Sasso
- Thread starter DayHawk18
- Start date
I don't like the Lugo excuse. This is another elite kid, that had been reported multiple times to have Iowa interest, who is now ending up elsewhere. We can't afford to be passing on kids like this bc of a possible what, yr weight conflict? Get them in the room and figure it out.
Who said Iowa passed? Maybe it was Sasso choice ...
I love the Lugo excuse! We know what we're getting in Lugo and he's a damn stud. Saved dollars for another top recruit down the line. Congrats to TnT/M* for getting this taken care of. Hoagie or bust for the Hawks!
Lugo would be gone by the time Sasso is a RS soph. I don’t like it either. But I’d be careful about pinning it on Lugo. That’s message board fodder stuff. Not from the coaching staff.
Well the Lugo "excuse" is kind of a good excuse. It seems like our staff, like the majority of staffs, actually has to factor money into the equation. With Lugo 149 is not a top priority and we have a slew of young 141lbers as well.
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So one of them goes 157 or 141 for a year while both here. Others figure this stuff out.
Yes Sasso looks perfect to go 141 as a true freshman...
I'm not happy about it but maybe we just don't have the money.
I'm usually the loudest voice in the room when it comes to failure to land studs, because I feel the primary reason we're no longer the dominant wrestling program was our flawed recruiting strategy. But I feel about Sasso the way I feel about Teske--I'd love to have him, but not at all costs. As good as Sasso is, he'd be a 3-year starter at 149, which means his ROI is 80% of a stud who is a 4-year starter (counting cost of redshirt year). Those points are sitting on the bench as they did with Gilman, and if we're going to compete with PSU and tOSU we need to think very strategically about our 9.9 and maximize our ROI, especially with top studs who are likely close to full ride. Maybe it was Sasso's decision and not ours--he knows Lugo is there. I hope it means we're all in on Hidlay and he's all in on us. I feel great about Lugo, btw, and I think we've got our studs in place from 149 to 174 for the next 3+ seasons. Get Hidlay and we're covered through 285. Just need to see what we've got at 133-141. We're okay.
I thought it was a money thing too but then I remembered Penn State and Ohio State. They somehow manage to keep raking in and hoarding top 10 recruits..
Who said the Brands brothers were sharing a 1/5 scholarship when they came to Iowa? It had something to do with Gable being loyal and not recruiting Freid over them. The point is, when Gable was in charge, he was getting incredible wrestlers for almost nothing. The Hawks need to figure out how to do that again, if they want to be on the top of the recruiting battle. PSU and tOSU must have figured it out. The Hawks used to have AA caliber wrestlers sitting the bench because they could not make the team or got beat out.
<<I don't like the Lugo excuse. This is another elite kid, that had been reported multiple times to have Iowa interest, who is now ending up elsewhere.>>
Unfortunately Coaches cant "defend" themselves when it comes to recruiting-- If they could I think in many situations fans would realize and be better at understanding different situations.
Unfortunately Coaches cant "defend" themselves when it comes to recruiting-- If they could I think in many situations fans would realize and be better at understanding different situations.
Each recruit is an individual with his own charachter, risks, academics etc. For example, Downey is coming for one year at almost nothing and if he screws up, then he is gone. But what if you are taking that type of risk on a 4 year kid? I like Sasso...tough kid. But we only see the mat stuff.
I am not in the loop on any of the off the mat activity that often gets discussed on here, the only place I get this information from is other people on the board. If even half of the implied behavior of Sasso is true, it does not make him a bad kid, but it might make him a poor fit with with the current roster. Since I don't really know for sure, I wouldn't say anything stronger that that.
That being said, while I would like to have his talent on the team, his record is spotty. He wins a big match one week, he losses to a low ranked guy the next. For a top ranked guy he is very inconsistent. Part of that may be that he takes all comers, he seems to be at every tournament out there, but Sasso's reminds me (just based on what I have seen) of an Alan Waters or Joey Dance or AJ Schopp, one of those high performers that should be there at the end, but you're never sold on the fact that they are going to get there.
Whoever said that they split 20% when they came to Iowa is flat out wrong. They were big-time recruits, that were being recruited heavily by Wisconson (with a brand new big-time staff) and Minnesota to name a couple. They were not on full rides but both got significant money to come. Back at that time recruiting was a little more regional than it is now.
That year happened to be a huge year Iowa high school Iowa. So schollys were a little limited. That year alone Iowa signed Tom, Terry, Rieland, Streicher, Chelsvig and Don Finch. Iowa State Got Steve Hamilton(4time aa) and Dan Knight (number 1 recruit in the nation). Uni got Gary Steffensmeier (a couple time AA and Ncaa finalist).
