That would require a takedown
Fire Tom Ryan
- Thread starter MALOS
- Start date
Unfortunately it isn't just recruiting anymore. If Carl and Tom both started with the exact same wrestlers Carl would still be winning.
It's never just 1 thing, but in your scenario, we'd be a HELLUVA lot closer to PSU than we are now. Conversely, if Tom precisely implemented all of Karl's approaches overnight, but each team kept their same roster, we wouldn't even be in the discussion with them in 4 years (assuming recruiting continues as is for both teams).
I keep hearing about these recruits coming. 2 sets of brothers who wrestle the same boring non attack style against other elite guys is what I see. Bo and Melvin were the answer but the guys who are coming are the type that try to slow matches down and create boring matches against the Bo and Melvins of the world. Iowa has trouble recruiting dynamic offensive wrestlers because the coaching staff isn't suited to help them develop and the actual star preps know this full and well. I hope none of you think there is a Mitchell Mesenbrink or Jesse Mendez type in the coming classes or you will be very upset when they get here and try to squeak out 4-1 ot matches. Cael didn't want these guys and neither did DT.
You hit the nail on head. Iowa is recruiting against MN,Rutgers Illinois and Michigan for scraps.
They could get a top tier. But more likely mid teir and have to coach them up. Thats where the problem is. IMO change will not happen because of The Who are you going to get thats better people. Right now there are 7-10 programs better pick one make an offer. Try ANYTHING but what is happening now.
They could get a top tier. But more likely mid teir and have to coach them up. Thats where the problem is. IMO change will not happen because of The Who are you going to get thats better people. Right now there are 7-10 programs better pick one make an offer. Try ANYTHING but what is happening now.
Agreed. Bo and Melvin likely would have secured another four years for the brands, much like Lee did. Losing those studs will probably (or should) lead to a change in leadership within the program.
Borge and the Kenny’s aren’t like that at all. Joe is also just 17 and competing with Bo. These kind of posts don’t help anything, and hurt recruiting believe it or not.
I agree it doesn’t help recruiting. In the same breath, actions speak louder than words. Iowa’s results make recruiting more difficult than Iowa Wrestling blogs.
Many people thought we had a legitimate shot at recruiting Mendez and Bouzakis.
What answers are given when a sought after recruit asks, why should I come to Iowa, instead of Ohio State, PSU or Virginia Tech?
That’s a PSU fan making the comments they don’t care if it hurts recruiting
Their *** kicking was a lot more competitive than ours based on what I saw watching them both.
Nic has had zero issues going into the 3rd with 1 hour weigh ins and will be even better in tournament setting. Rumor is Davino has no issues making 133. Bucks will need to fill 41-49. Stiles 157-Cannon 165 Birden 174.
Bucks have #132 Mills coming in and could be 141 next year or Bucks will be looking at portal.
tOSU has not one but two potential AA level 125s on their bench. It would make more sense to get one of them in the lineup and bump up Davino & Bouzakis then to look for a band aid in the portal.
Next year may be marginally better in the PSU lineup in a vacuum, but this year will be their peak score and margin at nationals. By next year, Ok St will be competitive with them and #2 with significant separation from everyone else and eating into PSU’s dominance. The Ok St ascendancy is going to start in earnest when they incinerate Iowa next weekend then destroy the Big 12 and finally finish second at nationals this year. By next year, their gap to PSU will be a lot smaller, and not because PSU will be weaker.
Who is coming in for them that will close the gap next year, they're all young so they dont lose any body, they get a blue chip heavy but that isnt changing anything to much.
VT for one is gonna get stronger ohio loses a lot and I dont know what they have coming in but I'm sure they won't be huge holes.
Last edited:
I don't think they are bad wrestlers, but none of that group would start at PSU or OSU. You are not going to catch the top teams recruiting guys the top teams don't want or need. I think anybody who follows high school wrestling believes that Bo,Melvin, and the Raney twins was a way better score when that is what the big recruits were thought to be. Mocco is a really good 285 prospect but again slow feet where Ross with DT coaching will leave him looking slow and defensive. This isn't rocket science. Nothing bad about the guys coming they just will not move the needle in terms of being behind in recruiting. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. People are acting like a big crop of Hodge candidate types are in the pipeline for 27' and 28' when nothing of the sort is true.
May all be true but no point in writing them off before they’ve wrestled a single college match. Recruits do surprise sometimes.
