GreenandGold

I always said in college that if I could have played D1 football instead of wrestling, I would have done that in a second. It's easier and you get paid more (full ride). Wrestling could have also been something he did to just increase his football abilities, who knows. Great story regardless, best of luck to him on the field.

@Jason Bryantexplained how bad it can actually be with the old system well. I personally believe the current system is wonderful in comparison as it reflects the current year and current circumstances. People aren't generally robbed very often (by robbed, I mean meet criteria and don't qualify one way or another). https://www.mattalkonline.com/blog/looking-back-how-bad-was-the-old-division-i-qualification-system/

That was the year before merging with the WWC, correct? And didn't have enough teams (4) to be considered a qualifier per the rules (5).

If you're referring to the interlocking fingers call, it was called correctly. Rule 5, Section 8, Article 1.

Love to see it. Hopefully they have their endowment written so an ill-intentioned AD down the line doesn't see it as a piggy bank for other programs.

I will admit, traveling to Laramie for duals in college was not a highlight of the season. One year the power was actually out in most of the athletic building and had to hold a dual in the wrestling room. As an adult, I actually love visiting the Wyoming/Montana areas but less appealing to a teenager, unless you grew up in a similar terrain or climate.

Jore has been fun to watch through the years. Coming from Minnesota, I always like to see them do well no matter where they go to college. It's never good to see guys limited time on the college mat get eaten up/set back due to injuries.

With all of the transfers and NIL recruiting, I have a difficult time naming more than a handful of wrestlers on the mid-major programs I typically follow. It feels like each year is a new team with whomever did well the year prior absent.

Yes, I was there and it was a beating. I've also watched Branch's teams/coaching for the past 15 years or so since he has been at Wyoming hence my question of what is going on. Even when they have had down years, they have been a classy program. What I saw this past weekend was most everyone (coaches and wrestlers) more interested in everything but wrestling. I have no inside information so am genuinely curious if there is something going on or just a one off.

Is it time for Branch to hang up his spurs and ride off into the hills? The guy hasn't had a winning season in 6 years and still keeps the coaching demeanor of a John Smith smugness. His guys just work the edge yet don't really shoot even then. From watching last night's dual, it looks like he has more interest in trying to manipulate a ref and fight with fans, which if I was an AD, I'd be pretty annoyed with having that lack of class running around wearing my school's logo. Wanted to get others feel as not that long ago, this guy's name was being thrown around as a potential to be the next OSU coach, now it seems he can't coach his way out of his own ego.

As the diehard NDSU fan, I can't think of a team that got gutted more in one year.

He did and still found a way to tax him more than he was paid.

Bucky passed away Tuesday night. To those who never met or knew him, he was a legend and a character in the wrestling community. To those who did, you most likely have a story or two to tell. It would be great to hear some of those as after wrestling for him 20 years ago, I still hear new ones all the time.

NDSU https://gobison.com/sports/wrestling/schedule/2024-25

I don't know where people keep getting Caliendo is a 157 from, he's plenty big at 165 and is obscenely strong at the weight. Even if he could make 157 (doubtful), I don't see him being more than a puddle.

Finally found a school that would take him in. How long until they regret their decision?

Yes, Valentin. He used to also coach Helen and has coached Frank Chamizo recently at NYAC. I was glad to see Elor dumped him, he appears to be in it for the wrong reasons.

Try being here, I nearly cancelled my wife's fancy dinner reservations after yesterday.

Score? I'm in Paris with no way to watch

Ironically, UWW posted a pic of me from Rio that gives an idea. https://www.instagram.com/p/C9FSvSps6bm/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

The lottery this year was odd as they did a rolling lottery and you had something like 24 hours to enroll. I didn't get the greatest seats but I'm in. If you google Paris Olympic Tickets, it will take you there. The resale site is the same site as where you applied for tickets. I drug my feet on booking because tickets were so high, booked about 6 weeks ago and got round trip from Fargo to Paris for $900 and found a niche hotel about 15 min walk for $275/night which is relatively normal for Paris. I don't know if I got lucky or just searched enough but my experience with international travel is to keep consistently looking and a deal usually pops up.

As a wrestling fan who understands geography and travel distances, I agree. As a NDSU fan, I like the idea of giving the PAC-12 just enough teams to qualify as a conference without stripping the Big 12 of too many teams

Cal Baptist and UVU would be great candidates.

Ticketing usually starts about 18 months before the start of the games with a ticket lottery. You are limited on the number of tickets you can buy so smaller sports like wrestling don't get too overwhelmed with requests and if there are more tickets than requests, everyone gets them.

I'll be there, hopefully as the most ridiculously dressed American.