Bright spots in Iowa's overall performance

[peanut]

The Hawkeyes did well to place second behind the Nittany Lions.

Yet even so, the Hawkeye faithful might have a few things to grumble about. Iowa was blown out by 55 points, and this is the second year in a row in which they didn't have any champions. While I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Hawks' performance, some in Iowa City might have been expecting a bit more.

Lee -- although we all regard him as a legend and a hero -- did not win his fourth title. After losing in the semis, he medical forfeited down to 6th. (I definitely hope his knees heal up so that he can give freestyle a go.) Lee was also was not the tournament's highest scorer, as many predicted. That honor went to Starocci -- a Penn Stater -- with 24. A third Hodge seems out of reach, as well.

Woods was a great acquisition from out west, finishing as a runner up in impressive fashion. However, as the number one seed, I'm sure some hoped that he would win it all. (And I have to add, Nickerson's brick in the championship match was the most impressive brick of the tournament. If there were a Golden Brick to award, Nickerson would absolutely deserve it.)

Of course, there were a few bright spots: Warner placed 5th as the 14th seed; Brands placed 5th as the 11th seed; and Murin placed 6th as the 8th seed. Cass also did well to wrestle to seed and place 4th. Kudos to those young men! I think there's a lot for Iowa to be proud of.

[scribers]

I was pleasantly surprised Brands didn't manage to get his ass kicked by the Buffalo coach

[D3UC157]

1 hour ago, peanut said:

The Hawkeyes did well to place second behind the Nittany Lions.

Yet even so, the Hawkeye faithful might have a few things to grumble about. Iowa was blown out by 55 points, and this is the second year in a row in which they didn't have any champions. While I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with the Hawks' performance, some in Iowa City might have been expecting a bit more.

Lee -- although we all regard him as a legend and a hero -- did not win his fourth title. After losing in the semis, he medical forfeited down to 6th. (I definitely hope his knees heal up so that he can give freestyle a go.) Lee was also was not the tournament's highest scorer, as many predicted. That honor went to Starocci -- a Penn Stater -- with 24. A third Hodge seems out of reach, as well.

Woods was a great acquisition from out west, finishing as a runner up in impressive fashion. However, as the number one seed, I'm sure some hoped that he would win it all. (And I have to add, Nickerson's brick in the championship match was the most impressive brick of the tournament. If there were a Golden Brick to award, Nickerson would absolutely deserve it.)

Of course, there were a few bright spots: Warner placed 5th as the 14th seed; Brands placed 5th as the 11th seed; and Murin placed 6th as the 8th seed. Cass also did well to wrestle to seed and place 4th. Kudos to those young men! I think there's a lot for Iowa to be proud of.

Golden Brick, love it. Petition to get it added to the tourney awards.

[MLB9]

Absolutely, lol at the golden brick. That needs to happen. Well done sir

[Rassling]

Iowas bright spot - they took 2nd at a D1 nat'l tournament, and that aint bad!

[AgaveMaria]

For an Iowa fan "Bright spot" isn't finishing higher than Utah Valley. Or, First Loser as it is called.

It is ONLY being #1 and now they can whine about Covid stealing a year from them.

Dan Gable had a stretch of No Titles. Sat down & figured it out and came back to win again.

So far Tom & Terry have not figured it out. They won't as long as Second Banana is OK with them. As much as they say it is not their failure to address it and make changes shows this is reality.

[CraigOR]

Both Brands & Warner wrestling above their seed and making it on the podium. +++

[scourge165]

10 minutes ago, AgaveMaria said:

For an Iowa fan "Bright spot" isn't finishing higher than Utah Valley. Or, First Loser as it is called.

It is ONLY being #1 and now they can whine about Covid stealing a year from them.

Dan Gable had a stretch of No Titles. Sat down & figured it out and came back to win again.

So far Tom & Terry have not figured it out. They won't as long as Second Banana is OK with them. As much as they say it is not their failure to address it and make changes shows this is reality.

You think the problem is that taking 2nd is "alright with them?"

You don't think it's the absolute MONSTER than Penn State is building? They're pulling in more premier talent relative to the rest of the field than any program...ever.

Now you can say Iowa hasn't evolved with the sport or any of the issues that Jay Borschel or other alumni have taken with the program, but it's beyond silly to infer it's just a matter of how much they care. 

[D3 for LU]

So Nickerson should get:

The Golden Brick Award ( it helped his wrestler last nite...)

D3

Edited March 19, 2023 by D3 for LU

[Packard]

If I were an Iowa fan it wouldn’t be placing second that bothered me, it’d be they don’t seem to be making any progress toward challenging Penn State. Two years in a row without a champ and the last champion, not namer Lee, was in 2017. The only finalist this year was a mercenary, Cass losing ground on Kerk, and how many All American’s do they have returning? 
 

Don’t get me wrong, what the Brands have accomplished is amazing, but like Bama football, the standard is different at Iowa. 

[D3 for LU]

...it's tough to grab the mantle back, when it is taken away to State College, Pa.

D3

[Jamie_Taco]

2 hours ago, scribers said:

I was pleasantly surprised Brands didn't manage to get his ass kicked by the Buffalo coach

Who?

[wrestlingphish]

5 hours ago, Packard said:

If I were an Iowa fan it wouldn’t be placing second that bothered me, it’d be they don’t seem to be making any progress toward challenging Penn State. Two years in a row without a champ and the last champion, not namer Lee, was in 2017. The only finalist this year was a mercenary, Cass losing ground on Kerk, and how many All American’s do they have returning? 
 

Don’t get me wrong, what the Brands have accomplished is amazing, but like Bama football, the standard is different at Iowa. 

