Dark Energy

JB - open to people’s best thinking. Chart above looking like a good approach.

Clearly Penn State is #1. I’m pretty confident Iowa is #2 but someone can prove me wrong. Who would round out the top 5? I’ll call these the upper echelon of D1 wrestling now.

You are probably right. I’ll pretend like I have an actual drum to beat - makes me feel better.

As I mentioned, piloting makes sense. But more for working out kinks. Regarding the data … the pilot would need to be very robust and long lasting to show impacts on behavior changes. Hard to do for one region and not do for others. Thoughts on how the pilot would work? Feel other changes to rules also require piloting and data collection and evaluation? Has this been done for other wrestling (or other sport) rule changes? When NFL puts in more rules with aim of reducing injuries to quarterbacks is there a detailed pilot with extensive data collection?

Piloting would need to be the way. Clearly some challenges to be worked through. I’d like to see the sport give it a try. And to the person that is demanding evidence of success of the change before trying the change … great logic. Tell that to all inventors, explorers, the founding fathers, etc. Sometimes good ideas and the people that support them rely on logic and solid hypothesis to give something a try — even when lacking in data saying it will clearly work.

Tough bout. 5-4 Brooks win. Had a caution against him at end for not engaging hard enough. 2 TDs by Brooks, one for Bagaev.

And what I’m guessing is traditional folk dancing. looks similar to India culture dancing as well - at least for the women.

And ballet!!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania–Iran_relations Learned something new

I’m open to approaches for a tourney. I think another weigh in for placement matches makes sense. For 2 day tourneys - You tell me how it could best work. I bet you can come up with some pretty good ideas. These logistic quibbles are just that, quibbles. Not breaking any laws of physics. This can be done.

If this is the best argument against, all good.

@Jim L - well said.

Not sure it is much of an advantage. Both guys had to weigh in for their first match right then. Today the guy with bye has a much bigger advantage … they have way way more time to rehydrate and recover before their first match. I believe this is a minor concern over all. A bye is inherently unfair.

A challenge to all the folks that prefer to try to ‘challenge’ this idea. Think about being very motivated to make this work .. say you get $1M if so. Very important to consider challenges … so you are doing well. But also very important to figure out the best ways to overcome. As you mention a challenge - also mention your very best thoughts on how the challenge could be overcome. Curious to hear your problem solving skills as well.

Register at weight, show up and confirm wrestling and go through skin check. Draw up brackets at that point. Another option is weighins like today and draw up brackets. Prefer former but might need this option early on. Step on scale again when going to match. I’m thinking you need to weigh in for your first match. So those with bye’s need to step on scale for first match. Open to ideas here.

There will be more forfeits early as the lowest IQ folks and the diehard weight cutters slowly adapt. Agreed. But they will adapt. I have excellent faith. You are proving my point by saying there are few super light weight guys in college. Adjust the weight classes. Not a big deal. The biggest negative impact? The unhealthy weight cutting and how miserable it makes wrestlers at many age levels. It sucks and is a very ugly aspect of the sport. RE tournaments - perhaps first match is mat side weigh ins. Then when get to semi finals another with small allowance. For those worried about young folks pre high school - let tourney director decide on process - not a big deal, keep low stress. Do best to discourage unseemly weight cutting. JV has you stressed, fine, stay loose. Just like match lengths differ and often coaches are just lining up similar size guys to compete. Again, no big deal. But lock it in for Varsity. Issues being mentioned can easily be handled.

Guys. Take a deep breath. People fixate on their weight today. If I can comfortably be 145 and wrestle well on the spot … and there is a 149 weight class … all good. Wrestle 149. If 149 is hard to maintain for a full day, well, wrestle up then. Making this sound way too freaking hard. Like I said to start, there would be some hiccups early … but do you honestly think that wrestlers and coaches are so dumb that after a few seasons people wouldn’t figure out how to make this work and work well? If so, my opinion of the community is higher than yours.

Glad to see the discussion. I like the idea that weighins can occur at centralized spot for a tourney … weigh in once on double deck, or something like that. Perhaps a small allowance as day goes on. But maybe not. These ‘issues’ about having to weigh in so much are still using the mindset of a wrestler cutting weight big time. Wrestle at natural weight, people will learn to come in 2-3 pounds under. Plenty of space to deal with eating and drinking during day. This could be done - not too hard. Forfeits in the beginning? Yea, there will be more - until the knuckleheads learn.

The transition will be a bit painful logistically, but I fully expect it would smooth out. And then - the weight cutting aspect of the sport would be greatly reduced. Less misery, more focus on actual wrestling.

Wish the guy the best but this repeated story line is depressing.

Askren has said he’d consider coaching Wisconsin. Seems like much would need to come together to make it so. I’m liking the idea of coach Vito in the future.

Ok. I did the Google search. Ward is saying it occurred during a coke deal. Very much hope that is not true. And very much hope Sasso recovers well regardless.

My quick google search wasn’t very successful. How has PJ done in the big freestyle tournaments? Fargo? Made a world team?

What the hell. Will someone just write what Ward posted? What’s up with the suspense? Feel free to make it clear that you have doubts or don’t believe it.

Regarding the team in Paris, I’m ready for some younger blood on the team. Hoping some of these young guys break through and represent.