6 or 7 AAs out of the lineup you listed?
Last year's team went 14-1 in duals and ended with 6.
Optimism is one thing, delusion is another.
Next Year’s Lineup
- Thread starter luthius dagan
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Last year's team went 14-1 in duals and ended with 6.
Optimism is one thing, delusion is another.
Come on, man. How many duals this year have they wrestled without 3 starters or more?
I have said all year that I am waiting for March. If they falter there, I even said I would back away from this argument and I am a man of my word.
But, it isn’t outlandish for me to believe Peterson can AA, when he has made the R12 and beat multiple AA’s. The same for Williams. Bailey has already done it. Block is capable, if yet to be proven. Arnold absolutely has the ability to do it at 184. Ferrari needs no argument. Ludington is a question mark. Kueter has already done it.
The potential is absolutely there and a couple top end transfers would make for a very solid team. If very solid isn’t enough, that is a different argument. I am simply arguing against calling that lineup “garbage”. I simply won’t agree with any take that calls guys ranked top 10ish refuse…
Name me one Division 1 wrestler who isn’t “capable” of being an All American. You can’t do it!
Are you chalking it up to just "bad luck" that the gray area rule we weren't willing to bend on was changed shortly after the Bassetts decommited?
A lot of fan frustration is misses like these seem too common under the current leadership and it's affecting the product on the mat.
I do not think we should have broken any rules for the Bassetts. But I think we could have gathered enough information and handled the communication well enough to not lose them... especially given the fact the rule was obviously under review at the time.
Miller had an NIL deal coming up that wasn't finalized so negotiating wasn't over despite Bo's being agreed to because you are buying the family. I don't blame them for wanting their kids to have more access to the room.
My take is the family wasn't happy with Bo's recent results and Jax winning didn't help. Given the next son was ready to sign soon- and he did with VT- the family wanted more. I'm sure they were jealous and a pain to deal with. Welcome to wrestling parents nowadays. But they were asking to come to the room more. Not sure how that's an issue? And what they wanted isn't even illegal anymore. I don't believe the NCAA or the cops are coming to arrest David Taylor today or ever. Is there an NCAA fine coming for the alleged cheating? So if no then it was a grey area that could have been worked through. Much like Cael using NLWC funds back then to reimburse his stars after eligibility is up. Is PSU gonna be hit with violations for that creative workaround? Props to Cael IMO
In the end wish we signed them but its a bit of an unanswered prayer because its started the demise of Brands coaching career. Tom soon can take pride in his early retirement that he wasnt creative in the grey area and he stood up to the Bassets and the mean old mom didn't tell him what to do. Enjoy your retirement coach.
If we are talking transfer portal for next year I really hope they don’t spend a bunch of money on a 133. Jax and Blaze aren’t going anywhere unless they move up a weight which seems possible but not a given.
Because of that, it would be a waste unless it’s Larkin, Siedel or Davino. There is way too much young talent at that weight that it’s very unlikely to see much return on investment. Those guys probably won’t hit the portal though.
165 is the area with the most opportunity. Wide open weight class. It would need to be a 1-2 year stopgap until Amato comes in.
Because of that, it would be a waste unless it’s Larkin, Siedel or Davino. There is way too much young talent at that weight that it’s very unlikely to see much return on investment. Those guys probably won’t hit the portal though.
165 is the area with the most opportunity. Wide open weight class. It would need to be a 1-2 year stopgap until Amato comes in.
Agreed. lack of tact and inability to deescalate go to ego-driven communications problems, which some might call lack of interpersonal skills.
One shouldn't expect those that have these traits to recognize them as a deficiency in others
There will not be any All Americans outside Ayala, Mikey C, Angelo, and PK this year and maybe one outlier. And I could see PK and Ayala not AA. There’s a chance that all four of the above named wrestlers are not at Iowa next year.
Peterson isn't on the team next year he's a senior.
Gabe isn't wrestling 84 next year, at least I sure as hell hope not and if he does where is Angelo wrestling?
Looks to me like you're trying to mix this year and next year's lineup to come up with your 6-7 AAs in 2027?
I think the disconnect with this conversation with you and a few others is our expectations of the program are just too drastically different to find middle ground. I suppose that's okay. But I and many others have championship expectations and that will never change. We see next year's lineup as a clear step down from this year's and this year's lineup is proving to be FAR below a championship level team, injuries or not.
