I hate to say it, but it just isn't going to happen. If he expressed even a little interest JP would have to do it, but it just isn't going to happen.
Would you support bringing Dan Gable back to ISU?
- Thread starter ketelmeister
- Start date
LOL, love the star wars reference. Although Darth Vader turned out to be good in the end (ala finishing out at ISU).
I hope JP will step back, swallow his pride, and do whatever it takes to restore wrestling where it should be.
gable can't get down on the mat to do one on one coaching-his knee and hip surgeries would not allow him to teach one on one wrestling. a wrestling coach needs the ability to teach wrestling amd correct wrestler's mistakes . i would see gable having a hard time working with a wrestler to help one improve the skills of his students.if gable was mobile and could work with his wrestlers on a one to one basis, i would welcome him back at iowa state in a heartbeat.
I’d say get, in this order (with some considerations or stipulations below):
1)Dan Gable
2)Mark Manning
People obviously have strong feelings about Gable. Even though he has physical limitations, he would push the seniors mentally to be their best. His assistants would be key.
He would not only need others to get involved more physically, who he picks might also have the inside track on the head coaching position. I say “might” because I don’t believe this should be a necessary criteria in who he hires. The objective should be to win the 2010 national championship. Then within a year or two or … Iowa State can consider the likely succession, or who will take over from there. It could be anyone, the best qualified candidate - chosen perhaps in a more deliberate way than today.
In Gable’s first IPTV commentator broadcast, he had very positive things to say about Cyclone freshmen Joe Heskett and Cael Sanderson – how they showed a degree of aggressiveness long absent from Iowa State. A lot of Cyclone fans didn’t like this comment (or many others of his on IPTV) - but whether it was the caliber of athletes or just differences of style - who could deny it had an element of truth? I believe Gable may need someone on staff who he knows well, and trusts simply from familiarity, someone likely to be a Hawk. But I also believe he should have someone like Heskett.
Or the Paulsons. But I’m not sure they would consider it. When they left, as I recall family health considerations are a/the major reason why they are at Nebraska.
Manning has done a great job at Nebraska, and at UNI before that. But as a conference coach, I’m not sure that he would even be under consideration.
Chris Bono had a great career at Iowa State. I’m not sure whether he would be able to bring in the best recruits, however. Or coach them to do their best. I just don’t know. Bono is a great Cyclone, both as an athlete and a coach, but I think there is a great deal of uncertainty about this. Using a wrestler’s style as a proxy for what he would coach, I commented in the past that I wasn’t sure Sanderson could coach his style because it was so unique (and quite aggressive). Bono, for those who do not know, is short, strong, and stocky. He found what worked for him. Does it work well for others? Can he coach others – or coach well, at the highest level - to take a different tack?
In fairness to Chris, I don't know the specifics here that well. But judging from far away, IMO these are valid considerations.
Terry Brands might also be considered. Personality, etc. issues aside though, what unique advantage would he have over a twin brother at UI? I’m sure the dual meets would be a barn burner. Perhaps Terry at Iowa State would do better than Tom. But are there not other young coaches out there who would better give ISU a competitive edge?
Other coaches with a track record of success, like Koll, at Cornell, I would be happy with. Some younger guys also have done well. But if it comes down to taking too much risk, taking a lesser known quantity with great uncertainty of how well they would coach, I’d take Gable. Cael Sanderson is like a brand name, you know you are going to get great recruits. And with experience, he might yet prove to be an exceptional coach. (No one is likely to match Gable’s record as coach.) Besides the possibility of having current team members dispersed, or less than 100 percent happy, or achieving at less than 100 percent of their potential, the possibility that this is an inflection point for the program from more recent success, I believe is a concern. Iowa State needs a great replacement. Someone who expects to win national championships.
Bobby Douglas also deserves consideration, like Gable, with the idea of maximizing the potential of the current team. Or serving more as an interim coach. He brought in some outstanding recruits. And with a former Cyclone great at UI, he never really had the degree of support I believe he would today.
JMO. It isn’t a perfect world. Perhaps Gable himself wouldn’t even entertain the possibility. But if he would, in a similar situation, is there any other program he would consider? Should ISU dismiss out of hand a possibility likely exclusive to itself as an institution? If, in considering all the possibilities, Gable is the best Iowa State can do I see no good reason it shouldn’t be pursued.
