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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Josh Lowe added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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I personally don't get the anti-Iowa comments. They come off as being very homerish.
The Iowa program is a terrific one, a legendary one, and it's good for the sport to have it back.
They are going to sustain themselves - look at the class they got of Iowa natives for the 2008 year: Gambrall, Ballweg, McDonogh, and Nate Moore. Those are four upper-tier wrestlers in the national rankings. They all have histories of tremendous production in Fargo.
Brent Metcalf is a terrific wrestler. His heart, tenacity, and crispness in his shots and finishes are what any wrestler would dream of having.
You have to admire the tenacity and focus with which the Iowa squad wrestles. Brands had that squad ready for the critical times this year - Midlands, National Duals, Big Ten's, and NCAA.
Ohio State had a very good NCAA tournament this year, and their program is set for the future. So is the Iowa program. It's going to be a battle to look forward to going forward - ALONG with Iowa State, Nebraska, Penn State, Minnesota, Cornell, and a partridge and a pear tree.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Scott Shaw added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Bob, I agree about the Dispatch. It is ridiculous that they got all of their information from the wire instead of having a reporter there. I doubt if that will be the case next season though.
As for the whole hate Iowa thing. Give it time. In a few years we won't care if the Iowa team was coached by Milo of Croton himself. We will be on top and the people of Iowa will be on their wrestling forum talking about how much they can't stand Tom Ryan. They will call Coach Ryan a sellout for learning the "Iowa style" and leaving to coach somewhere else. Let us just rejoice with the Buckeyes, because as has been said, the giant is awake.
I just hope that the success of the Buckeyes will spawn more success for Kent, OU, or CSU so that we may have a Iowa/Iowa State type rivalry of our own. tOSU and Kent State are starting to get there, keep it up KSU.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Mark Niemann added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Quote from Josh Lowe's post:
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"... - ALONG with Iowa State, Nebraska, Penn State, Minnesota, Cornell,
and a partridge and a pear tree
."
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Are they D1 next year?!?!
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Iowa is now back to being Iowa, and thats bad news for everyone else. BUT the dif between now and the Gable era is that now the Big Ten is overall even tougher and more balanced. Iowa will win alot, but not crush everyone else.
A team i want to look at is Penn St because that is Ohio States "natural rival"
and they lose 3 guys but each will be replaced by a stud: at
125 Pataky
takes over from McKnight, at 197 potential NCAA champ in a couple years
Platt from Blair Academy
takes over for Phil Davis--- and at 285 a guy Ohio St could really use,
Cameron Wade
from Jaggers alma mater Bedford St Peter Chanel, Wade is getting
rave reviews
recently and he will take over at 285 for Penn St. (And they are trying to get a 6th year medical for 133 Haas.)
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Dan Cosimi added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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125: Nikko Triggas (Ohio State) v. Brad Pataky (Penn State)
Edge: Ohio State
Comment: Triggas will be a true sophomore who beat McKnight twice in three meetings. Pataky, who will be a redshirt junior, was second-string behind McKnight. An interesting fact about Pataky: he started as a true freshman and was knocked out from the Big 10 Tournament by Ohio State senior Nathan Costello.
133: Reece Humphrey (Ohio State) v. Tim Haas or ? (Penn State)
Edge: Ohio State
Comment: Humphrey, who will be a redshirt junior, was a match away from being an All-American. I don't know who Penn State will have at 133 if Haas isn't allowed a sixth year of eligibility, but either way Humphrey is a definite favorite.
141: J Jaggers (Ohio State) v. Garrett Scott (Penn State)
Edge: Ohio State
Comment: Jaggers, who will be a fifth-year senior, was the NCAA Champion while Scott, who will be a redshirt sophomore, fell just short of All-American status. Penn State could also have senior Jake Strayer or redshirt freshman Frank Molinaro here.
149: Lance Palmer (Ohio State) v. Bubba Jenkins (Penn State)
Edge: Penn State
Comment: Jenkins defeated Palmer twice in three matches this year and finished as the NCAA runner-up while Palmer finished his second All-American year. Both are true juniors.