Take a look at the s 2A 1986 state champs. Keep in mind Chelsvig moved to 3a that year was 2a the year before. Strieicher beat Hamilton in the finals. Terry beat Zap (lost to him the next year). 3A and 1A had some studs also. 9 Ncaa finals in this group
Streicher, Kent Starmont 1986 2A 98 0.0
Brands, Terry Sheldon 1986 2A 105 0.0
Brands, Tom Sheldon 1986 2A 112 0.0
Kelber, Jason West Marshall, State Center 1986 2A 119 0.0
Rice, Stacey Storm Lake 1986 2A 126 0.0
Marlin, Randy Creston 1986 2A 132 0.0
Streicher, Doug Starmont 1986 2A 138 0.0
Reiland, Mark Eagle Grove 1986 2A 145 0.0
Guyer, Jim North Fayette, West Union 1986 2A 155 0.0
Eggers, Eric West Marshall, State Center 1986 2A 167 0.0
Allen, Tracey Mount Vernon 1986 2A 185 0.0
Moorehead, George Winterset 1986 2A HWT 0.0
Saxton, Dave E
I am not privy either...only some rumors. But I still and would advocate to take him. But then we don’t know as much as the staff.
Not expected at all. I don't remember what I saw several months ago but I was about 99.9% sure he wasn't coming to Iowa.
Not losing a second of sleep over this news.
Next!
Not losing a second of sleep over this news.
Next!
This. It wasn't super public, but he didn't even have Iowa in his final 5, so his final 3 shouldn't surprise anyone.
I guy who I consider to be in the know on things fwiw said Gable wanted the Brands, Hamilton, Chelsvig and Reiland to split a scholly. Hamilton decided on ISU and more $$$.
None of us are, but we see the results and we also see/hear the practices of other coaches/schools. It's obvious that some are better than others with the sales pitch.
Agreed. Obviously we're still on Hoagie, hopefully that can be closed. That said, this year was a LOADED recruiting class, and to only come away with one of those top guys is a bit of a letdown for me.
I would be okay losing out on Sasso if we got Rider, who I haven't heard much about. Best friend is Wilson, wrestles an Iowa style, and looks to be an athletic kid whose not had elite coaching. Sounds like a perfect fit for us.
In one of the interviews with Tom Brands, on Flo, he said that he was confused after the Minnesota visit. They offered Terry a scholarship but not him. They sure were big time producers, but I am not sure how big time recruits they were. That is quite a bunch to ask to split a scholarship. 5 kids/ one scholarship. The point is, they did not get the big money and Gable still got them. A formula for success that the Hawks need to replicate if they want to get back on and stay on top. IMHO
All I know is Rider was on the list of kids that visited VT there big recruiting weekend. Gobblin did say the staff and Rider have had a dialog, but didn't know if anything has come from it.
If Iowa can land Hidlay and Rider then this would be a very good recruiting class because of how deep it is. Rider is very good and is only down in the rankings right now due to lack of activity.
I would be happy with Rider. Would be a perfect 3x Starter @149 for us after Lugo graduates. Unless he grayshirted or something like Stickley. Hearing that Wilson is one of his best friends certainly doesn't hurt our chances! Rider is NOT active on social media, those are the type of guys that typically come 'out of the blue' at least commitment wise.
If we got him then we wouldn't even have to worry about 2019 and load up for a big time 2020 class.
I wish they could as well. I'd love to know why a top pound-for-pound kid who clearly had Iowa interest is down to choosing between Ohio State, Virginia Tech, and Nebraska. Maybe the coaches know something his home state coach, or Nebraska and Virginia Tech's coaches don't know, LOL...
Honestly all these little of the mat rumors are ridiculous. Pat Downey is practicing in our room right now. Ohio State, Virginia Tech, and Nebraska are all interested in bringing this kid in. I highly doubt he's Jack the Ripper or PD4.
His home state? My question would be, "Why aren't any of the colleges from his home state recruiting him?"
Minor note: Streicher was class of '86--one year ahead of Tom & Terry, Reiland, Chelesvig, and Finch
I'm counting Cassioppi, Lugo, and Downey as top guys (albeit not all for four years). Hidlay would be icing on the cake for me, plus a nice wildcard in Nelson Brands.
PSU and Pitt were recruiting him earlier in the process, at least according to his twitter. I don't know if PSU continued following their tidal wave of commitments of highly ranked kids.
If having to compete with Lugo for a starting spot for one year at Iowa drove him away, as some on here are alluding (which I find patently outrageous considering this kid's history of seeking out elite competition), then wouldn't PSU pretty much be a non-starter. Cael has made it clear he is going to recruit the best wrestlers he can get, every year, even if he already has a recruit at that weight. He then lets the lineup take care of itself through on the mat performace (an extreme simplification, but the point remains).
As for Pitt, it is easy to see why he was not interested in that program.
It appears that he is interested in a big state school. One where the university is a biggest thing in town. Ohio State, Nebraska, VT. I think he is going VT to train with Moore.
I can say this- whatever school he chooses wasn't his first choice. Not by a long ways. Which is mind blowing if ya think about it. Needless to say, we weren't the first to cut ties (allegedly)..
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