UsaW wouldn't return phone calls about the 250 mile rule and it's enforcement. Oklahoma st people were saying UsaW gave them the ok to break the rule. Then come the September 1 meeting UsaW changed the rule. Also Iowa made many attempts to do camps so Bo could come to Iowa City and train and they never worked schedule wise for Bill to bring Bo. People want to point fingers yet most have no clue what went on.
Having been there, I would NEVER disrespect a DI wrestler knowing firsthand how hard it is to just be in that room day in and day out with all the pressures college life brings. However, I could easily list 80 to even 90% of wrestlers at the DI level that have no chance to AA. It is THAT DAMN HARD to do…
You spoke about this years dual results so I was responding to that. Instead, transplant DeLuca for Peterson and put Arnold at 174, and my argument doesn’t drop off one bit.
if you argument is 1st or bust, you won’t here me arguing against. However, I take umbrage when guys absolutely good enough to AA, including some that already have, are called things like garbage. That is what I have mainly been arguing against. In fact, if you actually read I have said over and over again that They clearly are NOT a title contender…
This is actually an even worse look for brands. No one at UsaW wants to talk to him? He can’t call his colleagues around the country because they all dislike him?
Why isn’t Beth and Brands suing UsaW for giving Taylor and Jax the go ahead but giving Brands the run around?
Do you have the inside dope on Massoma? Still not at all clear to me what happened. There was some speculation that cooler heads might prevail and there'd be a reunion, but that ship has clearly sailed.
I'm not pointing fingers, but I am pointing out things like this are rarely if ever 100% the fault of solely one side or the other.
Let's assume everything you're saying is 100% accurate and Iowa really couldn't get someone on the phone from USAW (and I'm sorry but if I'm a parent of an athlete and coaches with decades long connections to USAW are telling me this I'm going to have serious questions)... but let's say it's all accurate and you really know everything about this entire situation.
What happened during communications with the family that lead to a blow up and eventual decommittment? Was that all on the family as well, nothing the staff could have handled differently?
No, I'm pointing out the absurdity of you predicting the lineup you listed will perform as good (6 AAs) or better (7 AAs) than the 2025 team did at nationals, while also using recent performance and unreal yet still underwhelming future performances to defend the staff.
A few RTCs reached out and couldn't get an answer or a call back
Not sure why all this is still being talked about. Bo is going to Va tech and Jax is wrestling for Oklahoma st. Iowa did everything they could to keep Bo and they decided to look elsewhere. It didn't work .
If I have to hear one more time, how great of a recruiter Morningstar is, I may lose it. The lineup the last 7-8 years is hole after hole, and many recruiting misses. Why has Iowa languished behind? We don't have the talent. We fell behind on recruiting.
Why didn't Iowa make many attempts to do camps when Bill could bring Bo? Sounds like they had the scheduling attempt in the wrong order.
Their schedule should have been damn near the top of Toms priority list given all that was riding on those commitments.
Neither side must have anticipated that rule being dropped 2 months later, or they could have said hang in there for 2 months. I think expecting Iowa to pick up the whole tab all year ticked Tom off with the 7 figure deal they had. Greed took over, and now they have much less money for it. As far as coaching, TNT would have fit Bo like a glove. But it’s over now.
Many attempts and dates were made. I'm done talking about the situation its over with and was long ago
So now it's really only about a rule they tried but couldn't clarify wasn't going to be enforced. But then the rule changed. Why did you focus on their NIL $ then?
PK has been consistent, maybe not fun to watch, but is solid and even looks improved this year in scrambling. He could fall down the podium, but I think he stays on it. 133 is a meat grinder, lots of disappointed people in that bracket. If Angelo ends up with a medical RS, he becomes a flight risk for next year.
A 10 year pile of bridge ashes might be a hint.
I'm sure some efforts were made, but in the end the gas can and matches likely came out.
The "greed took over" argument doesn't pass the smell test bc like you said they took significantly less elsewhere and they knew they'd have to before they decommitted. The reason it's still being talked about is bc we're in the midst of the worst season in 20 years and that commitment at least offered some hope for a turnaround.
Now that hope is gone and too many want to act like there's nothing that could have been done differently.
We're hearing that same excuse in far too many aspects of the program.
