PSU - Iowa '26 Match Thread

Headlock

Senior
Dec 28, 2023
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Interesting that so many on this board are congratulating Brands on his honest and transparent interview. I don't disagree, it looks like he's hurting some and he knows that he's ultimately responsible for his team's failures (and I think that was true leading up to this dual, not just during or afterwards). BUT, he's basically blaming his guys for backing up and not having the mindset to score when it's precisely what he and his staff have filled their heads with for years. It's obvious to EVERYONE, Iowa fans included, that the current "Iowa style" is to stall and keep it close, then to go balls to the wall for 40 seconds at the end of the match to get ONE TAKEDOWN and to try to steal one. Everyone knows it including Tom himself, so to suggest that this is where the fault lies when he's only been encouraging an offensive/scoring mindset for the last week is a bit disingenuous. I said earlier in this thread that I don't hate Brands or even dislike him that much, but I do admit to the fact that I love him being the Iowa coach because I think it's unlikely to the point of impossibility of Iowa ever catching PSU again until/unless Cael retires and PSU makes a horrible coaching decision in replacing him (which is also HIGHLY unlikely given PSU's potential choices).

I also thought his defense of Ferrari's style was a bit off. I mean, OK, what's he going to say? "Yeah, that was embarrassing for Angelo and we've told him time and again to get off the knee and quit stalling. Well, now he's paid for it."? But still, he could have just as easily said, "Well, everyone has their own style and we try not to beat it out of them, but if you're going to be planted on the mat with one knee 2 inches underground, it's hard to score". And while Ferrari's the worst, there are other Iowa guys that do the same damn thing......
I heard Brands use the press to convey to AF that if your style is on a knee you need to use it in some offensive way as opposed to waiting for a counter. Without AF, his line-up is really barren. Can't afford to alienate him.
 

F7Mello

Sophomore
Aug 5, 2025
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Just rewatched Mitchell/Caliendo. MM took 16 legit shots Caliendo 2. Refs didn’t call the 2nd stall on Caliendo till the 15th shot by Mitchell. Seems odd they would wait that long to call 2nd stall

@Tom McAndrew i defer to you. As a ref, how would you have called it with that disparity?
I was impressed with Caliendo. At one point, after a great scramble where Mitch was in deep but Caliendo scramble out and almost (kinda almost for anyone but Mitch) got the takedown - Mitch stood up and it looked like he was smiling. He loves the scrap and good matches. Caliendo just was supremely frustrated at the end, it looked like Caliendo improved, but Mitch widened the gap even so - Mitch is now a dominant top wrestler as well. (Last year I didn't see him dominate top competition on top like he does this year.)
 

Sloepoke20

Senior
Sep 23, 2022
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Every time some recruit tries to do the football/wrestling dual-sport thing, we should remember Kueter as a cautionary tale.
What do you think is wrong with Keuter? If I’m looking at it from Iowa’s perspective that is the most head scratching match to me. I don’t think he tried to score once aside from the obligatory flailing around the last 10-15 seconds of the match. It was like he didn’t try to or want to win. The guy is a very good athlete. He had a big length/reach advantage. It sounds like he has been really counter reliant for his offense this year but… I guess I just thought he would be better at this point.
 

NittPicker

Heisman
Jun 30, 2001
5,844
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I heard Brands use the press to convey to AF that if your style is on a knee you need to use it in some offensive way as opposed to waiting for a counter. Without AF, his line-up is really barren. Can't afford to alienate him.
If that's the case, Brands is derelict in his duties as a coach. Address it in the room if you think a wrestler needs to make a change. That's what coaching is. If a wrestler feels alienated because a coach dares to coach him, then the wrestler is the problem. Brands isn't doing his job right if he is in fact using the press to send a message.
 
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Jun 23, 2025
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Every time some recruit tries to do the football/wrestling dual-sport thing, we should remember Kueter as a cautionary tale.
Also imagine Kueter trying to fill the B gap on a run play in B10 right now? I know wright training is different for football but I think he made a wise decision going wrestling full time
 
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Efejle

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Apr 30, 2023
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Hawkeye Report has just revealed once again that Penn State takes steroids. Also PJ is a "dirty wrestler". I was actually shocked that they didn't drop the Sandusky card, but its been 15 years now and that card is pretty much faded to dust, kinda like their records, almost all of which are gone now
 
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jack66

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
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Most of us would like to see a stall called when a wrestler repeatedly goes to one knee ... myself included. It's ironic, though; Ferrari would likely become a better wrestler.

For the sake of wresting I'm still for the change. When Jim Gibbons openly criticizes a wrestler's style, you know it gets the attention of other coaches and officials.

