Not every kid is going to have goo goo eyes for every school and the "bad guy" reputation thrown our way by others and at times self directed is certainly something the competition will use and has used as ammunition even if it is mostly bull crap. There is no shortage of competition with loaded guns. Being the big bad hated bad guy looks a lot more appealing when you're king shit at the top of the ladder but loses its luster when you're not . We even have other former Iowa guys taking shots. The fact that most all this anti Iowa ammunition is a load of crap does not matter if the competition can get people to buy it without seeing for themselves. The best way to show the bull crap for what it is? Let facts speak for themselves, put an exciting brand on the mat. Winning with exciting wrestling will draw recruits and respect a lot more than tough talk and chippy actions. Success builds success, time to cut loose and go for it. You don't get to be #1 by wrestling tight, being afraid to lose matches, testing yourself vs inferior competition. A high seed only goes as far as the ability of the wrestler it was given to.
Most here seem to agree a big factor in other teams winning titles and us winning titles is overall talent, Brands is either going to elevate his game and get the talent needed to be a contender and people will be happy or he won't and someday another person will be given the task. I feel he is adapting and moving in the right direction, time will tell if he can change things up enough to get it done. There is still a place for heavy hands and collar ties if people actually use them to shoot, but the trend is that the most successful guys have the ability to score with a variety of shots from a variety of positions whether in a tie or from space. They also can hold their own in a scramble situation. Plodding and grinding are not going to cut it alone. Greater athleticism, chain wrestling and a lot of shots are what's getting it done.
