Mocco's View of Iowa and OSU Atmosphere
- Thread starter Law-Deezie
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It's kinda funny, he didn't lose to much in Iowa or in Okie St, but I recall the team finishing in like 7th place his freshman year. We got just two guys in the finals (Mocco and Eustice) and they both lost. I think we only had 4 AAs that year and the environment wasn't kind. Zaleski didn't have the success that fans were expecting, and he was unceremoniously shown the door. I recall Iowa fans not showing Jimmy Z much love.
The Brands ERA seems to be a bit different. When Iowa loses, Tom is furious enough for everyone.
The Brands ERA seems to be a bit different. When Iowa loses, Tom is furious enough for everyone.
And when Iowa wins Tom and Terry are furious enough for everyone. I remember his interview after Meyer pinned Brunson and he was mad. He said "wow! I mean head across, stacked him up. But why can't we do that earlier? Why are we letting him squeeze our head and dictate the pace."
I love watching the Brands brothers. They make me laugh. I wouldn't want anyone else.
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Yeah I'm thinking if Iowa fans started yelling at Brands that he sucks, it wouldn't work out so well for the fans. Zaleskis just a bit more reserved.
JimmyZ was a great Hawkeye. Things just didn't work out. When you follow a "legend", those are big shoes to fill. Similar to coaches that followed people like Lombardi, Wooden, Bear Bryant, etc.
The greatest memory of mine was his match against Carr!
The greatest memory of mine was his match against Carr!
I remember a few years ago, when Iowa beat tOSU pretty handily at CHA, the dual where Evans beat Heflin in OT. In Tom's press conference, he was pissed and said, "I don't have a team right now"....lol, I love his intensity
Well, Mocco must not have been too impressed with Zaleski either, being that he transferred and all...
I love Iowa wrestling but have never watched the Hawks wrestle in Carver. I was surprised Mocco said Iowa fans would yell at it's own wrestlers and tell them they suck, etc., if they lost. I know Iowa wrestling fans are intense but I just had a hard time believing we mock our own wrestlers at Carver? Truth to that?
Our fans can be brutal. I personally have not seen them yell at our own, but I have witnessed them yell at other teams wrestlers.
Even if they don't yell at hawkeye wrestlers in CHA many of the fans brutalize them on here. It would be difficult to be a wrestler or parent of a wrestler at Iowa.
I went to the Big Tens tournament one year when it was at Northwestern.....early 2000's maybe or late 1990's. I was pumped because I got tickets in the heart of the Iowa section. It was awful. Fans were yelling stalling after one step backwards, and it only got worse from there. I love their passion, etc but I personally have no interest in sitting with them. I am more reserved, love great wrestling, and call it like i I see it....not just with black/gold glasses on. When an Iowa guy is stalling, I want it called. When an opponent is stalling, I want it called. The mindless yelling is not my kind of experience. Growing up, my dad would always get NCAA tickets through UNI and I loved those seats. Not the best in the house, but the fans perspective, passion, and respect was great and I guess I got spoiled with that!
With all of this said, I WILL be in Carver when nearly 16000 people come to watch Iowa rumble with Penn State! And, for the first time, I will be bringing my boy with me. I hope he loves it as much as I do.
With all of this said, I WILL be in Carver when nearly 16000 people come to watch Iowa rumble with Penn State! And, for the first time, I will be bringing my boy with me. I hope he loves it as much as I do.
That's a load of shit
I have went to most NCAA and Big Tens the last several years and have never heard or seen anything like what you say. I sit in the Iowa section every time.
I've been to many meets and our fans can be loud, that is for sure. Usually towards the opposition. However, some do direct it our athletes, maybe not the "you suck" language, but more of the "common, move, what the hell" type. I'm not doubting Mocco because during the Z era I was not living anywhere near IC so I wasn't back much and would assume it was quit restless during that time.
Our fans can be brutal, no doubt about it.
Look at the meltdown our football fans are having right now. Acting like a bunch of imbeciles at the Northwestern game.