They have Mocco and the Raneys coming in. The bigger Raney and Mocco cover their weakest spots at 149 and HWT. Once they overachieve at nationals for a second straight year and establish themselves as a legit contender vs the PSU juggernaut, DT will officially be the hottest coach in the sport and they’ll have their pick of portal transfers if they want them. You guys are worried about whether Angelo stays? If he doesn’t, where do you think he’s going?
Plus, it doesn’t matter. A bunch of you are still stuck on it’s recruiting and not Brands coaching, and that’s not it at all. PSU became a dynasty because 10-15 years ago, their guys consistently overachieved and became champions there. Until 2021, they still had holes in their lineup every year (125 every year plus usually one middle weight and maybe one more), but the elite kids look at their record under Cael in the semis and finals and the fact that even in the year they didn’t win nationals, they were 4-for-4 on Saturday, and now, they have the best of the best at every weight knocking down their door to get in the room. They’re like 50-10 in the semis and 40-10 in the finals. That’s the kind of difference that DT will have. It started last year with elevating Hamiti and Hendo from AAs to champions. So, yeah, they have 3 top 10 recruits to add, but everyone in the room will be better next year, too.
I am not writing them off as being really solid AA wrestlers, but just pointing out they aren't the program pecking order changers some seem to believe. I have read arguments that switching coaches would risk losing this group of saviors when they aren't going to change Iowa's place with PSU or the Pokes.
They have Ross coming not Mocco. Your point stands. The 2 biggest weak spots are 174 and 184 imo.
Yep, the coaches who do more with less, do the most once they have more. If that makes sense. Right now Iowa’s reputation is doing less with more.
Schwab does the most with the least
Yeah, sorry, Ross not Mocco. In terms of having serious championship contenders at 174 and 184, Facundo isn’t one, but he’s a solid AA, which, if that’s a weakness, then that is PSU level where Davis and Mirasola are the “weak links”. Ryder is still a work in progress. He’s not winning this year, but he’s the type of guy who I think will level up there.
IDK about Mocco having slow feet. He seems to have inherited a lot of his mother's athleticism and to me he has well above average athleticism and length for a heavyweight. You don't see too many heavyweights with an ankle pick. Yes, I think Ross' ceiling is higher but I was fine with "settling" for Mocco, he'll be one of the better heavyweights once he puts on some size and adds strength.
Ross is a freak athlete and seems like a great kid off the mat. Was this a brands recruiting failure or was Ross always going to go to okie state?
Not sure to be honest. Corby has the inside scoop. All I know is, Cael tried very hard for Ross up to and beyond commitment.
Facundo is a good wrestler but DT will be looking for somebody better to take that spot. He is a lower podium AA type who doesn't score bonus. They won't catch up to PSU with guys like that. Bonus points are such a key.
Well right now we haven’t been able to steal the recent PSU , OSU recruits, so what else should we do with 2027/2028. Just get total room guys? Hutcherson is a Pennsylvania kid who would fit perfectly at PSU at 97 or heavyweight. If we can steal him, that may be considered a recruiting victory, but I’m not holding my breath. Loosing in state Ross hurt as much as Bassett. I don’t even think we were his second choice since Cael was going after him hard.
Sadly, if he’s healthy, he will be a multiple time national champion.
Wait, all of you who say it’s not all about recruiting, it’s about Taylor and Cael being superior coaches who coach these guys up to be champions, like he did with Plott. You would think Taylor having these two blue chip upper weight guys to work with wouldn’t be thinking about recruiting over them???
What his mom’s background in sports? He definitely seems longer and more athletic than his dad was. Now if he can just add his strength and mean streak.
I have been in the party of firing coaches who can't recruit. That is 100% important. That is a big reason Brands needs to go. Recruiting is job number 1. Helping those recruits improve is job #2. If you do those well you have success. Struggle in either and you are just ok, but fail at both and you have the current Iowa problem.
They are PSU cast offs because they couldn't cut the mustard. You aren't catching PSU doing this long term. Just like you can't recruit Little Rock as a means to an end.
Is it just me, or do more people find the “these posts don’t help with recruiting” narrative feel kind of dumb. Meaning no offense to you chihawk, I understand where you’re coming from I just find it laughable.
I mean we can’t possibly live in a world where top tier athletes in their sport give a damn about what some random asshat has to say about then. How soft have we become.
Maybe, but PSU doesn’t have 10 champions either. That’s my point. If low AA types with limited bonus potential are the weak links in the lineup, that is PSU level, like Davis and Mirasola.
