Tigerfan

Problem is we can’t get together. Wrestling has proven to be able to mobilize and save programs, even the Olympics, but there are clearly 2 camps, Cael and to a lesser extent Brands, then everyone else. But everyone else, fan wise, probably barely equals PSU and Iowa, if that. If the other 75 programs all agreed, without PSU and Iowa support, nothing will change on the NCAA level.

Tough to take losses when you don’t wrestle.

Alirez looks impressive, for sure. Btw, Brown suffered a broken nose and concussion. That’s 3 in one round for Mizzou. But they’ll recover.

No kidding, I guess getting thrashed by O’Toole daily has made him rise to the occasion, rather than demoralize and fade away. Dude flurries with such intensity and physicality. Fun to watch.

Again, you’re argument is solid if you accept the premise that wrestlers are driving this skipping competition trend. I just don’t. Iirc, didn’t Smith also say that after being told he couldn’t compete, O’Toole wanted to at least practice at home. Coaches forbade it. Coaches and wrestlers have a better understanding of RPI, etc., that certainly affects whether they decide to give wrestlers strategic rest.

That’s a good theory, well conceived and elucidated. But it’s bunk. I know for a fact that the Mizzou guys wanted to compete, but trainers/coaches thought they should rest. I strongly suspect the same is true in every single “ducking” scenario ever. Athletes having more leverage would mean more competing, not less.

I think it popped out. Everyone was kinda freaking out a little. Then Pulliam got concussed, both our 184’s lost and failed to place, then our promising back up Hwt hurt his knee. Lone bright spot is Cam Steed, our back up 165.

Jason, are you announcing the Scuffle?

Coach Smith said they’re fighting sickness and/or nagging injuries. Apparently only returning AA’s are susceptible to such ailments. Someone call Dr Fauci out of retirement, this phenomenon can probably be prevented with proper masking.

Well, ISU and Mizzou are leaving all their returning AA’s home. It’s disappointing, the direction D1 wrestling is headed. I need to adjust as well, and stop attending duals and tourneys, other than NCAA’s. Is that their desired outcome? Shameful.

No, I am. But I’m not blind to Lee’s obvious loyalty and commitment to Iowa, regardless of allegations from a passionate parent.

When an established super stud like Lee, who’s obviously in grad school AND recovering from surgery can fit in workouts, the sensible thing to do is accommodate his schedule and maximize his recovery. There are any number of reasons why he might not be practicing with the team at the moment. Regardless, any idiot who thinks Lee isn’t a team player has been asleep the last 4 years. This message was compensated professional hater of all things Hawkeye.

I think there is more merit to this rumor than in the past, chiefly because of NIL, RTC’s, and the changing nature of D1 wrestling. I’ve had conversations with certain people who have more insight into the nuts and bolts of DI head wrestling coaches’ lives, specifically John Smith among them. The future is not bright and he’s not the only one who feels that way. Retirement is a realistic option now that some would have never even considered 5 years ago.

An hour west. Smoky Mtn Nat’l Park.

Plenty available at the door, not sure if any reserved seating tix are still available. I think it was $70 for all session reserved seating.

Is it too early to start a preview of this? Is anyone here attending in person? Chattanooga is only 3 hours from me here in the beautiful mountains of WNC, so I’ll be there. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it, far better for fans than Midlands or Vegas. UTC is a charming campus town within walking distance of the arena, which doesn’t have a bad seat in the house.

Like most kids that age, college is the first time, for many, that they are free from the shackles of parents oversight/discipline. I would imagine that a certain percentage of high achieving high schoolers, both academically and athletically owe some of their success to the efforts of their parents. Coaches CAN fill that role for a lot of kids, but not all. Lots of life distractions on college campuses and some adapt better than others. Those intangibles can be tough to sniff out during the recruiting process, and coaches place various levels of importance on them. I don’t believe there are any appreciable differences between the top 20 or so programs in their approach to this issue. Some kids will remain focused and get better, a few will lose focus for various reasons and stagnate. DI wrestling is HARD, and hard times don’t build character, they reveal it.

Coaches of most programs (that don’t have million$ of club money) spread that 9.9 as thinly as possible. Academic aid is the biggest booster, since most top recruits excel in the classroom as well as on the mat. Ben Askren told me he was offered 80% for 5 years = 400% for 4 years of eligibility, which Mizzou considered a full ride. He also told me that established upperclassmen who subsequently become available for additional aid through earned academic scholarships and grants are sometimes asked to reduce their athletic aid for the good of the program. Obviously, individual family economic realities impact all of those factors and everything is case by case. Bottom line, an incoming freshman getting 100% is extremely rare, according to my understanding.

Does that mean no stream available?

By that logic, winning 184/197 during Cael’s reign would make those the toughest weights in history. The strength of a weight class is kinda the antithesis of just looking at the best 1 or 2 guys.

There have been several threads recently (and always) that discuss how elite level wrestlers lack certain skills, from a particular position or in certain circumstances, and it strikes me as rather ignorant (no offense intended). Do people really believe that AA-level wrestlers lack offensive attacks, or the skills necessary to get out from bottom, etc.? It seems to me the much more likely culprit for these fan perceptions is that some wrestlers have superior mindsets, either generally or in specific circumstances. Brock Mauller has a dizzying array of high level techniques, but seems consistently reluctant to unleash them. That’s very different that saying he has to develop some offensive attacks. Watch guys like that in the practice room, or against significantly outmatched opponents (where they are supremely confident of success) and it’s obvious. That common trait amongst these extremely competent wrestlers who may struggle in competitive or high pressure situations is their lack of true belief in their own abilities, not an actual lack of ability. Thoughts?

On the bright side, ASU hasn’t been able to maintain the stream long enough to show anymore Bud Light ads.

Hey Elam, why don’t you go upper body with this dude? That should work.

Unfrickenbelieveable.

Jesus, these ads are insufferable.