1)Dan Gable
2)Mark Manning
People obviously have strong feelings about Gable. Even though he has physical limitations, he would push the seniors mentally to be their best. His assistants would be key.
He would not only need others to get involved more physically, who he picks might also have the inside track on the head coaching position. I say “might” because I don’t believe this should be a necessary criteria in who he hires. The objective should be to win the 2010 national championship. Then within a year or two or … Iowa State can consider the likely succession, or who will take over from there. It could be anyone, the best qualified candidate - chosen perhaps in a more deliberate way than today.
In Gable’s first IPTV commentator broadcast, he had very positive things to say about Cyclone freshmen Joe Heskett and Cael Sanderson – how they showed a degree of aggressiveness long absent from Iowa State. A lot of Cyclone fans didn’t like this comment (or many others of his on IPTV) - but whether it was the caliber of athletes or just differences of style - who could deny it had an element of truth? I believe Gable may need someone on staff who he knows well, and trusts simply from familiarity, someone likely to be a Hawk. But I also believe he should have someone like Heskett.
Or the Paulsons. But I’m not sure they would consider it. When they left, as I recall family health considerations are a/the major reason why they are at Nebraska.
Manning has done a great job at Nebraska, and at UNI before that. But as a conference coach, I’m not sure that he would even be under consideration.
Chris Bono had a great career at Iowa State. I’m not sure whether he would be able to bring in the best recruits, however. Or coach them to do their best. I just don’t know. Bono is a great Cyclone, both as an athlete and a coach, but I think there is a great deal of uncertainty about this. Using a wrestler’s style as a proxy for what he would coach, I commented in the past that I wasn’t sure Sanderson could coach his style because it was so unique (and quite aggressive). Bono, for those who do not know, is short, strong, and stocky. He found what worked for him. Does it work well for others? Can he coach others – or coach well, at the highest level - to take a different tack?
In fairness to Chris, I don't know the specifics here that well. But judging from far away, IMO these are valid considerations.
Terry Brands might also be considered. Personality, etc. issues aside though, what unique advantage would he have over a twin brother at UI? I’m sure the dual meets would be a barn burner. Perhaps Terry at Iowa State would do better than Tom. But are there not other young coaches out there who would better give ISU a competitive edge?
Other coaches with a track record of success, like Koll, at Cornell, I would be happy with. Some younger guys also have done well. But if it comes down to taking too much risk, taking a lesser known quantity with great uncertainty of how well they would coach, I’d take Gable. Cael Sanderson is like a brand name, you know you are going to get great recruits. And with experience, he might yet prove to be an exceptional coach. (No one is likely to match Gable’s record as coach.) Besides the possibility of having current team members dispersed, or less than 100 percent happy, or achieving at less than 100 percent of their potential, the possibility that this is an inflection point for the program from more recent success, I believe is a concern. Iowa State needs a great replacement. Someone who expects to win national championships.
Bobby Douglas also deserves consideration, like Gable, with the idea of maximizing the potential of the current team. Or serving more as an interim coach. He brought in some outstanding recruits. And with a former Cyclone great at UI, he never really had the degree of support I believe he would today.
JMO. It isn’t a perfect world. Perhaps Gable himself wouldn’t even entertain the possibility. But if he would, in a similar situation, is there any other program he would consider? Should ISU dismiss out of hand a possibility likely exclusive to itself as an institution? If, in considering all the possibilities, Gable is the best Iowa State can do I see no good reason it shouldn’t be pursued.
Last edited:
Way off here buddy.
The rival school to my high school has won the last 3 state championships in Illinois, and got a 2nd and a 4th the two years before that. They have had state champs every year for like the last 7 or so, often more than one. Their coach is a big fat guy with no neck who we love to make fun of. He does nothing physical all practice, yet his program exudes excellence. He knows what he is doing, he knows how to teach without actually getting down on the mat, and he surrounded himself with 2 recent Illinois assistant coach of the year recipients who beat the hell out of the wrestlers there. It is more about the TEAM of coaches, not just the HC.
Weren't you the one you stated it's just wrestling, who cares about Cael leaving?? What do you care who JP calls?
Yes. And I really liked his response, “I’m disappointed just a little bit. It wouldn’t sit well with me if I was just an Iowa State fan right now.”
