am I the only one who thinks that?

Angelo has one more match left on his red shirt. Where do they use it and why? The reason I ask is because Arnold's loss tonight makes me wonder how the rest of the season plays out.

You also have to remember these guys want to start right away. They want a chance to be in the mix as true freshmen. I'm not saying they wouldn't get a chance to complete at PSU for the job but to beat out a national champ, runner up, heck even an all American is a tall order for a true freshmen. Maybe they saw the log jam at the middle weights and the 2025 class and thought they'd have a better chance of cracking the line up somewhere else.

A couple of thoughts: The Brands/Iowa know that the best bet to beat Cstar is the first time. Look at his track record against guys over time (last year not withstanding as he was not close to 100%). I believe/think were looking for information from this match to help prepare for the Big Ten and NCAA tournament for Arnold, assuming he doesn't get handed another loss down the stretch, if he does I can see him lose the spot to Ferrari. I also think that Cael and CStar know this about Brands and probably had him hold back a bit. "Don't show everything you got" mentality. Maybe I'm giving everyone too much credit and I'm thinking chess and they're playing checkers but I think there was a lot more strategy to the whole thing, on both sides, then people are giving credit for.

There is a lack of understanding by most fans and the general public as well that goes along with this. Most of these schools with money making sports use that to offset all of the other sports that just lose money. Mostly football and basketball generate revenue based upon television contracts, not so much in attendance, concession revenue, etc. It has a net zero cost to the students in tuition. Turning around and paying out players on top of the costs that already exist to run the athletics programs will be an untenable position for these universities and colleges and will create vitriol between the athletes. At least now when you get a scholarship, at least in most cases, you as an athlete get access to better housing, better food, better tutors, physicians/trainers, travel and accomodations on top of an education at a free or reduced cost.

I agree, I think AB has a good chance to medal. Besides this is not '96, our wrestlers are better prepared for freestyle and the rules are more conducive to success now.

So my thoughts are that the portal can be good for a guy who is very good but can't crack the line up at his current school. It allows them more years to compete and potentially place at the NCAA tournament. Just as a PSU fan to see guys like Teske, Negron, Neville, Beard get their chance and get more than one year makes me happy. However, if you are a starter and haven't lost your head coach I have very mixed feelings about these guys moving on. It is bad for the smaller schools and those with less booster NIL money. Problem is I have no idea how to stop it. The NIL is really out of control and the NCAA has almost no way to put that genie back on the bottle.

As some pointed out Carr and MM were on the far side of the mat, the place was insanely loud and when MM looked at the score he was up still because the score operator was slow to get the Carr point up. I'm not saying there isn't some blame on the coaches but there is no way he hears them, even if they are screaming and since he can't see them either there is no way to get his attention.

I feel as Ayala is improving but I also feel like it's Lee doing that and not the Brands'. Most if their transfers are as good as they were last year but aren't better and Woods is definitely not a as good as he was.

I actually had to play back the the sequence trying to figure it out. I thought I had missed something because it didn't make sense to me.

I know I wouldn't take any bets on 125 outcomes. Everyone had looked great and then very beatable. Ayala imo had been very consistent and had no real bad losses. His problem is lack of offense which keeps him in close matches against guys that he will most often beat but will sometimes lose to. That could very well be the difference between him making the finals and not getting past the quarters. I really don't see Davis coming out of the top bracket. It's just packed with tough guys. I'm still just hoping for an AA out of him.

I'm not sure if by posting this you are saying he was a top recruit or wasn't one to be honest. I don't really consider being ranked 69th a "top recruit". It doesn't mean he was a slouch or didn't have a great high school career but im there wasn't really any hype around him.

If your only offense comes off of another guys shot then I do think at some point you are stalling. Plus he hand fights, down blocks and doesn't maneuver for a shot of his own which would open his stance to shots, to the point he keeps other guys from shooting l. He's not the guy who wants you to get to a leg so he can scramble and score or cut the corner and score. At least if he was that kind of wrestler you could make the better argument he wasn't stalling.