strange_daze

A couple examples of DII guys who made the leap some time ago: Jody Strittmatter (2XChamp at P-J, 2X All-American at Iowa) and Tervel Dlagnev (multiple time world/olympic medalist). I know there are others, but I'm guessing not many in the last decade. I think there's some parity in overall talent (at the highest levels of DII, anyway), but a major difference, probably, is in mentality and training. D1 guys want that lifestyle; other athletes work hard but may not live and breathe it in a way that would have them knocking off AAs left and right. I suppose that's part of what makes D1 athletes D1 athletes.

You're a coward with zero personal character if this is actually your point of view.

Your opinion is gross and speaks to a lack of personal character.

I think you're onto a useful connection here. I'd just tweak it a bit: a pin is analagous to a KO, and a tech fall is analagous to a TKO. With the latter, you technically knock your opponent down more times, but with the former, you knock them down for good. It's decisive. I wonder if people in the boxing community argue that a TKO is the more dominant finish than the KO. (Real question.)

This is a useful data point. Carter had 6 pins out of 27 matches (~22%). Wyatt had 13 pins out of 27 matches (~48%). If these calculations are correct, they both more than doubled the average pins for their weight. Hendrickson still has the edge however--pinning roughly half your competition is no joke, regardless of weight.

I was joking around, but clearly, the national tournament is different from a head-to-head dual. In that format, I would bet against an 8-2 outcome. Maybe closer to 5-5.

Wrestling should adopt a Dapper Dan event where PSU starters wrestle against highest placing All-Americans from other programs. It's kind of like the All-Star, but hold it the week following nationals, and use it to gather interest in a dual team championship.

It seems like Logan has done well with Mendez. Not sure about other lightweights (McCrone, Bouz, Cannon). Similar to Iowa, programs like tOSU really do need to build up their RTCs. Anyone who can convince a pair like Dake and Snyder to move their training grounds is going to benefit big time. However, inserting these guys directly into a major coaching role doesn't seem like the right move. Burroughs might be the exception.

Lots of conversations about the finals. Here’s one more that makes it about PSU and Okie State. (With apologies for the length.) The order of matches is one of the main stories of the night: -Starocci was upset about it and chided the media in his post-match interview ('I think you guys have to look yourselves in the mirror....') -Cael seemed a bit rattled by it during his finals presser, though he attempted to shrug it off. (‘Usually events build up to the big match...but whatever, it doesn't matter....We're not worried about those kinds of things, really. It's not a big deal'.) -Key alumni (Nickle, Nolf) communicated about it on social media. Bo's posting also got taken up by the UFC community. The general argument: Carter going for his fifth was the main event of the finals, and it should have been the ‘main card’. According to some PSU faithful, this is just another example of why wrestling is not as popular as it could be. There's also a bigger picture to consider. PSU had an historic tournament (total points, 10 all-Americans), and had Carter’s match been the finale, the celebration would have been seamless: an all-time individual merging with one of the all-time teams/team efforts. It’s great story. We all know what happened instead: Wyatt pulled off the ‘unimaginable’ and essentially stole the show. By far, it was the most exciting match and outcome of the evening. For me at least. Why this this is interesting, beyond the match itself: the wrestling community recognizes the insane output by PSU as well as Carter’s accomplishment. The story, however, has been about David vs. Goliath. It’s not the only narrative, of course, but it’s the main one, and as the wrestling pundits pundit, we hear about the positive effect it is going to have on recruiting for the Cowboys. In an age where PSU has dominated so heavily, it seems like the community is looking for different narratives. We have had this with individual storylines, but Taylor has expanded it to the 'team' level in his move to OSU and in the exclamation point his wrestler(s) put on the finals and in effect the season. It’s going to be years before David, or anyone else, can truly challenge Goliath. If ever. To me, though, it feels like something shifted on Saturday night—that wrestling, and not just PSU, got a win. It’ll be interesting to see what happens next: Will Cael want to schedule a dual and make this a rivalry, or will the two programs stay isolated outside of the NCAA tournament? I think the latter, but the decision is up to PSU. They are the best, but they also have the most to lose. Whatever the future holds: I say the battle within the battle was won by Taylor this time. It's a small victory, perhaps, but a meaningful one nonetheless.

Maybe it inspires him to win another Oly gold. Vision quest sh*t.

It’s a shame—Carter’s will never get that moment back.

I enjoyed Hidlay as well—he and Shane make a strong team.

I feel the same way. You get some Sparks (colorful, enthusiastic), you get some Hidlay (technical, knowledgeable), and you get an eye on all mats. Plus the ability to pull up single mats on another device. Not too bad.

Thanks for this work--I enjoyed reading through your rankings. It's going to be a fun week!

Minnesota?

Nickel will continue to tout wrestling and PSU in part because that's part of his base, and those ties have an impact on his ability to monetize. Nothing wrong with that, but in terms of actual wrestling, who cares what he thinks about Taylor. They aren't equivalent: DT is a world and olympic champ--in actuality, not in theory--actively shaping and the present and future of the sport; BN is former wrestler--a very good one obviously--who is trying to join the influencer game and capitalize on his past. I think Askren and BN is a better comparison, though here, too, one is actively shaping the sport in a way that extends beyond cult of personality.

It already happened: ended in a scoreless tie. Determining criteria involved a written take home exam on the concept of dasein in Heidegger's Being and Time and its relevance to wrestling in the age of NIL. The deadline is this Wednesday, so we should know soon. Use of generative AI strictly prohibited.

A testament to the human spirit. Respect.

I thought Lee had some real nice moments, but I'd like to see him get stronger at closing out matches against guys like RBY. Maybe that's an obvious point, and of course it's easier said than done. Look forward to seeing him tangle with Ono later this month.

I never said fame couldn't be used for good. Maybe PH has matured as a human compared to two decades ago. If so, that's great for her and the people she helps. My point stands, though, that one can seek fame as an end in itself or as a means of influencing others based on a model of what it means to live the 'good life'. One seems healthier and more fulfilling than the other. There's nuance here of course; I just personally think Bassett falls more into the latter category than the former. To me, he's not chasing fame--he's gathering fame as a resource to do other things. There's a difference.

Disagree. At least in the way I see fame. It's like comparing a Paris Hilton with someone like Jocko: both may be famous, but one is seeking fame for its own sake; the other is seeking influence that benefits him, sure, but that also has deeper meaning and significance and is based on a clearly articulated philosophy of living. It's not an either/or proposition.

I think it's misguided to suggest Bassett is chasing 'fame'. A more accurate and perhaps generous view would be to say he's developing his existing platform--which is already substantial--and expanding his reach as an 'influencer'. That he's an influencer for writing in particular is an absolute boon to the sport and a roadmap for other standouts to follow. We know sports like football and basketball get theirs; young people like Bassett are creating a path for wrestling and wrestlers to do the same. He's an asset to all of us.

Backwards take. These schools are getting excellent exposure throughout the process, and in many cases, are probably getting a crash course in how best to recruit and keep talent in the emerging landscape of college wrestling. He’s doing them a favor, not the reverse.

The comment about 'brand' is clearly a reference to the Brands bros (see Poster below for iconic reference). Another indicator: BB also mentioned that the program produces 'good' wrestlers. It's clearly a reference to Iowa, who is adept at producing good wrestlers, as opposed to PSU, who produces 'phenomenal' or 'generational' wrestlers. The answer is right there--you just have to read between the lines.