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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Dan Ransick added to this discussion on March 23, 2008
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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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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
J.P. Barner added to this discussion on March 23, 2008
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OSU resurgence was a topic on the broadcast last night as well. Ryan has awakened a sleeping giant.
Now if we can only find a 174? <smile>
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Vince DiSabato added to this discussion on March 23, 2008
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I am glad to read the happiness on the forum for the program, for the coaching staff and wrestlers. It was a great weekend for Ohio Wrestling!
I must admit a few things also... I was happy for Dustin Fox as well a s Bill his father, David Bertolino and Josh Zupancic. I also was rooting for Steve Luke in the finals and any kid from Kent to crack into the AA status.
But what I hope is realized above all other things from this weekend is the following: Thank the good Lord above for Gene Smith (tOSU AD) to hire Tom Ryan and not BTB (Tom Brands).
Yes, we had 4 AAs and 3 Finalists. Yes, the Bucks finished National Runners-up.
But so much more importantly is this...each young man that represented the Ohio State University exhibitted class and dignity win or lose. They are true Champions.
I and my family are proud of Lance and Reece who may or may not have gotten the best of the officiating. But you did not see any OSU coach running to the middle of the mat acting like he was from an assylum/Iowa.
You saw how they accepted the decision at the time like QUALITY men. Did they like it...I hope not and would bet that they didn't. But they did not run off the mat like a six year old that was scolded, pouting in their bedrooms. ie. Slayton after being stuck in the finals to a superior wrestler in Coleman Scott.
That Is The Iowa Way! Punks. And how about BTB'S slam on Cael Sanderson following the tourney. What a nick!
This also reminds me of the Alumni night for the Bucks and the after party where Phil Anglim spoke so eloquently that this team is a National Contender Now!
This season, this team, this staff is what we, the alumni, have always wanted for the program.
Thank Gene Smith for his vision and discretion to bring in Tom Ryan and not BTB.
They may celebtrate in Iowa City tonite but they are not sleeping so easy. The Bucks are on the threshhold of what they can never be. National Champs and a great example for America's youth!
Vince DiSabato
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Ethan Moore added to this discussion on March 23, 2008
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Vince - to your point, I had noticed in all photos of Iowa kids and coaches you almost never see a smile.
I am all for having a competitive attitude and intensity, but I wonder if they have much fun. Of course, Iowa fans would submit, and maybe correctly, that winning is the most fun.
But I agree, the Ohio kids certainly seemed to enjoy winning more than the Iowa kids, and behaved with a great deal of class.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Ken Maltry added to this discussion on March 23, 2008
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Vince,
I agree, thanks for your perspective. But I didn't catch what Brands said about Sanderson. Can you summarize or pass along a link to the comments.
Thanks.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Stu Herman added to this discussion on March 23, 2008
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If you want to see the epitome of the no-fun attitude of Iowa check out Brent Metcalf's post finals interview. I'm quickly beginning to dislike Iowa in wrestling as much as I do Michigan in football.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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Interesting comments...
I'm thrilled with Ohio State's performance not merely because they finished second. It's the other stuff.
1) Wrestlers are improving. That means coaches are doing their jobs.
2) Class young men by all accounts. It's a group behind whom you want to rally.
3) Great representation in the coaching ranks. Ryan, Heskett, Rowlands, Rosselli and the rest of the staff are universally admired.
4) The program sells itself. Recruiting will always take work but can a single Ohio stud now not think first about Ohio State? The Bucks will never land everyone but everyone will at least want to come.
5) The Bucks do a great job promoting their program.
As for Iowa--that's the way they are. Brands will never win charm awards but he can coach. And he's a Gable disciple. Gable became the most successful coach in collegiate history by convincing his wrestlers that a deep dedication to being the very best was all that mattered. Brands follows the same path. Love them or hate them, they lead the pack.
