MidwestMan

Thanks again. Wasn't expecting that, but that's why they wrestle the matches. Also the reason I'm not a gambler.

Thanks for that Hawks info. Track Hub is still not resetting so no recent updated info on Tiger wrestlers. Looks like it was going to be an all Tiger final at 184.

It is the first of December. It's a long time till March and I am not a fly on the wall in the Zou room. As a fan, I would have loved to seen the Elam-Buchanan match up, but wasn't expecting to see it. I'm curious what kind of weight cut Rocky has to do to maintain 197. Could we see him do a Batista and bump up to Hvy next year and open up a slot to alleviate the jam at 184. Also curious about motivation. I can't fathom the physical/mental drain 5 and 6 yrs of college wrestling take. 4 was plenty for me and I came up during the Dan Gable "head wrapped, limping on one leg, running in the middle of the night when the Russians were sleeping", mentality. As athletes, there comes a time when we ask ourselves that philosophical question, "why?" I'm sure there are several forum regulars that know exactly what I'm referencing. Isn't it strange how the "lenses in our glasses" change with each decade?

I'm a big Clemson fan. We both wrestled and graduated from the same HS, except way different decades- lol. His contributions as an ast coach at Mizzou are appreciated and I had confidence that he could get things turned around at Maryland, with time. My only fear was that he would use home state connections to recruit "Show Me" talent, and he did get some good ones with the Millers. Maryland is my 2nd favorite team to cheer for.

Just off my head without going back and doing the "homework", and with just a bit of home state bias: Michigan, Cornell, Mizzou.

With the current state of NIL and the transfer portal, is there such a thing as a total "clear path?" At Mizzou, Zeke Seltzer is probably the projected starter after taking a red shirt in "22-23". He could develop into a good one, but Zan is a grinder and would have been a quality addition. I think coach Smith is pretty loyal to his current lineup, but "iron sharpens iron" and competition in the room only makes everyone better. I'm a Mizzou homeboy and seems like we've lost out on some kids that would have definitely been great additions to "Tiger Style!"

When Oklahoma made the coaching change I was kinda hoping that Zan might stay at home in Missouri and become a Tiger. I know we can't keep em all home, especially with NIL, but Mizzou needs to be able to shut down the borders for our best. Zan would have given Mizzou some strong depth at 133. Is any one in the know why he chose to go elsewhere? Guess its karma for Mizzou stealing Wisconsin talent.

Just read Mitchell Mesenbrink's interview on Flowrestling about why he chose Penn State. He described the "Tiger Style" philosophy to a "T"! Everywhere in the article that read as "Penn State", I just interjected "Mizzou" in my mind. Love this kids attitude. Sure would have looked good in Gold n Black. Guess I'm still wondering why Mizzou didn't pursue him harder than Cal Baptist, in the first place. Gotta let it go!

Brian Smith was hired at Mizzou in 1998 and if I remember right, Castiglione was the AD that hired him before heading to OU as their AD in the summer of "98". It sure worked out well for Mizzou. Hopefully, Oklahoma found their man if this news is true.

Oh yes, those were the days. What did we do before the internet? Got together at the local watering holes and told "lies" and "exaggerated" stories about the "good ole days" and the legendary wrestlers and coaches of our times. Annual Missouri coaches clinic, and of course, state meet weekend, were homecoming for the diehards of faithful fans as we witnessed the year to year improvement of the quality of wrestling athletes in the Show Me state. I'm very proud of what I see today, and I still look forward to telling stories, reliving the past, with eyes forward to the future. I've even told some "Mr. Fudge Tunnel" stories over the years, so you know I've been around a day or two.

Yah, I'm bummed cause I was hoping Kegan and Mitch were going to be training teammies in the Tiger room next year. That would have benefited both and added another contender in the fold. Gotta think Mitch would have fit right in with the "Tiger Style" ethos.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year... High school states were a blast, though the time went too fast, topped by college nats last. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

I just got home from the 2 hr drive to CoMo. Lots of exciting/close matches and good crowd in attendance when you consider it's a Wednesday night dual. Glad to see the "home boys" win the dual. Kudos are in order to Carr for winning the feature match, and to both for not ducking and helping to fill the seats. Already looking forward to round two and KO's adjustments. Going to be a lot of good battles between these two and will elevate both for next level. Iowa State is my 2nd favorite team and I root for them as long as they are not wrestling my Tigers. Have a lot of respect for Dresser and what he is doing with that program.

That's because Dom Bradley is probably working with him in the room. Do you remember Dom's style of wrestling?