From my experience fans who actually attended school at U of I are much more tolerable than the "diehards" who tune in for games on saturday or meets on sunday and are ready to call for Tom or Kirks head the second things don't go our way.
Look at the meltdown our football fans are having right now. Acting like a bunch of imbeciles at the Northwestern game.
From my experience fans who actually attended school at U of I are much more tolerable than the "diehards" who tune in for games on saturday or meets on sunday and are ready to call for Tom or Kirks head the second things don't go our way.
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If you ever heard stories about his old man and brother, you might say "Good riddance" regardless of the talent Mocco had.
But that statement comes strictly from message board fodder, so...
The Iowa Hawkeyes are basically the professional sports team of the state. I think this leads to the fans being a little more fanatical than most, not all, college fan bases. In wrestling where most schools have zero fan base this stands out. Least put it this way. The great fans still outnumber the great fans of any other wrestling program.
That interview would have been after the Mark Perry post match exchange. He was definitely "hot under the collar" as he said.
Ive had the displeasure of meeting Mocco several times. Each time whether at a parties, bars, or after practices at carver.....cocky and arrogant r the most pleasant words I can use.
I know a few close people that were not displease to see him leave at all. Sure they missed the points but somethings r more important to people
I know a few close people that were not displease to see him leave at all. Sure they missed the points but somethings r more important to people
I have been around Mocco several times and as long as you were not wrestling him he seemed like a great guy.
I've seen some fans belittle other fans of the sport unnecessarily plenty of times, but I don't think I've ever seen a person criticize a wrestler or coach from Iowa in person (but boy do I see it plenty on these forums). Iowa fans are very harsh and the expectations are always high (a fabled history will spoil us all).
I expect great effort whether it's hand fighting, movement, or improving position win or lose. If a Hawk is lacking any of these through out a match I expect people to say things.
Yes, I'm one of those crazed/moronic people who say/yell at matches..no matter where. Although, the last few years it's seems more Hawks r at the receive end.
BTN has given me a sliver of insight into other team duals. Unbelievable how small and quiet some crowds can be, I've seen middle school duals more lively. I'll take a Carver over any arena even with people yelling 2 for an escape.
Yes, I'm one of those crazed/moronic people who say/yell at matches..no matter where. Although, the last few years it's seems more Hawks r at the receive end.
BTN has given me a sliver of insight into other team duals. Unbelievable how small and quiet some crowds can be, I've seen middle school duals more lively. I'll take a Carver over any arena even with people yelling 2 for an escape.
Yea we know. You yell Whoo repeatedly. Especially after the figure 4 comes out.
IOWA fans, in my humble opinion are, shall I say, extremely fickle.
When things are going good, all is rosey and our program and athletes are the best.
God forbid, throw in some unexpected losses or the Iowa athlete does not perform up to the level of expectation that our fans feel somehow entitled to and you're left with some VERY VERY immature stoning and public wide shameless, gutless and crude attacks on our athletes.
Especially, it seems with our wrestlers. Brody, Mike Kelly, Nick Moore and even guys like Mike Evans. All of these guys battled and layed their hearts on the line. Unfortunately they did not have all the success they hoped for and in many cases forums like this let them blatantly know their efforts and sacrifice's were less then appreciated.
Oh well, I guess that's the era we live in nowadays. Social Media is a plus and negative in many ways.
Okay, sorry, I'm done ranting for today!
I agree that some fans can be extremely fickle, but from what I've seen at the meets i've attended (admittedly very few due to travel and $$ restrictions of a college student) and from the forums it is a vocal minority.
The majority of diehard hawkeye fans on this site respect the heck out of every single one of our wrestlers and will cheer for whoever takes the mat for us. The majority are supportive, and I can't say I've ever seen a more passionate fan base across any sport. I love iowa wrestling, and the rabid fan support was a huge draw for me when I was first introduced to wrestling.
We have high expectations here in Hawkeye land, that is no surprise to anybody, given the history. But I don't think its fair at all to paint us all with a broad brush. I, along with a lot of other people on here, stood by and supported the Josh Dziewas, Nick Moores, Mike Evans, Ethan Lofthouses, Brody Grothus', Mike Kelly's through their high's and lows. You're entitled to your own opinion of course, but If you were a regular reader and poster on this forum I think you would share the same point of view as I do. (Keep in mind my sample size is from 2010-present).