I believe that this is a conversation that goes beyond this board.
 
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ClarkstonMark

All-Conference
May 23, 2002
1,474
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Yep, that would be the short-term goal.

BUT: we might need Ferrari to beat McEnelly in 2 weeks for this to happen. We don't face the Goofers. McEnelly does have the 1 loss on his record, non-conference to #2 Sinclair.

If he and Welsh are both undefeated in conference, Welsh should get the 1 but who knows how the B10 coaches will handle seeding. Well, most of the coaches -- pretty easy to tell how Tan Tom will vote.
Rocco has to be #1, not just in B10, but in NCAA rankings. He beat Ferrari who beat Sinclair who beat Mac. Seems simple to me...
 

mcpat

All-Conference
Mar 12, 2021
1,275
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Probably going to be unpopular opinion, but felt Davis in 3rd period was just trying to get another stall call on Bailey. It was really just a bunch of faux 1/2 shots, never seemed to be really committed to any of them. Like others have said, think he’ll be fine as conditioning improves and will avenge this loss.
💯
 
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Efejle

Senior
Apr 30, 2023
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No one wanted Lucas Cochran to replace Cole? I'm losing my memory.
I didn't see it. I saw a few people suggesting that Lucas get a match or two, which he will. I don't quite understand why some of us want to start fights all the time over our wrestlers: 99 percent of our fans root equally for all of our wrestlers. Cole is improving now weekly and that's normal for a Cael coached wrestler. He's going to get better and better and he looked damn good against Kueter. Personally I think all of the "what's wrong with Kueter" thoughts are more disrespectful than the Lucas suggestions....That match had nothing to do with what is wrong with Kueter. Nothing is wrong with Kueter: He got beat by a better wrestler.
 

Random4598375

Senior
Jan 10, 2020
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Almost stumbling? He nearly fell down a few of times! But I love how he kept trying to score.
The problem is he wasn’t really trying to score, he was trying to draw the final stalling call that he needed. He got one as Nasir was backing away, but when Nasir stopped backing up and stayed in the center of the mat, he wasn’t going to get the second call even if Nasir wasn’t really doing anything, which was the right call. He needed to do more than just look aggressive at the end, he needed to actually take dedicated shots.
 

TwoJoints

Sophomore
Feb 2, 2025
31
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Yeah, I seriously doubt Brands teaches the "keep it close" match management tactics.

I do think he and Terry focus the team so much on hand fighting and defense that those become primary, whether intended or not, and the guys become risk-adverse over time. The shots come (if at all) late in the match because then there's urgency.
Watching Iowa over the years it seems more and more like they hand fight for the sake of hand fighting rather than working for an angle or as a set-up for a leg attack. I loved watching AB and CStar accepting a collar tie and then yanking the Iowa opponents head down toward the mat as they attacked the legs or finished a go behind. Tying up for the sake of tying up is not a winning offensive strategy.
 

Efejle

Senior
Apr 30, 2023
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The problem is he wasn’t really trying to score, he was trying to draw the final stalling call that he needed. He got one as Nasir was backing away, but when Nasir stopped backing up and stayed in the center of the mat, he wasn’t going to get the second call even if Nasir wasn’t really doing anything, which was the right call. He needed to do more than just look aggressive at the end, he needed to actually take dedicated shots.
The match with Bailey last year was also probably in his head. Sometimes you beat a guy one way and then wind up trying to beat him the exact same way the next time. Davis can absolutely beat just about anybody outside of obviously The top 3 guys at the weight. This was his 2nd dual meet match of the year and it came at Carver against a kid who only lost to the top 3 himself and he basically beat him if he doesn't get caught in the 1st period in a cradle. Take the actual cradle out of the match and just give up the takedown and you have a 3-3 overtime match and Davis is winning that. Next time leave no doubt, take his *** down in the first or second period and grind him into the mat.
 
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El_Jefe

All-American
Oct 11, 2021
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If that's the case, Brands is derelict in his duties as a coach. Address it in the room if you think a wrestler needs to make a change. That's what coaching is. If a wrestler feels alienated because a coach dares to coach him, then the wrestler is the problem. Brands isn't doing his job right if he is in fact using the press to send a message.
You think Brands hasn't been addressing it in the room repeatedly? And maybe Ferrari does it in practice but not against real opponents. Or maybe some skulls are too thick to jackhammer thru.
 
