NM1965

You should. They look a lot better in singlets.

That would've been Joe. Poor kid had HEW something awful.

As I recall the main issue was seeding. Rogers had essentially sewed up a top 10 seed at NCAAs, but Joe didn't have enough matches to get a decent seed (RPI issues because he barely wrestled that year), so as I recall Joe had to wrestle the #1 seed at NCAAs in the first round. Granted, Rogers wasn't really a title threat, but he'd have gotten a decent seed at NCAAs and had a good shot at placing. Thanks to Joe's seed Joe basically had no chance.

I think I'd put Cael at the top of the list of American GOATS. Undefeated 4 time NCAA champion, gold medal at Olympics, and soon to be the most successful D1 wrestling coach in history, if he's not already. Obviously many of our wrestlers have exceeded his results at the Sr level, but I think his college record and coaching record puts him on top. I don't know who the GOAT is at this time just counting Sr international results (probably JB), but I think Taylor and Dake both have solid shots to surpass him.

I didn't like how he handled his boy Joe and Chandler Rogers either, I'll be honest. That issue hurt the team and screwed over Rogers to benefit his own kid.

BJJ and wrestling are nearly the same thing. I was astonished at how easily I took to BJJ. Plus jujitsuka are terrible compared to wrestlers when taking people down.

Obviously. Strikers nearly always lose to grapplers, especially "fighters" who never actually competed (Bruce Lee).

That isn't what I said. What I said was "Are you sure it would only take him one more year? " when Ryou said Smith only needed 10 wins to reach 500 dual victories.

Mark Perry is an Okie and John Smith lost him, but that's because Perry didn't want to ride the bench behind Johnny Hendricks so I don't blame John for losing him. The main reason I want a new coach is that OSU's kids don't improve. Daton Fix never improved. Kaid Brock never improved, regressed, and finally quit wrestling altogether. Kaden Gfeller never improved after getting to OSU and I don't think even made the podium, he should've made AA at least a couple times. Chance Marstellar actually regressed from his HS form while at OSU. Guys improving at OSU now are the exception, not the usual. I dislike Ben Askren, but if OSU made him a coach I'd probably be his biggest supporter if the wrestlers improved.

If you've been in one ag college town, you've basically been to them all

He's kind of an easy one to forget. He always seemed to win 5-3 or so, barely eking out wins, until the NCAA changed the rules and pfft, that was it. I remember he had a brother who wrestled for Cleveland State (I think).

I think you agreed with me on everything, just maybe not the extent, but you mentioned something I forgot, the RTC That's a big draw for all the really good wrestlers. Maybe OSU should try to get an RTC, assuming they can get the financial backing. Name recognition wise there are a lot of guys more exciting than old John. Any of the current crop of US Senior wrestlers age 30 or so would probably make a fine coach, especially a technique guy like Taylor. That said I strongly dislike Askren, and I don't think Burroughs can teach what makes him special on the mat. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying JB wouldn't be a good coach, I'm just saying he can't teach his athleticism/explosiveness, that sort of thing is innate. As for John Smith, he treated me decent when we were both FR at OSU. I was nobody in that room, but he was a HS superstar. I'm sure he's been hardened over the years, like everyone gets with age. There are going to be a lot of other guys retiring in the next few years: the Brands boys, Dresser, Ryan, and many others. There will be a sea change in NCAA coaching in the next decade.

Thanks, Dean Heil. 2017 was the last non-Ferrari OSU champ. I'm almost 60 and forget shit all the time now.

Visit sometime and you'll understand.

My bad, forgot about the punk.

Duals are fun and fans like them, but we both know they don't mean jack shit, especially since the coaches refuse to allow so many matches to happen to protect seeds. As for Smith, I didn't say anything about him that he didn't admit in that FLO interview last year. He should've retired 16 years ago by his own admission. You should jump John's ass for "taking shots" at himself.

The worst injury I saw was my own. Rolling with a FS champ in HS, leading 12-5 with 2 minutes riding time and only 15 seconds in the match. He was working from the top, desperate because he was so far behind, and while trying to break me down he dislocated my right elbow. My right arm flopped like a noodle right in front of a cute mat maid, who proceeded to faint. They stopped the match, I told the coach to pop my elbow back into place so I could complete my win. He refused. I "lost" by injury default because my coach was a goddam pussy. Didn't recover in time for state, either

33 years is too long in this case. In 2023 John Smith gave an interview on FLO where he stated "I almost retired after my last title in 2007, I don't know what made me hang around". Paraphrased, of course. So John basically admitted that after 2007 he had no motivation with that remark. I know why he hung around though, the paycheck. I don't blame him for doing it, but I blame OSU for keeping a guy around 16 years too long despite the team continuing to decline, and OSU has a tradition of doing that. Pat Jones came in as HC in football, had 2 or 3 great seasons, then OSU keep him around for many more years despite the 2-10 records and such Pat was cranking out. Pah. Look at John's coaching staff. Chris Perry was a great wrestler but now he's so fat he should be entering hot dog eating contests, not coaching. Maybe he rolls with the HWT in practice. Plus the kids today barely know who John Smith is (or rather, was). He's an old black/white photo on the wall to them. Nobody wants to wrestle for a memory, guys want to wrestle for a guy who can make them into a champ. When was the last time OSU had an individual NCAA champion? Dieringer about a decade ago? It's high time John got out of coaching and gave somebody with a little motivation the chance to do something at OSU. He's a nice guy, I wish him the best in his retirement and hope to see him as a commentator in the future working with his brother, but as an old Cowboy fan I'm glad to see him go.

Why would being called "hawkguy" hurt his chances since Iowa has been better than OSU for a long, long time? Seems that SHOULD help his chances, if anything.

No. Because OSU will have a better coach next year but they won't have as much talent. Maybe they'll hang around the 10 level.

Are you sure it would only take him one more year?

OU is rancid.

He may be to outsiders but the people in Stoolwater love him. I have no doubt about Scott's wrestling chops but I wonder if he has the name recognition to pull down the big HS kids? He's from Pennsylvania and is sort of a HS legend there from my understanding, so I'm wondering if that'll help recruiting any?

And they only finished 10th at NCAAs. OSU has declined a lot since their last NCAA team title.

It's kind of a "placeholder" title, from my understanding. A guy who is pegged to be the next HC, but isn't official yet. My bet is that OSU wants a higher profile name than Coleman Scott so they don't want to fully commit to him yet. I think he'll be a great coach. Of course I also thought that about Mark Cody at OU.