I completely agree Lax. At times, Iowa and its fans seem to have a target on their back, and emphasizing the over the top behavior of a few vocal fans while ignoring the respectful behavior of the vast majority paints a distorted picture.
Brody Grothus, for example, while never reaching AA status received plenty of love on this board, for his efforts to help the team, and fighting through setbacks. I think his thread set a record on this board for # pages.
FLO promoting this video is fine. Now, to be fair, maybe they could follow up with an interview with Ironside or McDonough on what Iowa fans are like.
Brody Grothus, for example, while never reaching AA status received plenty of love on this board, for his efforts to help the team, and fighting through setbacks. I think his thread set a record on this board for # pages.
FLO promoting this video is fine. Now, to be fair, maybe they could follow up with an interview with Ironside or McDonough on what Iowa fans are like.
That goes for every fan base across the nation. Penn State fans have crucified some of their athletes. Altons dad wanted to fight several of them. It is more pronounced at Iowa because we have more fans. It's a numbers thing and is common sense.
I met Mocco this summer at a Camp in Iowa. I wasn't expecting much but thought he was great with the kids and parents. Was very personable. Said people that he met in Iowa outside of the wrestling program on a recruiting visit were so nice and friendly that it really sold him on coming here.
I actually applauded the fans at the Iowa Northwestern game because the officiating was horrible but hey that's just me I guess. When 3 officials cannot see two facemasks on a lineman and our quarterback on the same play but then call one against us on the very next play after the punt then they deserve to know about it.
Are the fans in Iowa tolerable? For the most part yes but there will always be douchebags that look through black and gold glasses all the time and complain when things don't go their way but you will see that in every fan base.
seriously guys if you don't think ethan or gambrall heard some negatives,then you've got your heads in the sand,that comes with the territory you don't want to hear it get after it or go to sdst.and to heck with mocco we are still trying to recover from that era.
You ever been to bar, a High School Football Game in Iowa, a Wedding reception, a golf course, etc., etc., etc., in the last 40 years? Nothing has changed except it's in writing. This is today's communication device, used to be you got together with friends and strangers alike who follow Iowa sports of any kind, and you piss and moan and/or praise them as the situation warrants (insert every other state, city and town in the country where it said Iowa).
So don't think the "crude attacks" have never happened, they ALWAYS have and always will. Right along with the Athlete X is the greatest thing since sliced bread. You sign up for it, you take the good with the bad or don't sign up for it. Pretty simple really.
I would also add it doesn't really matter how big the stage is that you're on, when you're an Athlete in competition, and on that particular day you suck, the first person and the biggest critic typically resides in your nearest mirror. You just hope the mirror is a bit more friendly place to look in future contests.
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Whenever a big time athlete gets signed by a New York team, they always ask them about the fan and media scrutiny. The Yankees are the most written and talked about team in baseball and their fans are very "finicky". It's because they are the Yankees and they expect a certain level of excellence and effort. Same with Iowa...especially when you know a guy can perform at a higher caliber and he doesn't.
Hell that is nothing. Pennsylvania fans boo'd Santa Claus for crying out loud. Being an athlete in Iowa is as good as it gets. Much less venom than the coastal and southern areas.
They booed santa because he was drunk. We take undue flack for that. However in general Philly fans are savage.
Well Santa has a gray beard, he's certainly of age to drink, so what's the problem?
You fly around the world in one day behind a bunch of reindeer crapping in your face and tell me you wouldn't have a cocktail or two in the downtime...............
Go Santa! Screw Philly Fans!
Please don't generalize then entire state by how Eagle fans acted back in the 70s, lol. They were so bad Veterans Stadium was the first professional venue to install holding cells and court facilities with an actual judge. Amusing looking back now but at the time they were probably one of the worse fan bases of all time. Personally I'd like to think most of the trouble makers came across the bridge from Jersey
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