swoopdown

I enjoyed Buroughs and Messenbrink trolling each other through the match.  (Jordan shoud market a line of collapsing wrestling socks, MM a herky jerky wind up wrestler toy who attempts to shake hands and slap the back of anyone within reach).  The headsmash at the end was arguably a bit much (could have resulted in a DQ on the international stage, however no ref who values his health would DQ Burroughs in a USA Olympic team trial) but I classify it as an isolated get-off-my-lawn old guy vs annoying-young-pup incident and a nothing burger.  As far as the booing (also a nothing burger), Jordan pretty much said nothing when he moved past my section but Manning was yelling at the crowd (no idea what he was saying or responding to) and the crowd was responding to Manning more than Jordan by that point.   Being an evil  NLWC fan, I may have booed Manning (and Jordan too, the headsmash was deserving) but believe I was fully invested in laughing and enjoying the spectacle with the fans sitting near me and don't remember doing so.  

So the good news for those rooting for the demise of nittany lion freestyle club is the club lost $258,211 in 2015.  At that burn rate the $5 million 2014 contribution will be gone by 2034 and expenses will have to be cut.  Unless they can find another donor that is.

37 minutes ago, 1032004 said:

A bit dated, but here ya go

https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/5068724-tax-forms-reveal-stunning-finances-at-nittany-lion-wrestling-club

thank you!  It looks like someone(s) contributed $5,524,538 in 2014.   So a one year pop.  Not as much as I thought given the yearly expenses of an international wrestling operation.  Salaries around $450k alone are close to the typical income for a year - may not be a sustainable model without periodic one time gifts.    There must be other funds outside the club - do individual wrestlers fund their own travel and training expenses and have their own income streams?  Of course this is for the freestyle operation and doesn't really shed much light on the collegiate side.   Interesting for sure though.  I'll have to put on my financial analyst hat and explore some of these links sometime.

I suspect there is a lot more money moving on the collegiate side.  OSU with a new facility.  Iowa building something new.  And NIL changes everything.  We still haven't seen who wins and losses from that change.

It seems a tenet of the faith the PSU is awash in money - more than any others.  Does anyone have a reliable source supporting this premise?  Any details regarding who contributes money?  Where is the spend going?

I've never actually seen anything credible and am curious.  I mean the University enrollment is declining, there is a budget crisis, state funding is less than most.  The population of PA stagnated as the industrial base declines.  Football makes money for the athletic programs but less than Ohio State and Michigan.  So it must be mega-rich alums, right?  Anybody have any references?  Or is it  "it must be true 'cause I saw it on the Internet" phenomenon?

Transparency would be epic - imagine the forum animosity and angst that would be generated!  I'm sure Cael gets Manning's vote every year!  Secret ballots are no fun!  Which coaches vote for themselves? 

Who actually makes the selection?  Is there a list of voters?  Nominees?  Who voted for whom and results?  

If they go the push out route they should at least make it entertaining:

1 pt - out of bounds

2 pts - off the mat

3 pts - into the scorers table of over a chair

tech fall - into the lap of a cute wrestling mom

43 minutes ago, Offthemat said:

I’ve asked if it might be better for folk style to just allow takedowns initiated inbounds to count even if they finish out of bounds.  No need to drag the toe. 

Interesting.  In theory better action.  However are there side effects - like would potential to injure increase?  

7 minutes ago, Idaho said:

Something tells me winning another national title, setting the scoring record and having 2 4x champs is going oveshadow this mistake in the recruiting realm.  

On a related note, even if Messenbrink knew he needed a score in the last 15 to get the win, it does not mean he does. 

I'm certain that this blunder will result in Cael never getting a high level recruit again and having all his wrestlers enter the portal.  If Cael was Japanese seppuku would be the only option. 

Well, on the bright side Messenbrink's situational awareness will improve reducing his dependency on coaches and making him a better wrestler after his transfer.

I'll swim upstream on this one.  Not a big fan of push out points.  Puts too much emphasis on low skill technique.  I prefer wrestler emphasis and points for real changes in control.  But I'll admit, if it would have been turned on conditionally (no TD in 1st period or automatically in OT), it might have improved a few matches. 

2 minutes ago, Pa in Taiwan said:

THIS is the right attitude when another team reaches a goal and breaks a record. It demonstrates a fan who is able to remove his homer glasses and recognize a great team and performance. I feel you on Kasak. The kid stepped up in a major way this year, filling in up a weight class for an injured SVN, wrestling an amazing season and then showing the heart to wrestle back for third after dropping his first match. Root for your wrestlers and your teams. 

Why would Hawk fans be rooting more for PSU not to break the (ancient) record than for their own team to perform well? Mr. PeanutButter, I salute you. 

Vak, can you give us some insight into your views on the importance of PSU NOT breaking the record? 

Past laurels help soften the impact when you team falls from grace.  PSU fans don't need the record right now but eventually the wheel turns and this year will come in handy.

Vito just proved that there is a God

Has there ever been a stalling riot

I think that a healthy Figs may destroy the 125 parity next year

reviewing the review is the new thing

4 hours ago, Mr. PeanutButter said:

There were so many shenanigans in that match, I'll save that discussion for a later day.

I'm wondering what would be the most controversial and protracted way for him to win? My nightmare scenario: Vito scores the only takedown but gets called for locked hands x2, gives up a stall call and a point for hands to the face. OKST runs out to the mat multiple times and demands free reviews. Camera pans to Ragusin in the stands as he's mouthing the words "whiney little b*****". Fix hugs the boundary line/runs directly towards it multiple times but never gets called. Wins by 1

i could see Fix borrowing a Mekhi-Lewis-like Inspector Gaget leg that extends and touches chairs and the gym floor everytime Vito shoots.

JB and Yanni PI

Part II

Wright weighs in on head lock

Already out there but has to be the lead off 

https://x.com/carterstarocci/status/1771624648624521646?s=20

Rumor is that Carter is going to donate his good leg to Spencer Lee, convert to bionic and represent the US in the Enhanced Games

Robb had the most difficult "wrestle back" of all.

1 minute ago, Rassling said:

We both posted the same thing at the same time! So there you have it - he ain’t coming back ha!

jinx?

He's on record as viewing another year of classes unfavorably.

And sadly denied a spot on the all quad symetric team.   After BAC brought this to my attention it became more important to me than increasing the PSU team score. 

However I just googled 4445 and discovered it is the Angel number.  This may be a sign regarding tonights finals.   I only mention this as a convenience to the no tolerance for proselytizing contingent.

Interesting analysis of Iowa 1997 and PSU

https://pennstatewrestlingclub.org/chasing-170/

I'm not convinced that Gable's 1997 team was the best Iowa team ever, (the team earlier lost a dual to OSU), but Gable has to be credited with perhaps the best coaching ever with his 1997 effort.  The point production of that team was somewhat of a surprise.

per the post -

"Three wrestlers seeded 1st , all won. Four wrestlers seeded top-12, all exceeded their seed and all became All-American’s. One unseeded wrestler finished 6th , also earning All-American honors."

Some history at

https://www.bloodround.com/blog/2019/7/19/1997-in-wrestling-it-was-a-magical-year

PSU has an ouside shot at the point total, but will have to over-perform to do so.   Iowa's 1986 team had a larger margin of victory than its 1997 team - does PSU have a better shot at that?  Also, the five champion threshold is not likely to be surpassed this year.  I think Iowa's records are pretty safe thank's to PSU's lack of point production at the bottom two weights, Carter's injury and the Saturday match-ups that exist this year.

https://www.ncaa.com/history/wrestling/d1

Gable's achievements are remarkable.