157: Jason Johnstone (Ohio State) v. Dan Vallimont (Penn State)
Edge: Penn State
Comment: Vallimont swept the season series against Johnstone and was an All-American while the emerging Johnstone went 2-2 at the NCAA tournament. Ohio State could also have redshirt freshman Sean Nemec here, while Penn State could have redshirt freshman Tim Darling here. Nemec was a three-time Ohio high school state champion, Darling was a three-time Pennsylvania state champion.
165: Colt Sponseller (Ohio State) v. Dave Rella (Penn State)
Edge: Ohio State
Comment: Sponseller, who will be a true sophomore, swept the season series against Rella, who will be a redshirt junior, 2-0. Sponseller didn't qualify for the NCAA tournament while Rella went 2-2 there. Sponseller won't get the freshman blues next time around. Ohio State could also have redshirt freshman Sean Nemec here. It's pure speculation but I could see Penn State bumping Darling to 165, Rella to 174, and Erwin to 184 to get all of them in the lineup.
174: Cody Magrum (Ohio State) v. Dave Erwin (Penn State)
Edge: Penn State
Comment: Magrum is the favorite to start at 174 pounds for the Buckeyes but he'll only be a true freshman. Erwin, who will be a redshirt junior, is very good and could be in the hunt to be an All-American.
184: Mike Pucillo (Ohio State) v. Phil Bomberger (Penn State)
Edge: Ohio State
Comment: Pucillo, the NCAA Champion, swept the season series including a win at the National Duals by technical fall. Pucillo will be a redshirt junior while Bomberger will be a fifth-year senior.
197: John Weakley (Ohio State) v. Jared Platt (Penn State)
Edge: Even
Comment: Weakley will be a true sophomore while Platt will be a redshirt freshman. Weakley placed eighth at the Big 10 tournament, getting caught in a defensive pin while leading handily in his match to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
285: Corey Morrison or John Hiles (Ohio State) v. Cameron Wade (Penn State)
Edge: Penn State
Comment: Morrison will be a redshirt junior and Hiles will be a true freshman. Morrison was the Buckeyes' starter at heavyweight in 2007 and redshirted in 2008 behind NCAA finalist J.D. Bergman. Hiles is a very good prospect but still will only be a true freshman. Wade was excellent during his redshirt season, winning the Kent State Open in a field that included Morrison and Kent State redshirt Barlow.
Summary:
Ohio State is favored in 5 matches (125, 133, 141, 165, 184).
Penn State is favored in 4 matches (149, 157, 174, 285).
There is one toss-up (197).
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Since we're discussing Penn State....
I'm amazed at how much talent they've amassed. Quentin Wright comes in, guys like Wade and Platt enter the lineup, and studs like Molinaro or Darling may not start.
Penn State's major problem is for all this talent, there are only ten spots to fill.
1) Garrett Scott was a BIG 141. Can he make this weight class again? If not, he ain't a starter. Bubba Jenkins is sensational. My feeling is Molinaro will end up as the starter at 141.
2) How do you convince guys like Darling and Molinaro to stick around if they can't start? They are too good not to compete for someone and should know it. Penn State may have actually "overrecruited" if there is such a thing.
3) All this talent won't make them tough at every weight class. Seems like they're too bunched up between 141 thru 157.
4) Can't see Strayer coming back if Scott does go 141. Why bust your butt for a 6th year if your not likely to start? Or does he try again to get back to 133? Doesn't make sense.
Having an excess of talent is a good problem. Only other program I know that faces this issue is Iowa at 133--141. Buckeyes, alas, do not have this problem--yet.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Roe Fox added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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DC: Is it fairly certain then that Magrum makes 174?
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Quote from Roe Fox's post:
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"DC: Is it fairly certain then that Magrum makes 174?"
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I thought it was going to be Johnstone <smiling>
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Gary Sommers added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Quote from Dan Ransick's post:
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"Within the past few years the Buckeyes have been national runner-ups in almost every major sports. They were twice 2nd in football, 2nd in basketball and 2nd in Men's soccer. All those were a let down to some degree.
However with the wrestling team taking 2nd for the first time ever at the NCAA that is something worth celebrating about. The best part is that both the national champions return, Palmer a two-time AA returns along with both the qualifiers from this year. I think this Buckeye team will be around for sometime now."
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I don't see how those were letdowns. In retrospect, they had NO chance in the football or basketball title games. They were drilled, and clearly second best. What else could have been expected?
