scourge165

Yeah...but he is though. I REALLY tried on this one to play devils advocate. He repeatedly refers to it as a "state of mind." It's really not. Peaking a physical(there's a mental aspect to it, but that's because you're both fresh and you're....ya know, PEAKING so you feel your best at the right time). I don't know what the hell Brands is talking about anymore, but he's really doubling down on the only way you can overtrain or NOT peak is if your head isn't clear or you're not in the right frame of mind. I still believe they have to be using basic common sense and then some sense that's not common and they've got their own way of preparing for the NCAAs or the Open, WTTs, whatever it may be...but listening to him speak there would not be the best selling point if you were looking at Iowa. Luckily...recruits on a level Iowa is talking to them get to ask about these types of things.

I think this is a little...not misleading, but unfair. He's not going in depth and talking about cyclical training cycles and rest and recovery and building up for an event, he's talking about just getting better and standard Iowa talk. I'm sure he knows that you need to ramp it up for a period of time and then...as you get closer to competition, ramp is back down so guys are physically peaking. I mean...he does say exactly what you said, but I think you're giving him too little credit. Do you really think he's dumb enough that he thinks Wrestling at the College and Sr level is just like constantly climbing a Mountain? You're just ALWAYS grinding, you're never trying to hit that peak at the right time? That the week before they were going as hard as any other week with 150 minute workouts running stadium stairs? I can't believe that's true. I really think that's just the "you've always gotta be improving," coach-speak that means very little. He has to have a plan to have guys peak.

That's always amazed me. There's no way to draw a perfect analogy, but...it's like a Man having a SERIOUS, devastating injury that knocks them out for the better part of a year and then having to rehab...while being another human beings actual food source. But Blades does look...pretty damn impressive.

I've never found them to be that bad, but I don't watch much Flo. What's the issue(s) people have with them?

Jimmy...your schtick is cute when it's actually about Wrestling, but this is just you being a true asshole. Not about Cael, not about PSU, this is about a kid overcoming addiction issues and a redemption story. For once, just try not to be a douche bag.

I really started the list, but I couldn't disagree with anyone. I can't put Kerk on there as bad as he looked or...Keckeisen or whoever, so it's these 5. Next 5 would be MUCH more difficult. -Real Woods -Mekhi Lewis -Fix(Might be knocking him unfairly, but last impressions) -Lovett -Haines -Greg Kerkvliet -Gomez...I guess. I still like him. -Rocky Elam

Assuming everyone that has eligibility and hasn't yet choosen to forgo it is eligible and we're looking at next year; --I actually got to 3 and all I'd done was flip Brooks and Starocci. It's SO hard to put anyone ahead of Vito right now though. The way I watched him smoke RBY and Fix...IDK, at this moment, I might have him #1. Brooks and Starocci are better overall in terms of their careers, but Vito wrestled at a level I haven't seen many(Any?) '33 pounders Wrestle at.

I don't see him holding '41 very long, so you should probably look at Van Ness. That argument about the level of recruiting talent...that was a debate that ends with this '23 class and transfers. I could coach Penn State to 5 National Championships with Jimmy Cinnabon's as my "inspirational speaker."

Wait...are you saying Penn State is a good team and...if I read your post correctly, they'll be a really good team next year? LOL...so what? You're not breaking news here Woodward. @CHROMEBIRD I think his post was kinda joking...maybe even poking a little fun at Lee(maybe I'm wrong here) and the situation, or at least the interest in it. How does that manifest in "Penn State is better than you?" Which, again, for clarification, we know. And Jesus is better than Muhammed. We've got the order straight now, right? I mean, I'm still curious about Joseph Smith, where he fits into the "prophet" pecking order, but the rest of it, very clear!

Ok...how has Lewis not been the same? And don't we need to wait a few years? Because Dake beat a 1X Champ in Taylor, Steiber beat the kid that took 3 and his win over Oliver was one of the most controversial we've seen. If Starocci beats...Gabe Arnold and he goes on to win 3 NCs, how much more impressive does that make it? You've read 4 of the 5 books and you've determined they're better...but there's still several chapters left. Hell, he could Wrestle 2 more years and end up with multiple more NCs in his weight. But suffice to say, if he beat O'Toole and Lewis, that'd be roughly on par with Dake, Yianni, Cael(in terms of who we built, I'm not talking about who's actually better...because as I've said, I'd have 3 timers ahead of at least one 4X Champ.

This is the reason HE gave for going to Penn State. He went to Cal Bap first because...as others have pointed out, they were the first ones who were really in on him. He wasn't a huge prospect until after beating Haines and some of the things he did his SR year. He choose PSU because he said that was the best place to accomplish his goals. That's not a story, and I'm not a PSU fan, that's just reality right now.