Concussions are serious business, and I can speak from personal experience. I grew up in the 60's in an era when getting "knocked out" in sports was simply a participation risk, and no one talked about the science or consequences. My first concussion was a result of playing "backyard tackle football", which was common in a time when kids played sandlot baseball, and football on weekends, just picking teams and going at it. My 2nd was a result of boxing in the backyard, also with neighborhood kids. (We had a pretty active/ aggressive neighborhood). The first 2 were light concussions that I did not lose total conscious, but groggy and no recall. My third was when I was 15, my first year of wrestling, and a result of a firemans carry that went off the mat and ended up with a head strike on the concrete floor. That ended in a 3 day stay in the hospital. I'm sure some of you are thinking, "What kind of parenting is going on in that family?" Mom was single parent/divorced, and I was a handful to raise. I'll leave it at that. 4th and 5th concussions while in college wrestling. 6th as a result of a street fight. I was told I won the original fight, went back to apologize, got decked. 7th and 8th came later in life and resulted from crashing into trees, etc... from racing mountain bikes. By the 60's time era I referenced, you can infer that I'm no spring chicken. My biggest worry now is that my wife is eventually going to have to deal with someone with a diminished memory. Every generation brags about how tough they were "back in the day!" My hope is that our current generation is "wiser" as a result of the evidence provided from the emperical statistics, regarding head trauma. The "School of Hard Knocks" can be a tough, sometimes traumatic, teacher.

Mizzou: "woulda, coulda, shoulda, didn't!" Don't lose the lesson and move on! Sounds like the folks in attendance got their money's worth and this dual will continue to be a barn burner. Iowa state in CoMo next week so gotta get back to work.

I was going to comment right after the dual, but I've earned my grey hair and decided to use my 12 hour rule and think before typing. "Knee jerking" can really be hard on an old mans knees. Another nail biter loss for the Tigers, but give credit where it is do, Okie State was better, and it's always hard to win on the road when a team is defending their home mat. I guess I ought to actually be happy this is a topic on a wrestling forum. I've followed Tiger wrestling long enough to remember the days when Okie State would just "roll the Tigers up in the mats!" To be able to be disappointed is actually a far cry better than the days of just accepting your "ass whooping." As much as Mizzou's coach Smith has improved the program, and I for one are grateful, I ask the question, "Is that a product of recruiting, and how much of that is development as a result of the program?" I guess this could be another thread topic for the forum, but how many of the current wrestlers in Mizzou's program came in as freshman and started and how much have they actually improved? How much is their success linked to their previous high school prep, and or club affiliation, compared to their success/growth in the Tiger system? Of course, this is my biased observation, but some of the Mizzou wrestlers have wrestled the same way from the day one and have not made the adjustments to beat the higher tier AA level wrestlers. Is that a knock on the coaching staff, a result of HEW, all the above? I'm sure this question is not exclusive to just the Mizzou program. Is it coincidental that two of the highest scoring Tiger wrestlers are Askren proteges and command a higher selection of technical weapons vs tactical strategy? I know you need a little of both and maybe I'm getting way off topic and should have waited another 12 hours before punching keys.

In Missouri, we call hooking the near ankle, the "Iowa" ride. I once took a team from Missouri up and wrestled in a tournament in southern Iowa. The officials were letting the wrestlers hook and sit on the ankle and I eventually shouted out to the official about the stall tactic. One of the spectators on the first row yelled out: "You do know your in Iowa, right?"

I once got lost on Lookout Mountain, but that's another story. Not going in person but will be following the best I can. May get to Columbia for the dual next week. Hoping everyone will be at full strength, but it is still plenty early and being dinged now is better than at the end when it counts. Happy and safe travels.

Sure wished Mizzou was competing in the duals. But I also remember when they wrestled at Reno and had some good results. Got to think New Orleans would be a fun place to watch wrestling and check out the local scene. Too bad we don't see more college wrestling programs in the south. Was actually glad to see wrestling started at Arkansas-Little Rock. Good luck to all the dual teams.

I'm a Bryce Andonian fan also. The kid is "electric" with his unorthodox style. Jacques is the total opposite with a controlled conservative style and low scoring matches. Was looking forward to this match but good chance they may see each other down the line.

I'm a Mizzou fan, but give credit where credit is due. Virginia Tech has been a tough dual for the Tigers and have won the last 3 outings. All have been nail biters. Your only as tough as the company you keep and I'd rather take a close lost that prepares you for post season, than easy W's that measure nothing and are not as intriguing to follow. Building a deep roster, developing talent, and staying healthy are all part of the equation of W's and L's. I'm most proud of the fact that 5 of the 10 wrestlers in the lineup were products of Missouri high schools and chose the "Tiger Style" culture. Brian Smith is as concerned about building "good men" as he is building "good wrestlers!" If he continues to keep most the best "Show Me" wrestlers at home, we will be ok.

Mizzou is a little dinged also. Not to be making excuses, it's next man up.