If Iowa starts another Dynasty (heaven forbid) ...

Cypwr · 03-23-2008, 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

If Iowa starts another dynasty it won't really matter. It's just wrestling. Nobody cares about it outside of the state of Iowa...and not many care about it inside the state.

But I wouldn't worry about it. This year's Iowa wrestling team is a combination of Iowa's recruits and Virginia Tech's recruits that Tom Brands stole when he gutted his employer's program in order to come to Iowa. Of course they're going to be good when they combine the best wrestlers from two programs on one squad. It's a one-time-only deal. Let's see how good they are long term when they're limited to one recruiting class per year.

Even if you are correct doesn't winning this year help future recruiting when VT guys are gone.

JonDMiller · 03-23-2008, 12:38 AM

Like some have said, getting wrestling into the mainstream is going to be tough no matter what. Having a dominant program that is the face...well, I don't know that that will help or hurt it.

Sports television is much different than it was even 8 years ago when Iowa came to the end of its decades long dominance of the sport...so who knows how it might affect things.

Tennessee and UConn dominate women's college hoops...more people understand that sport because most everyone has played basketball at some level; how is that sport doing nationally? I don't know, but has it made inroads in TV ratings?

As for Iowa being able to put together another dynasty, ISU will have something to say about that. Minnesota and Okie State are also stronger now than they were during Iowa's run. Ohio State is a sleeping giant that appears to have woken up.

It's going to be Iowa and ISU's world the next two or three years

And I think it's harder to put together a dynasty like Iowa had, now. There are fewer wrestling programs at the college level, though the sport in high schools is strong and getting stronger. That means beter wrestlers get to more college teams...raising the level of parity.

Then, it all comes down to conditioning, coaching and style.

JonDMiller · 03-23-2008, 12:42 AM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

If Iowa starts another dynasty it won't really matter. It's just wrestling. Nobody cares about it outside of the state of Iowa...and not many care about it inside the state.

But I wouldn't worry about it. This year's Iowa wrestling team is a combination of Iowa's recruits and Virginia Tech's recruits that Tom Brands stole when he gutted his employer's program in order to come to Iowa. Of course they're going to be good when they combine the best wrestlers from two programs on one squad. It's a one-time-only deal. Let's see how good they are long term when they're limited to one recruiting class per year.

I have forgotten how much I love the hate when it comes to Iowa wrestling. It's good to have that back.

Had Brands been at Iowa, those 'VT kids' would have been Iowa kids from the get go. These guys would be in their third year in the program right now, along with Charlie Falck and Alex Tsirtsis.

All of the VT transfers were from the state of Iowa, save Metcalf, who was born to wrestle for Tom Brands.

So say they wouldnt have had Tsirtsis, because they would have gone with the instate four time champ Leclere over him for the scholarship.

When you talk about combining two recruiting classes, be sure to go back in time to look at just what you are talking about here and who is contributing and who is not.

Say Falck wouldn't have been around this year. Iowa won the team title by nearly 40 points, and Falck got 6th. Tsirtsis didn't wrestle this year. And Nate Moore would be on campus next year at 125, the #1 wrestler at his weight in the nation and one of the best in any class.

But keep raining down the hate...it feels good to be hated again in this sport.

Cypwr · 03-23-2008, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by CycloneWanderer

would that be good for the sport of wrestling? Especially now with what looks like wrestling trying to break into the television market doing the ESPN thing. People like to see competition and no one likes a blowout. There are some nice stories but after a while will people just stop watching if there is no more competition for the team title?

As far as TV ratings go wrestling is a niche sport, how many people view if they do not have a horse in the race? How many of us watch college Hockey when it is on? UI has the most fans so if they are winning their fans are not going anywhere and prob will increase. Brand recgonization may help too, casual viewer may not know anything about wrestling but they may know thats the school that always wins. Some view to watch the individuals instead of the teams also. So is it bad for the sport TV rating wise prob not. Is it bad for the sport? maybe, it might make it easier to cut the sport at your school if you do not make $ or break even (which is basically every school except UI) and also know you have no chance to win. Why bother attitude more money for the football team.