Passionate Iowa fan here. Hope the team gets better and is always looking to take the top spot and re-ignite the dynasty. 

But I also have perspective. 2nd ain't bad and I plan on watching the next 50 years and will be cheering like hell whether or not the Gable years ever return.

[Caveira]

5 hours ago, Jamie_Taco said:

Who?

There is a post on twitter showing the buffalo coach yelling something as brands and Assad walk by after Assad beat the buffalo kid.   Brands seemed to just walk by / around him not answering.   If I come across it again I’ll post here 

[jmoney]

I’m happy for Murin to All American. Kid worked so dang hard. Brands was impressive but I’m not a fan. Warner again impresses in a tough division ! He is solid on the backside of the bracket. I thought Woods wrestled a bit tentative but Alirez wrestled lights out. Woods honestly wrestled so tough this year he reminded me of Metcalf, and I’m shocked he lost the finals. I underestimated Alirez top wrestling. But I think the big stage freaked Woods a little. 

[flyingcement]

Murin finally AAs. Warner finishes strong.  Nelson Brands finally breaks through 

[Holtfan]

5 hours ago, Jamie_Taco said:

Who?

You didn't see this?
https://twitter.com/MrPatMineo/status/1636452453833924609?s=20

[Pinnacle]

Stutsman is going to ruin Tom's tough guy reputation. 

[Gus]

1 hour ago, jmoney said:

I’m happy for Murin to All American. Kid worked so dang hard. Brands was impressive but I’m not a fan. Warner again impresses in a tough division ! He is solid on the backside of the bracket. I thought Woods wrestled a bit tentative but Alirez wrestled lights out. Woods honestly wrestled so tough this year he reminded me of Metcalf, and I’m shocked he lost the finals. I underestimated Alirez top wrestling. But I think the big stage freaked Woods a little. 

Alirez hit a sick 6 point throw and that was the difference in the match. Hard to overcome 6 on a guy as tough as Alirez. 

[scourge165]

7 hours ago, Packard said:

If I were an Iowa fan it wouldn’t be placing second that bothered me, it’d be they don’t seem to be making any progress toward challenging Penn State. Two years in a row without a champ and the last champion, not namer Lee, was in 2017. The only finalist this year was a mercenary, Cass losing ground on Kerk, and how many All American’s do they have returning? 
 

Don’t get me wrong, what the Brands have accomplished is amazing, but like Bama football, the standard is different at Iowa. 

I agree with you here...and if David Taylor ever decides to coach, I'd open up the pocket books as he's the closest to Cael as you can get(Dake or Burroughs comparable).

But it's not that Tom or Terry don't "care enough."

[de4856]

Well as I see it, Cael has built a super strong program. So everyone is chasing him, not just the Brands Bros. Iowa did pretty darn good on Friday getting three guys through the Blood rounds. They get to go home with 6 AA’s and a 2nd place. Some will say so what, but others would say that they would love to be 2nd with 6 AA’s. 
 

[scourge165]

20 minutes ago, de4856 said:

Well as I see it, Cael has built a super strong program. So everyone is chasing him, not just the Brands Bros. Iowa did pretty darn good on Friday getting three guys through the Blood rounds. They get to go home with 6 AA’s and a 2nd place. Some will say so what, but others would say that they would love to be 2nd with 6 AA’s. 
 

Well...with respect, as I see it, Iowa was THEE program growing up. They have been the dynasty in modern Wrestling. Not just winning, but dominating...moreso than even Penn State is now. They were just on a WHOLE other level.

So yeah, sure...others being 2nd with 6 AAs, there's no question most programs would kill for that. Okie State, I guess Ohio State, they'd even likely be happy with that...with the hope that they could string together some better years. IOWA though? This is like Alabama being "happy" with getting blown out by Georgia in the first round of the playoffs. I just can't see that being acceptable to that fanbase, that program. 

 

I'm also aware that Iowa has a lot of talent coming into that room...but even with their recruiting class coming up, the talent gap grows and Iowa needs a fresh approach. The grind them out, pushing style that won in the 80s and 90s is not working the same now. 

But, I guess that's just up to those who frequent CHA.

[Tripnsweep]

5 hours ago, Holtfan said:

You didn't see this?
https://twitter.com/MrPatMineo/status/1636452453833924609?s=20

He must feel tough trying to pick a fight with a guy 50 lbs smaller. 

[Interviewed_at_Weehawken]

18 hours ago, Packard said:

If I were an Iowa fan it wouldn’t be placing second that bothered me, it’d be they don’t seem to be making any progress toward challenging Penn State. Two years in a row without a champ and the last champion, not namer Lee, was in 2017. The only finalist this year was a mercenary, Cass losing ground on Kerk, and how many All American’s do they have returning? 
 

Don’t get me wrong, what the Brands have accomplished is amazing, but like Bama football, the standard is different at Iowa. 

They haven't won a team title in two whole years!!!!

[AgaveMaria]

25 minutes ago, Interviewed_at_Weehawken said:

They haven't won a team title in two whole years!!!!

Since Cael took over at Penn State they have had only one lapse of "two whole years" without a title.

Iowa saw a few indificual positive stories but overall a failure compared to expectations.(realistic or not)

What Brands & Co are doing is not working - not if you are shooting for #1.

Sure, a lot of programs would love to make it to #2. That is not Iowa. Not the program Gary Kurdelmeier and Dan Gable built.

A lot like Oklahoma State under John Smith. Winning and looking good and now falling off the radar. Sad and worse than Iowa now.

Penn State underperformed, if you listen to the expectations. They still won the team title. Iowa appeared to settle for #2 and appears to be OK with it.