New article on why Gable left ISU for UI

**Clone83** · 04-18-2012, 07:58 PM

In the Iowa City Press Citizen, by Register reporter Andy Hamilton:

Iowa wooed Dan Gable -- with a box of tape | Iowa City Press Citizen | press-citizen.com

Also via Google News:

Statue dedicated to Dan Gable to be unveiled Wednesday - KWWL.com - News & Weather for Waterloo, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids & Iowa City, Iowa |

**Clone83** · 04-18-2012, 08:11 PM

Uhh ... Earth to KWWL:

In college, Gable compiled a record of 181-1 at Iowa. ...

According to the Press Citizen his college record was 118-1, and I'm pretty sure he wrestled at Iowa State and not Iowa.

But then you are in Waterloo, his hometown, so I know you knew that.

**EZpickins** · 04-18-2012, 08:17 PM

If only we had given the man some tape!!

**Judoka** · 04-18-2012, 08:20 PM

Originally Posted by Clone83

Uhh ... Earth to KWWL:

According to the Press Citizen his college record was 118-1, and I'm pretty sure he wrestled at Iowa State and not Iowa.

Next thing we know the College Station News will be talking about Cael and Varner were great Littany Lion wrestlers in college...

Interesting story though. I'd always known that Iowa making him a head coach in waiting was a big deal since we already had a guy in line. But it is sure frustrating how ISU's administration and relative lack of resources was impacting us even in the early 1970s. If only we'd had a Jamie Pollard type AD back then!

**aauummm** · 04-18-2012, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by Clone83

In the Iowa City Press Citizen, by Register reporter Andy Hamilton:

Iowa wooed Dan Gable -- with a box of tape | Iowa City Press Citizen | press-citizen.com

|

If there is one lesson for Iowa State to learn from the above article it is: Never, never hire anyone from Iowa City or EIU to be on staff or to coach or teach at ISU. (From now on!) And fire immediately anyone of them who are at ISU now.

**Clone83** · 04-18-2012, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Judoka

Next thing we know the College Station News will be talking about Cael and Varner were great Littany Lion wrestlers in college...

Interesting story though. I'd always known that Iowa making him a head coach in waiting was a big deal since we already had a guy in line. But it is sure frustrating how ISU's administration and relative lack of resources was impacting us even in the early 1970s. If only we'd had a Jamie Pollard type AD back then!

It is interesting. I don't know what all was going on there, but if I am not mistaken, this was when Roy Carver (Bandag Industries) was making his big investments at UI, kind of like Penn State more recently.

Of course no one knew how he would turn out as a coach. But I certainly remember the 1972 Olympics well, and if I were going to wrestle in college that certainly would have had an impact. Les Anderson is a good guy and I remember him at camp, but it is hard for anyone to compare to that kind of story and exposure.

**everyyard** · 04-18-2012, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by aauummm

If there is one lesson for Iowa State to learn from the above article it is: Never, never hire anyone from Iowa City or EIU to be on staff or to coach or teach at ISU. (From now on!) And fire immediately anyone of them who are at ISU now.

Like pete taylor?

**aauummm** · 04-18-2012, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by everyyard

Like pete taylor?

Notice I said "From now on" because I knew someone would come up with something like that!

**Go2Guy** · 04-18-2012, 09:31 PM

What could Iowa State have done differently?

If I recall, Nichols wasn't exactly close retirement age; would ISU had to face a possible age discrimination law suit ??

And what about the promise to Les Anderson to be the next Coach, was ISU suppose to reneg on that deal?

Did ISU have enough money in 1972 to keep Gable as an assistant, behind Nichols and Les Anderson for many more years?

No wonder Kurdelmeier outlined a plan to coach for a couple years, then turn it over to Gable; that probably sounded like the shortest path to his goals vs standing in line at ISU for many years. I bet that sounded real easy to Gable and his parents

**Go2Guy** · 04-18-2012, 09:35 PM

BTW, who was ISU's AD at the time - Lou McCullough ??

**Clone83** · 04-18-2012, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

BTW, who was ISU's AD at the time - Lou McCullough ??

Yes, 1971 - 1982.

Inside, September 22, 2000

Hugs4ISU · 04-18-2012, 09:44 PM

My gosh, ISU has done some really brain-dead stupid things in its history. Like lose the patent application for the electronic digital computer, pass over hiring Coach K, and treat rolls of simple athletic tape like they are made of some gold-platinum alloy or something. No wonder Gable was ****** off, he had every right to be. I have always thought stupidity should always be punished.

**Madclone1** · 04-19-2012, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by Hugs4ISU

My gosh, ISU has done some really brain-dead stupid things in its history. Like lose the patent application for the electronic digital computer, pass over hiring Coach K, and treat rolls of simple athletic tape like they are made of some gold-platinum alloy or something. No wonder Gable was ****** off, he had every right to be. I have always thought stupidity should always be punished.

None of you guys see the obvious . . . Gable was self centered and disloyal to ISU. Furthermore, he NEVER has given just due to Nichols, his school, and his teammates. It was ALWAYS about him . . . to include his comment at the Bronze statue unveiling . . . "This is the first bronze I will accept." What a portrait of his mind . . . it has always been about HIM!

To wit:

Nichols had a plan and was working it. Gable knew it. Why didn't he simply wait . . like most of us had to back then?

Also, did little Dan ever talk to Nichols about the "tape" beef? Nichols OWNED a wrestling supply shop in Ames . . do you think he would have come up with some tape for the little man?

ISU was top dog in the wrestling world back then . . Dan could have taken the job once Nichols retired (a couple of years later). Instead, he went for Iowa's "house money." If he needed more program money . . he could have had it by building a relationship with ISU admin people. Just like that commercial . . "I want my money and I want it NOW!"

Besides . . he is the savior or college wrestling now . .the great ambassador for the sport. So . . go ahead a worship Dan the Man . . . that Gold Idol is just around the corner.

That RAG article is just another example of his smallness.

**isuforlife** · 04-19-2012, 07:16 AM

who is Dan Gable?

**jbhtexas** · 04-19-2012, 07:31 AM

“It was a good idea,” former Iowa athletic director Bump Elliott said. “Anything to get Gable here was OK with me.”

According to Gable, Kurdelmeier received insider help from Iowa City native John Marks, who worked at the time for Nichols in Ames. Kurdelmeier, Marks and Nichols have all since died.

“Little did I know, he was a plant (at Iowa State),” Gable said of Marks, who later spearheaded recruiting for Iowa under Kurdelmeier and Gable. “He was one of the guys on the inside ... trying to get me to come back to Iowa City. I didn’t realize all this homework was being done. (But) as soon as the job was done and I was committed to come (to Iowa, Marks) up and left everything, ran out and never went back.”

So, the former Iowa athletic director condoned putting a plant in the ISU AD. Sounds rather scumbagg-ish. Also, it helps to make sense on how Hayden Fry ended up at Iowa. Birds of a feather stick together...