I think I'm putting the RS on Haines, letting Messenbrink go '57. That's best for each Wrestler...I think. Plus, Facundo doesn't lose a year. Facundo is probably a top 8 Wrestler next year...and it's not like PSU needs him to win a team title. Messenbrink is a potential 4X Champ. Likely if he Wrestle's '57 a year(or two) IMO. I don't know how Cael balances that out though.

I think this is all pretty accurate. People shouldn't take this personally....but they will. If you took Mark Schultz, gave him some elite level training from just 6th grade on, he'd likely be a "unicorn" in today's era...probably. As it stood, he had NEVER won a Tournament until his Sr year in HS and it was the State Tournament(I know I've made this point before, but it highlights the contrast to starkly). Compare that to a Mark Hall(who I thought was a Unicorn) or a Beau Basset who's been Wrestling all over the world since JHS. BUT, you're not taking that into account in this hypothetical...in which case, I think Nickal or Zahid would have easily been 4X Champs and I know the studs from the 80s agree with me. If people are honest, they can admit to how Wrestling has progressed as they age. It's been less than 15 years for me and it's objectively better now. In 20 years...I'd be disappointed if we're not saying the same thing about the guys right now. ***This doesn't diminish Schultz level of greatness in my mind. He was an absolute monster. Doesn't diminish anyone. I don't think less of Ted Williams because you didn't have left handed specialists or guys couldn't touch the velocity of the pitchers now. Just compare guys to the era they competed in. I think that's what you're saying. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Did....did ya think we weren't gonna be able to piece that together? Oh, there's not two Murin's coaching the Hawkeyes! My GOD we'd be lost with Jimmy.

Don't go shitting on a good idea with "logic" and how "realistic" it is!

Yeah...I don't know. I know I felt what Chael said about EVERY Wrestler has that match that they wish they could do over or those two matches they wish they could go back and Wrestle(Even someone like Yianni would have Gomez and...Eierman I think). But losing a piece of your soul? I really just think Spencer needs like 6 months of training at this point. I believe his knees are healthy. I don't believe his gas tank is full(because of the knees). I think he probably knew he couldn't beat Suriano. That he could jump out to a lead...but not hold onto it.

Pat Downey?

I'm gonna guess PSU and Wisconsin...and one will play FB and Wrestle. At least to start.

I've been saying Ohio State is the most likely place for it to happen, and it's require a David Taylor(hometown hero, seems like he's got the personality for coaching) and then add that 2nd dynamic coach. I'd been thinking Dake, but Snyder would be brilliant. The 3rd, it's more important how he fits than anything. Ohio has enough in-state talent and tOSU has the program and the facilities to get this done. JB's another guy I've thought of, but I was trying to line up program and athlete and some connection. Not sure Nebraska could do it. JB is from NJ. Of course he could coach anywhere as it's not like Cael's from Penn, just think it'd help a coach like Taylor(or Snyder) hit the ground running to return in-state either from HS or College. But yes, it would appear PSU is the team for the next 5-6 years at least. I could see him stepping back and Cunningham stepping in at some point as well...and PSU not losing a step.

And again, the FIRST tournament Schultz won in High School...was the State Tournament. 32-8 going in.

LOL...there are people who believe winning at 125 is not as impressive as winning at a more...normal weight. I don't think that's neccesarily the case(or worth arguing). But Lee had 6 losses and took a 6th as a SR. Why is it so silly to put him beneath Nolf, Nickal, Zain or Cox? It's obviously subjective. Would it be less Silly if Lee had lost earlier in his career and people didn't just assume he'd win? If you think Lee's the best...ok. I can see that argument. If you think 4 guys with 30-40 more wins and fewer loses and the same number of NCs are so far behind him it's comical...well, I can't see that. Cox beat Snyder, maybe the best Wrestler of our era the one year he didn't win it. It's a subjective ranking.

Lee Kemp...he was a 2X State Champ and 3X NC. So many of those guys just didn't start until HS. Just the idea that you didn't have many clubs is kinda strange when looking back.

Most of us are going to watch anyway, but there have been other years where the team title was actually still in doubt after the quarters. The adjusted scoring record? If Robbie Howard is healthy as @PortaJohn pointed out. Also, does Messenbrink and Haines wrestle next year? Does Haines get knocked out of the starting lineup? LOL...that's...actually possible at this point.

We'd be talking to Jeff f'ing Bezos if that was the case... Or Elon...take your pick of guy on his way to being worth a trillion dollars...

No problem. You didn't seem to understand as you said it was all about the "bag man." Tom Ryan showing up on campus and as you say, top 10 recruit Brinzer and they didn't even recruit him. How'd he end up there? Seems like they're showing up on a Silver Platter...as the expression goes. In other words, they were delivered to him without him even recruiting them. Mine is based on how inherently flawed the rankings you have only cut and pasted from the 1980s before Flo Nationals, Who's #1, Recruiting showcases, YOUTUBE, the INTERNET...vs modern rankings are. Not hindsight. Just the exclusion of Alger on that list makes it laughable and makes me dubious of all of your rankings.