That being said, second is outstanding.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Pat Costilow added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Dan, Rella will be a true junior next year (class of '06, same year as Lance).
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Dan Cosimi added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Quote from Roe Fox's post:
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"DC: Is it fairly certain then that Magrum makes 174?"
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Yes.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Gary Sommers added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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Quote from Josh Lowe's post:
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"I personally don't get the anti-Iowa comments. They come off as being very homerish."
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They are very homerish.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Pat Costilow added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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I am going to have to agree with Josh and Gary on this one. Personally, I have to admire Brands, Metcalf, and the Iowa Style (Slaton, Borschel, and Keddy are others that really exemplify this). These kids are in your face goers with awesome conditioning. They seem to make the most of what they have. I enjoy watching them, and think the resurgence is good for the sport.
If you have never seen ESPN's The Season: Iowa Wrestling 2001-2002, you should. I have it on DVD and love it. The attitude that Brands exudes is just awesome. In reference to Josh Budke, then a fifth-year senior, fighting a losing battle for a starting spot as a fifth year and seeing his chances dwindle, Brands says, and this is off my memory...
"Some people might say he deserves it, but he doesn't. He doesn't deserve anything. You only deserve what you earn. On a personal note, I would like nothing better than to see Josh Budke on the top of the heap, but he has to earn it."
Or something to that effect. The guy demands the most, and seems to get the most out of his athletes, and that is something I admire.
By the way, that and some other videos could be good material for a beer truck night.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Mike Taylor added to this discussion on March 25, 2008
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I don't dislike the Iowa style of wrestling. I love it in fact. I plan on buying season tickets next year as I live only 20 minutes away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. However, they just don't seem to enjoy winning. Take Metcalf, I admire his drive to always be better. However, savor the moment. He may be having a blast right now (winning while wrestling poorly is always more fun than losing while wrestling well) but it just comes across like it is merely a job to him...and some of the others. Just my opinion. Again, I love the Iowa style of wrestling and I believe that by Ryan bringing it to Ohio State, teams will have to be cautious of the Buckeyes for years to come. Soon the big Iowa vs OSU rivalry won't be Oklahoma State but Ohio State.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Vince DiSabato added to this discussion on April 1, 2008
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I have gotten a kick/laugh out of some of the things stated here off of my original post. In fact I invite you to read some of the comments on themat.com regarding the same CRAP that I mentioned. And when you get done reading some of the Iowa apologists who sound like Donald Rumsfeld attacking anyone that says anything against what he, lil Bush or Darth Vader claim as "un-American", "un-Loyal". Chamberlain did the same to Winston Churchhill. And after paroussing the thread please come back and read the history of when this was all accepted...
http://www.thematforums.com/myforum/?show_topic=51870&forum_id=3&pagenum=2
When Dan Gable first was the Head Coach at Iowa he assembled a coaching staff of J. Robinson (Okie State Grad) and Mark Johnson (Michigan Grad) whom now head the Minnesota and Illinois programs respectivley. They never acted as such. They never acted as such because Gable as strong as he was was put in check especially by the equally strong personalities of Robinson and Johnson as well as Johnson's DIGNITY/CLASS.
Following the departure of Johnson and Robinson, Gable surrounded himself with his former athletes as assistants and that is when it ALL began. The Iowa faithful and financial supporters..ie fans...short for fanatics found a way to say "it is acceptable to act this way so long as you wear Black and Gold and WE win".
Rest asured of this, I would like to tell all that the staff at tOSU will figure out the lineup that is in the best interest of the program. The Iowa staff is afraid....YES AFRAID... of tOSU staff and program. Their classless antics toward the staff and the athletes that represent your Buckeyes was evident in St Louis.
Recently I have fielded a few calls asking me why I don't care for the Iowa style of wrestling. You know.. the in your face, hard nosed attacking style. That is the farthest thing from the truth and if you ever watch our kids or how we wrestled that is/was never the case.
I will leave you with this thought by Edward R Murrow..."we must not confuse dissent with disloyalty, we will not walk in fear of one another and remember that we are not descended from fearful men, not from men who fear to write, to speak, to associate and defend causes that for the moment were unpopular".
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