Iowa Wrestling = Notre Dame Football, Indiana Basketball, Nebraska Football

[HawkCharlotte]

It's amazing HOW FAR behind Iowa is right now. The 3rd period is now a weakness of Iowa wrestling.

If Iowa's sport at or near the top can simply be eclipsed by Cael going to more 'fruitful' recruiting ground, then what does that say about Brands as a coach?

If these past 8 years isn't enough to show how far Iowa's fallen (e.g., like ND, IN, and NE), then Iowa fans are as myopic as those other programs.

 

[Stanley75]

Could be much worse like ISU.

 

[HawkCharlotte]

Could be much worse like ISU.

Wow!!! So true. I hadn't thought of that.

 

[SPOONER]

Iowa hasn't fallen so much as Ohio State and PSU have risen. Once those two schools decided they wanted to be good at wrestling the entire landscape changed.

Iowa has made a pretty significant change in recruiting philosophy. Will be interesting to see the results.

 

[neversurrender]

Psu and fosu have risen but we if we haven't fallen we'd be a lot farther ahead of the teams Missouri, Cornell, vagtech, and the goofs. The good news is help is on the way and things will be turning around.

 

[clw421]

I get the point the OP is trying to make, but it's a bit over the top. Iowa wrestling is still a premier program, finishing top 5 every single year. We're a much better program than ND, Indiana, and nebby are in their respective sports. Not where we want to be, but still a very good program.

Any reasonable Iowa fan knew that after we lost stoll our chances of winning the ncaas was nil. With a healthy stoll we would have likely been in the mix for runner up. What psu is doing right now is not really a reflection of where we're at. They're just putting some of the best teams EVER on the mat year after year. No shame losing to them.

Once some of our big recruits get on the mat, I'm excited to see what they can do.

 

[fairgambit]

It's amazing HOW FAR behind Iowa is right now. The 3rd period is now a weakness of Iowa wrestling.

If Iowa's sport at or near the top can simply be eclipsed by Cael going to more 'fruitful' recruiting ground, then what does that say about Brands as a coach?

If these past 8 years isn't enough to show how far Iowa's fallen (e.g., like ND, IN, and NE), then Iowa fans are as myopic as those other programs.

I said this last year but will repeat it. As a Penn State fan I have long considered Iowa the gold standard in wrestling. The price of gold goes up and down but it will always be gold. You guys still have a great program and could challenge for the National title in 2 years. Time will tell.

 

[lionlover]

I get the point the OP is trying to make, but it's a bit over the top. Iowa wrestling is still a premier program, finishing top 5 every single year. We're a much better program than ND, Indiana, and nebby are in their respective sports. Not where we want to be, but still a very good program.

Right now Iowa has become what PSU was, and PSU has become what Iowa was.

Gable didn't coach forever and neither will Cael. Things go in cycles and it's PSU's turn to be at the top of the cycle.

But, make no mistake, it will be harder for Iowa to supplant OSU and PSU because both institutions are located in the most fertile wrestling grounds of HS wrestling. It;s like trying to recruit football players in Florida when your school is in Iowa or Pennsylvania. Not that it can't be done, but it's just harder to get the elite talent.

You can laugh at my next statement, but the school that is a sleeping giant is RUTGERS. If that school could keep the elite talent they have produced combined with solid national recruiting, they could compete annually with the best.

 

[HawkCharlotte]

I get the point the OP is trying to make, but it's a bit over the top. Iowa wrestling is still a premier program, finishing top 5 every single year. We're a much better program than ND, Indiana, and nebby are in their respective sports. Not where we want to be, but still a very good program.

Any reasonable Iowa fan knew that after we lost stoll our chances of winning the ncaas was nil. With a healthy stoll we would have likely been in the mix for runner up. What psu is doing right now is not really a reflection of where we're at. They're just putting some of the best teams EVER on the mat year after year. No shame losing to them.

Once some of our big recruits get on the mat, I'm excited to see what they can do.

True. I had forgotten to include Stoll. A healthy Stoll and this whole tournament is different.

I just don't want to end up like ND, NE, and IN. Thanks to all you guys from talking me back from the cliff.

 

[FrontHeadlock2]

Right now Iowa has become what PSU was, and PSU has become what Iowa was.

Gable didn't coach forever and neither will Cael. Things go in cycles and it's PSU's turn to be at the top of the cycle.