MontyBurns · 03-23-2008, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

When you talk about combining two recruiting classes, be sure to go back in time to look at just what you are talking about here and who is contributing and who is not.

Errrr no. I don't know who is contributing and or even who is on the mat for Iowa. Or ISU for that matter. And I don't care to spend 3 seconds to find out. Why bother? It's just wrestling.

JonDMiller · 03-23-2008, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

Errrr no. I don't know who is contributing and or even who is on the mat for Iowa. Or ISU for that matter. And I don't care to spend 3 seconds to find out. Why bother? It's just wrestling.

That is a copout that is code for; you don't know what you are talking about, and were basically parotting some things you read.

MontyBurns · 03-23-2008, 02:01 AM

LOL yeah...

NCAA basketball tournament....wrestling....what are the nation's sports fans watching?

ISUCyclones · 03-23-2008, 02:13 AM

You know nothing about wrestling If you don't think ISU will compete for a national title for at least the next two years with the class we have.

CyForPresident · 03-23-2008, 02:46 AM

Jon, have you considered guys like Tsritsis (sp). He was an AA in 2006 but red-shirted this year and in all likelihood will lose out to lecare. The guys that got replaced on Iowa that would be starting got screwed. They could have gone somewhere else out of high school and start, but not any more.

The real tragedy in all of this is the VT program. They got sold down the river and I wont be surprised if they eventually eliminate the sport. And that is not at all good for the sport.

Madclone1 · 03-23-2008, 06:19 AM

I'm afraid college wrestling will decline for lack of interest . . as Iowa sits on top of maybe 10 second run teams forever. Sounds like fun huh?

College wrestling "had" interest when other teams had a chance at winning the title . . you can kiss all that goodbye.

And to JonMiller . . you love the hate? How immature and revealing.

MontyBurns · 03-23-2008, 09:34 AM

College wrestling is a lot like college hockey. Only a small percentage of schools participate, and of the schools that participate, only a small percentage of their fans care. But give Jon credit for jumping on the bandwagon -- he has pride in his alma mater, which is what college sports is all about.

JonDMiller · 03-23-2008, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by CyForPresident

Jon, have you considered guys like Tsritsis (sp). He was an AA in 2006 but red-shirted this year and in all likelihood will lose out to lecare. The guys that got replaced on Iowa that would be starting got screwed. They could have gone somewhere else out of high school and start, but not any more.

The real tragedy in all of this is the VT program. They got sold down the river and I wont be surprised if they eventually eliminate the sport. And that is not at all good for the sport.

I think we are talking about one wrestler here. Tsirtsis got in trouble with drinking and public intox last off season, in addition to struggling in the classroom. And guys get recruited over every single year in this sport at most of the best schools.

MontyBurns · 03-23-2008, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

Tsirtsis got in trouble with drinking and public intox last off season, in addition to struggling in the classroom.

Maybe he's in the wrong sport.

He sounds like a football player to me.

Cyclone62 · 03-23-2008, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

If Iowa starts another dynasty it won't really matter. It's just wrestling. Nobody cares about it outside of the state of Iowa...and not many care about it inside the state.

But I wouldn't worry about it. This year's Iowa wrestling team is a combination of Iowa's recruits and Virginia Tech's recruits that Tom Brands stole when he gutted his employer's program in order to come to Iowa. Of course they're going to be good when they combine the best wrestlers from two programs on one squad. It's a one-time-only deal. Let's see how good they are long term when they're limited to one recruiting class per year.

BAHAHAHAHA. VT was getting scary while Brands was there. They became pretty good, and were about to knock on the door. And that's a program with NO wrestling tradition. One-time-only deal...

It's better to be thought an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

jbing · 03-23-2008, 09:59 AM

I think it'd be great for Iowa to have a dynasty for a couple years. That way, if ESPN(U) does help bring to sport to a wider audience, everyone will have a squad to hate (ala Duke/UNC in BB, NE/Dallas in NFL, Yanks/Red Sox in MLB). Nobody likes a dynasty - especially those that aren't in it and constantly have to hear about it.

I think ISU always has a top-notch program that continues to make the school and fans proud. Our finish at the NCAA's was nothing to scoff at. We did really well and if we keep getting the guys we do and have the coaching staff, we will for a long time.