Now, that isn't to say Ohio State can't beat out Iowa. They can and will. Iowa benefitted tremendously by having an extra recruiting class as part of their program via the Virginia Tech transfers. In a few years, they will lose this big advantage and the playing field will level. Ohio high school wrestlers are the best in the country. Convince enough to stay in Columbus and national championships will follow.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Jack Muni added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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2nd place at Nationals is all fine and dandy, but the big question now is can the wrestling team repeat in the OSU talent contest? Can they incorporate Bergman's "Arnold" impersonation? Even the announcers loved it.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Mike Taylor added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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I live in Cedar Rapids, IA so I have gotten a healthy dose of Iowa wrestling over the past 6 months. Truth be told, I enjoy going to Iowa matches. However, I'll always be a die hard fan of the Buckeyes. I was so happy to see the guys perform like they did this past weekend. What was more impressive was how they rebounded from a subpar Big Ten performance. I had an opportunity to listen to Brent Metcalf's post championship interview. When a guy continually talks about himself in the 3rd person it becomes a little annoying. I love where the Buckeye program is going and, like Mike Pucillo said, if we can put a fence up around Ohio we will be talking about national championships in the near future. If I were helping my son decide which program to wrestle for, I'd encourage him to wrestle for Ohio State simply because I'd want him to reflect the composure and class of a Joe Heskett or a Tom Ryan and not spaz out like Mike Zadick or Tom Brands. If all you take away from wrestling is how to compete at a high level then you have missed the boat all together. It is also about learning how to deal w/ adversity w/ class. Kind of like our guys did.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Roe Fox added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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A lot of good points. Most wrestlers won't have this as a career so what they learn in college is really about what their real career will be later.
I watched an old VHS yesterday called Dan Gable: Ultimate Competitor (or something like that). They had the occasional comment from wrestlers, including both Brands. It was interesting that Tom Brands said something like he got better not because of technique but he learned to push, shove and brawl. He did say in another section that he learned something about technique from Gable but it certainly wasn't emphasized.
Scott proved good technique can beat brawling when he stuck Slaton. I think the Buckeyes are getting the same "Iowa" conditioning from Ryan but also are learning solid technique.
It was great to see how the coaches respected the sport, both in how they acted and dressed. Brands looked like a 65 year old attending singles night at the old folks home.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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Brands looked like a 65 year old attending singles night at the old folks home.
That is almost as great a quote as "losing wouldn't make the pain feel any better."(or whatever Jags said)
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Ken Ramsey Sr. added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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What is up with all the Brands jealousy? He was a great wrestler an is started on the way to being a great coach. If Ohio State would have gotten Brands and the guys he brought with him from Virginia Tech Ohio would now be celebrating a National Championship instead of being almost 40 points away as a runner-up. If you knew Tom Brands personally you would know what a class guy he is. Though being human he has weaknesses, he does not like to lose and sometimes his temper gets the better of him. His integrity is first class. I have been part of National Seeding Meetings for the US Open when he has defended wrestlers being slighted because they were not represented (and were virtually being screwed); he walked out protesting the process to support these wrestlers.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Ethan Moore added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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I like Iowa, love the Iowa style, and for some reason am a big Metcalf fan. I even cracked up during the post match interview.
I just happened to notice that the Iowa guys don't seem to be happy.
Brands can flat out coach, no doubt about it. His kids' wrestling and attitude reflects his own.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Roe Fox added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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Jealousy is clearly the wrong word when referring to Brands. Regardless of what you have seen behind closed doors, his public persona is defined by his public actions. He also doesn't seem to discourage it, either.
Regardless, this is a great Buckeye team that is only going to get better. We will beat the Hokeyes soon. For now we can be thankful for the second place finish. I don't think anyone seriously suggested that high a finish before the season started. To clinch it with Pucillo's championship was special.
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Discussion Topic: A #2 worth celebrating
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on March 24, 2008
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I know
Tom Brands
and I like him -- I learned to get along with all types in the Army, I had no choice because I depended on them for my life. (And after all I have my flaws too.)
I knew
Tom Ryan
for about 6 years before he got the Ohio State job, I always liked Ryan too. When he was head coach at Hofstra, Ryan used to call about Ohio kids, then he finally got a couple, Vondruska & Pucillo.
Knowing him, I predicted Ryan's great success when he got the Ohio State job and put together this staff 2 years ago -- but I didn't see a 2nd place this quickly.
Its the start of a great era,
as Dan Ransick said
-- this 2nd place is not bitter fruit at all. Congrats to the entire Buckeye team and to all Ohio wrestlers who made AA -- and those who just made it to St. Louis. Second year in a row Ohio had the most homegrown AAs, edging PA again.
No kudos to the Columbus Dispatch
-- instead of sending a reporter to cover Ohio State wrestling at NCAAs, they wasted a reporter sending one to Iowa to cover the Ohio State women's basketball team's another typical ugly loss in round one of their NCAA tournament. Big deal.
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