But, make no mistake, it will be harder for Iowa to supplant OSU and PSU because both institutions are located in the most fertile wrestling grounds of HS wrestling. It;s like trying to recruit football players in Florida when your school is in Iowa or Pennsylvania. Not that it can't be done, but it's just harder to get the elite talent.

You can laugh at my next statement, but the school that is a sleeping giant is RUTGERS. If that school could keep the elite talent they have produced combined with solid national recruiting, they could compete annually with the best.

Spot on. The comparison to football is a good one.

I'll say it again: Cael basically spat in the face of his alma mater, a former top program, in order to gain access to that recruiting area. That says it all imo.

 

[SiouxCyty]

Could be much worse like ISU.

Hey we got a point.

 

[ih8iast8]

True. I had forgotten to include Stoll. A healthy Stoll and this whole tournament is different.

I just don't want to end up like ND, NE, and IN. Thanks to all you guys from talking me back from the cliff.

we had 4 holes in our lineup. PSU had 2, & OkSU qualified 10 who IIRC were all seeded.

Now, I know there are justifiable & non- justifiable reasons for those holes but if we can get back to 9 or 10 solid wrestlers, we'll be right in it.

 

[WWDMHawkeye]

Would be very interested to know the last time the OP posted on this board before this weekend. Guessing either March of last year or perhaps some time in the 90's.

But I do appreciate the keen insight and tremendous understanding of Iowa wrestling history and the current landscape of college wrestling.

 

[Old_wrestling_fan]

Right now Iowa has become what PSU was, and PSU has become what Iowa was.

Gable didn't coach forever and neither will Cael. Things go in cycles and it's PSU's turn to be at the top of the cycle.

But, make no mistake, it will be harder for Iowa to supplant OSU and PSU because both institutions are located in the most fertile wrestling grounds of HS wrestling. It;s like trying to recruit football players in Florida when your school is in Iowa or Pennsylvania. Not that it can't be done, but it's just harder to get the elite talent.

You can laugh at my next statement, but the school that is a sleeping giant is RUTGERS. If that school could keep the elite talent they have produced combined with solid national recruiting, they could compete annually with the best.

Agreed. ^^ Add to the above that Iowa has not been producing a lot of high end D1 prospects in the last several years either. That runs in cycles too. Both Okla. St. and Iowa, while long time top level programs, have a disadvantage compared to Ohio St, PSU, and I agree...Rutgers, in that they are not in high population areas...thus there is going to be a potential recruiting deficit to make up for IA and OK St.

PSU and OSU are riding high right now because they now have top level coaching that they did not have for many years. I don't think we should plan on them dropping back though, IA needs to continue to improve recruiting, which they have done, and keep moving forward. Barring injuries and/or defections, like Gross for example, IA will be able to compete with the top programs for years to come.

I personally think that as Iowa begins to benefit from improved recruiting in the next 1-2 years that the top 5 or 6 programs are likely to take turns beating each other and the days of one team winning several national titles in bunches will cease. I see 4-6 programs kind of taking turns as the top dog as the # of juniors/seniors, injuries, etc kind of even out over time. IMO, IA had a streak where their recruiting was not at the highest level and that has shown up in the last several years...but again, it has been corrected the fruits will be evident in coming years.

 

[SDHN2013]

Yeah I think Iowa is fine. As long as we are dedicated to going after top recruits we will get them. They see how packed Carver gets for big matchups and they want some of that.

 

[GG121AND2]

Yes, the loss of Stoll hurt the Hawks scoring and their ultimate placement, but we should also consider that Penn State's championship this year was accomplished without Suriano.

I agree with lionlover that at this point in the current cycle Cael is at the top and the similarities between the state of the current Nittany Lion program and the Gable era are striking. Think about 1986 when the Hawk lineup had Penrith, Randall, Dresser, Jim Heffernan, Marty Kistler, Alger and Goldman. The Gable drought began the following year with Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Arizona State winning the next 4 titles. The next Hawk streak of dominance began with Zaputil, Brands, Brands, Steiner, Steiner, Ryan, Reiland, Chelesvig, Fiser and Oostendorp and reloaded every year through 2000.

My point is that the Hawks may win a championship or two in the next 10 years, as might Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Arizona State (I'm not ready to throw Rutgers in the mix), but Cael and the Lions are likely to continue to be the team to beat. I suspect that Sanderson will keep coaching at least until he has won 16 team titles.