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RockySmith

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Dec 10, 2020
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What do you think is wrong with Keuter? If I’m looking at it from Iowa’s perspective that is the most head scratching match to me. I don’t think he tried to score once aside from the obligatory flailing around the last 10-15 seconds of the match. It was like he didn’t try to or want to win. The guy is a very good athlete. He had a big length/reach advantage. It sounds like he has been really counter reliant for his offense this year but… I guess I just thought he would be better at this point.
You make a great point. No conditioning or offense. Very odd.

Didn‘t he have hip surgery in the off-season? Maybe he doesn’t have confidence in his movement?
 

NittPicker

Heisman
Jun 30, 2001
5,844
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You think Brands hasn't been addressing it in the room repeatedly? And maybe Ferrari does it in practice but not against real opponents. Or maybe some skulls are too thick to jackhammer thru.
I have no idea what happens in the Iowa wrestling room. I believe at the presser Brands was saying what was on his mind - nothing wrong with that. But if he was using the presser to send a message to one of his guys, that's a cop out.
 

El_Jefe

All-American
Oct 11, 2021
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Watching Iowa over the years it seems more and more like they hand fight for the sake of hand fighting rather than working for an angle or as a set-up for a leg attack. I loved watching AB and CStar accepting a collar tie and then yanking the Iowa opponents head down toward the mat as they attacked the legs or finished a go behind. Tying up for the sake of tying up is not a winning offensive strategy.
I really wish Max Rohskopf didn't have that MMA flap that caused him to delete all of his social media.

Because he was a starter on the NC State team that won the Orange Bowl at CHA, and afterward tweeted something like (paraphrasing to the best of my memory):
"Don't wrestle -- HAND FIGHT!"
- Iowa fans

That was about 10 years ago, can't say anything has changed.
 
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NittPicker

Heisman
Jun 30, 2001
5,844
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Hawkeye Report has just revealed once again that Penn State takes steroids. Also PJ is a "dirty wrestler". I was actually shocked that they didn't drop the Sandusky card, but its been 15 years now and that card is pretty much faded to dust, kinda like their records, almost all of which are gone now
I checked out HR this morning for the first time in months. The majority seem to feel it's time for Brands to go. However, there are a couple hardcore guys who are whistling past the graveyard. One wrote Iowa is falling behind because of ethics - of course implying ethical Iowa is falling victim to the unethical interlopers. TomBots I guess. But maybe TnT will stay and turn things around. 🤷‍♂️
 
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Sunshine88!

All-Conference
Sep 26, 2025
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I didn't see it. I saw a few people suggesting that Lucas get a match or two, which he will. I don't quite understand why some of us want to start fights all the time over our wrestlers: 99 percent of our fans root equally for all of our wrestlers. Cole is improving now weekly and that's normal for a Cael coached wrestler. He's going to get better and better and he looked damn good against Kueter. Personally I think all of the "what's wrong with Kueter" thoughts are more disrespectful than the Lucas suggestions....That match had nothing to do with what is wrong with Kueter. Nothing is wrong with Kueter: He got beat by a better wrestler.
Cole just needs to keep gaining good weight. Love to see him around 240 for the NCAA tournament. Put him on the Anthony C Diet and weight lifting program. Tons of Cal taken in Daily. Hey it worked wonders for Anthony C. Will see
 

Random4598375

Senior
Jan 10, 2020
271
781
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The match with Bailey last year was also probably in his head. Sometimes you beat a guy one way and then wind up trying to beat him the exact same way the next time. Davis can absolutely beat just about anybody outside of obviously The top 3 guys at the weight. This was his 2nd dual meet match of the year and it came at Carver against a kid who only lost to the top 3 himself and he basically beat him if he doesn't get caught in the 1st period in a cradle. Take the actual cradle out of the match and just give up the takedown and you have a 3-3 overtime match and Davis is winning that. Next time leave no doubt, take his *** down in the first or second period and grind him into the mat.
Yeah, I’m not disappointed in Davis (disappointed a little that he lost, of course, but not disappointed in the match he wrestled). The fact that a guy who is a tenacious team player willing to go at any weight needed who has the ability to end up on the podium is the “weak spot” in our lineup and only loss in the whole dual against Iowa speaks volumes about how good it is here now. He is the Conaway or Matt Brown of this team. Those guys used to contribute key points in the drive for the national title. Now, Davis is the weak link in a whole lineup full of Taylors and Nolfs. I have nothing but respect for the job Davis is doing.
 

a_mshaffer

Junior
Dec 8, 2014
196
266
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After the stall is called the riding time accruing also stops but they allow a few seconds for the bottom guy to escape with no riding time accruing until he blows the whistle to stop and restart. So AF did not get the escape point but Rocco only got 27 seconds of riding time as he was not accruing it for 3 seconds.
I didn't know that. Does create another mess with figuring out the clock details in these situations.
 
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