Coach Gable Still has the fire

[HawkeyePA]

Listening to Coach Gable talk about the current state of college wrestling and then his own wrestling experiences was spot on as usual. Then he started talking about the top programs in the country who were currently dominating the scene and his thoughts. The eye opener for me was when he talked about PSU being at the top after it was OK State then Iowa State then Iowa and now PSU but his thoughts on him wanting to wrestle against PSU and get the chance to beat the best was vintage Gable talk. He talked about seeking out the Russians to beat them and to be the best when it actually counted. He actually embraced wrestling the toughest teams he could and seeking the best competition so that they were ready for the real Goal be it Olympics or NCAAs. I honestly don't know how he felt about the Soldier Salute being a true test for Iowa. He is still the greatest mind and motivational spokesman for Iowa wrestling.

 

[Trapper85]

I listened to part of an interview with him recently...not sure where...and loved the story about him being thrown in jail for open container, maybe when he was at ISU. Think someone else he knew ended up in same cell, and they spent their time wrestling in the cell. Jailman found it entertaining. Wrestling definitely in his blood 24/7.

 

[hawkaeg80]

It's kind of sad he retired at such a young age. He for sure would have won the national titles in the years right after his retirement and who knows how many after that.

 

[ChiPackHawk]

It's kind of sad he retired at such a young age. He for sure would have won the national titles in the years right after his retirement and who knows how many after that.

The candle burned too brightly.

 

[SPOONER]

Listening to Coach Gable talk about the current state of college wrestling and then his own wrestling experiences was spot on as usual. Then he started talking about the top programs in the country who were currently dominating the scene and his thoughts. The eye opener for me was when he talked about PSU being at the top after it was OK State then Iowa State then Iowa and now PSU but his thoughts on him wanting to wrestle against PSU and get the chance to beat the best was vintage Gable talk. He talked about seeking out the Russians to beat them and to be the best when it actually counted. He actually embraced wrestling the toughest teams he could and seeking the best competition so that they were ready for the real Goal be it Olympics or NCAAs. I honestly don't know how he felt about the Soldier Salute being a true test for Iowa. He is still the greatest mind and motivational spokesman for Iowa wrestling.

Thanks for the link.

 

[Fan In Black]

I think he referring to this.

 

[Pennstate1985]

It's kind of sad he retired at such a young age. He for sure would have won the national titles in the years right after his retirement and who knows how many after that.

Didn't he retire due to hip injury?

 

[Pennstate1985]

Insightful discussion. I learned a lot about Gable in that interview. 👍

 

[Fan In Black]

Didn't he retire due to hip injury?

multiple injuries but yes. he was beat up.

 

[Inthecircle]

multiple injuries but yes. he was beat up.

He was beat up mentally and physically. He knew in his heart it was time to step down, not that he wanted to, because he’s not built that way.
Gable has done so much for building the sport of wrestling since his retirement. His role in combating the IOC to not drop Wrestling was crucial to the sport. If we could get the IOC to return to 10 weight classes it would help the sport even more.

 

[giveitall]

Fran and Ferentz should take a page from Gables book.

 

[MSU158]

He was beat up mentally and physically. He knew in his heart it was time to step down, not that he wanted to, because he’s not built that way.
Gable has done so much for building the sport of wrestling since his retirement. His role in combating the IOC to not drop Wrestling was crucial to the sport. If we could get the IOC to return to 10 weight classes it would help the sport even more.

As cool as 10 again would be, you really don’t even need to go that far. 8 would make a substantial difference…

 

[TarpHawk]

He had the skills, but I don't believe he had the fire to continue competing at the highest level. He only competed sporadically after '72, and lost to Lee Kemp in '75. Fortunately, he had the fire for coaching.

 

[DeangeloVickers]

Fran and Ferentz should take a page from Gables book.

Too late.

 

[LIV4GOD]

It's hard to believe he's been gone from coaching quite a big longer now than he coached. it's been 27 years since he coached the Hawks. Was he the head coach 21 years?

He had the skills, but I don't believe he had the fire to continue competing at the highest level. He only competed sporadically after '72, and lost to Lee Kemp in '75. Fortunately, he had the fire for coaching.

Yeah, that match with Kemp . . . it was like wrestled on a dining room table, lol. I've never seen that small of a mat.