 

[GoHawks2009]

Iowa is a perennial top 4-5 team nationally.

Indiana, Nebraska and Notre Dame have all had losing seasons (plural- Indiana in conference only btw) since the last time IOWA finished below 5th.

 

[GoHawks2009]

Yes, the loss of Stoll hurt the Hawks scoring and their ultimate placement, but we should also consider that Penn State's championship this year was accomplished without Suriano.

I agree with lionlover that at this point in the current cycle Cael is at the top and the similarities between the state of the current Nittany Lion program and the Gable era are striking. Think about 1986 when the Hawk lineup had Penrith, Randall, Dresser, Jim Heffernan, Marty Kistler, Alger and Goldman. The Gable drought began the following year with Iowa State, Oklahoma State and Arizona State winning the next 4 titles. The next Hawk streak of dominance began with Zaputil, Brands, Brands, Steiner, Steiner, Ryan, Reiland, Chelesvig, Fiser and Oostendorp and reloaded every year through 2000.

My point is that the Hawks may win a championship or two in the next 10 years, as might Ohio State, Oklahoma State and Arizona State (I'm not ready to throw Rutgers in the mix), but Cael and the Lions are likely to continue to be the team to beat. I suspect that Sanderson will keep coaching at least until he has won 16 team titles.

I expect Cael is going to lose soon....and that's what he's going to do.

Enjoy.

 

[MepoDawg#]

It's amazing HOW FAR behind Iowa is right now. The 3rd period is now a weakness of Iowa wrestling.

If Iowa's sport at or near the top can simply be eclipsed by Cael going to more 'fruitful' recruiting ground, then what does that say about Brands as a coach?

If these past 8 years isn't enough to show how far Iowa's fallen (e.g., like ND, IN, and NE), then Iowa fans are as myopic as those other programs.

Wrong, Iowa is still successful. Those other teams are not as successful in the respective sports as Iowa is currently in wrestling.

 

[ggcpsu]

I expect Cael is going to lose soon....and that's what he's going to do.

Enjoy.

Y'all have been saying that for 7 years now..................................... first it was when Taylor and Ruth left, then it was when Nolf and Zain and bo left, yet here is PSU again with two freshmen in the finals and a third freshman who missed the tournament with injury but beat both finalists at his weight comfortably. When exactly is soon? This train isn't slowing down until Cael decides he's done coaching at Penn State.'

 

[GoHawks2009]

Y'all have been saying that for 7 years now..................................... first it was when Taylor and Ruth left, then it was when Nolf and Zain and bo left, yet here is PSU again with two freshmen in the finals and a third freshman who missed the tournament with injury but beat both finalists at his weight comfortably. When exactly is soon? This train isn't slowing down until Cael decides he's done coaching at Penn State.'

I'm not gonna ruin the surprise for you, Nittany Lion fan......

 

[cmhawks99]

This is an exercise in failed logic and poor math....

Let's start with the obvious Tom Brands is a hell of a coach and he should be there for 30 years if he wants to with that said there are 74 or five Division I wrestling programs there's 130 Division I football programs & 350 or 60 Division I basketball programs.

You're hardly comparing apples to apples here...

You're comparing Iowa & their competitiveness to basically four teams.

Not at all the same, Way way harder to stay on top in basketball and football.

Tom Brands and Iowa wrestling get a pass when our other sports do not? Kind of odd when you think about it

 

[Hawknado]

They did score 97, that would win it some years

 

[redghost1974]

We have all beaten to death Caels advantage of being in Pennsylvania. The other advantage is he is pulling in kids like Nickal that are probably using zero dollars. He is pulling the top recruits that can pau their own way. 9.9 isn't really a issue for PSU. DT was on a academic scholarship for crying out loud.

 

[Mike Zierath]

It's amazing HOW FAR behind Iowa is right now. The 3rd period is now a weakness of Iowa wrestling.

If Iowa's sport at or near the top can simply be eclipsed by Cael going to more 'fruitful' recruiting ground, then what does that say about Brands as a coach?

If these past 8 years isn't enough to show how far Iowa's fallen (e.g., like ND, IN, and NE), then Iowa fans are as myopic as those other programs.

Not true. That would make Hawkeyes Wrestling irrelevant on a National scale.

Mike