Since you're in the know, how many calls from whom, calls only or emails too, to whom, other schools/RTCs, and how long did the Brands patiently wait?
The Brands could've chosen to document their attempts to clarify along with their understanding of Ok St's verbal permission. Use email in addition to phone calls to create a record. Then make the move.
It's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission in cases like these dealing with organizational bureaucrats.
No risk, no reward. Go big, or go home. Fortune favors the brave ... and all stuff of that nature.
Something stopped the Brands from this approach. I wonder what.
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Or...after the "divorce" with Iowa their collective $$ value was substantially degraded. How likely is it that the Bassett group wrestles for the same school for all 4 years?
I suspect many coaches just didn't want the "smoke" that they bring. Excellent wrestlers? Absolutely. Reliable, committed, long term team members? Entirely different question...and I suspect a completely opposite answer.
I agree. All we ever hear is that it’s always someone else’s fault. Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t but it gets tiresome and I try not to even bother with those conversations anymore.
Portal may be a two way street when this season ends.
The timing of their commitment and later decommitment and the changes with NIL rules in-between were clear. They knew they'd be taking far less elsewhere. I really don't believe they decommited bc of money for that reason.
In this day and age who knows how long anyone will stay anywhere. What we know is they're not coming here and the future looks even more bleak as a result.
Angelo wrestled well into January. Who knows with the NCAA, but historically, he wouldn't have been given a medical RS for this season.
My guess is the USAW knew they had an issue or a rule changing so they didn't want to commit or say go ahead before it actually changed so they went radio silence. Other guess is Taylor must have had an insider in USAW telling them it was coming so they prematurely started.
Bush league by USAW to not tell everyone but I can also see there said of just keeping the soon to be change under wraps to cover themselves. So whatever OK st claims they had I bet wasn't official or in writing whatsoever. And nothing will ever happen about that.
Corby-Just wondering. Wouldn't Zaddick have known and made a call to Iowa given he bleeds black & gold? If they wanted something in writing it was never coming until they could.
Exactly. I make up new camps and get creative AF. I believe Tom tried but I also believe he is too stubborn and the catering became to much for him.
But to play devils advocate. I will have a hard time ever rooting for Bo or his family. The kid said Iowa was always his dream so I dont think a summer of a couple of dates not aligning should deter coming.
Both parties are at fault on some level but I don't need Corby gas lighting me Brands was helpless. You find a way and if you cant resign and let someone coach Iowa that doesn't make excuses for Mo or Bo or whatever failure is next.
You are over that like we are over Brands. I get it man.
How often do you personally interact with TNT to know these things?
Its been creeping but the sports talk in Des Moines specifically KXNO or even CH 13 NBC really are bringing up replacing Brands at an alarming rate. Chad Leistikow who cover Iowa for DM Register & IC Press Citizen said yesterday he would not be shocked if Beth makes a move after the season. Mentioning much like Fran maybe not wait another year when you know its not trending right. The fans can feel it and attendance will show it. So he was like a buyout stinks but if you lose the ticket money then in itself its its own buyout loss.
Not just him but alot of buzz from other Hawkeye reporters that are insiders. Tom Kakert on this board is another when he calls into Miller & Condon. Everyone smells it.
Not just him but alot of buzz from other Hawkeye reporters that are insiders. Tom Kakert on this board is another when he calls into Miller & Condon. Everyone smells it.
Its not exactly a hard book to read. But to tell you would be to out our connections within the program straight to them. Tarp has done a nice job laying it out how some folks on the inside also view things the same as what he witnessed in his days in HWC back in the day. THEY ARE TOO STUBBORN TO ADAPT is a consistent message from Tarp and other legends that remain close to the program and shall remain nameless. If we had the perfect replacement named a lot of Brands loyalist would sign for the change. But the love them too much to just do it for a nobody and especially if its a nobody without an Iowa legacy.
Edit to say- I think even if they did change they are too old and too much reputation has been built up and damaging to move forward. Perception is unfairly or not the reality. Just a toxic cloud hanging over the room. Good thing Brands cant look outside.
I was very specifically asking 98lber about his assumed dealings. Nobody else.
You keep trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear on this, but it’s like you accidentally sew the purse to your face while you do it.
I guess your unyielding optimism should be admired. I think that lineup would struggle to be top 5. We should not be in a position where we are squinting to see a top 5 finish.