2018 got more Interesting...scUM lands an AA
- Thread starter dunkej01
- Start date
good for scUM, but meh on it being a big deal for the team race. Michigan might climb from 7th to 5th.
Disagree, add him to Coon + Abounader + Pantaleo + (I forget the 4th guy shirting) and Meatchicken is solidly in 3rd, and possibly making the Tanners look over their shoulders.
Michigan already was looking good for 2017-18. Now they have:
133: Micic
141: Fisher
149: Pantaleo
165: Massa
174: Mahomes
184: Abounader
197: Beazley
Hwt: Coon
Not sure what they'll have at 125 (maybe 141) and 157, but that's a very solid team!
133: Micic
141: Fisher
149: Pantaleo
165: Massa
174: Mahomes
184: Abounader
197: Beazley
Hwt: Coon
Not sure what they'll have at 125 (maybe 141) and 157, but that's a very solid team!
I've predicted this for about a year... PSU, OSU and UM will all finish higher than Iowa next year. There is no question about that. My prediction is Brands gets the boot from Iowa. They will have accepted mediocrity if they don't make a move. Especially factoring in the Dresser decision at ISU and that soon to be pressure.
Micic
I see Michigan with about 75 points next year. Depending on the year, that'll get you anywhere from 3rd to 6th. I took the lowered expectations because I hear that Michigan is making the leap every year but they never seem to do so. Maybe they do that this year, but I'm hedging the bet. I'll stick with #5 and you can remind me next March. Wouldn't be my first mistake.
Brands will not get the boot next year. They have planned for next year being a rebuilding year (just like Cael did in 2015), and his leash is longer than you may believe. Good things are happening at Iowa, but the same can be said at several other schools as well. As long as we take care of our business, I'm really not that concerned. That said, I could certainly see UM finishing higher than Iowa next year. They will struggle for 70 points.
I did the math. Added (shirts 2016 results + Beazley 2017) to Michigan's 2017 team score, and that puts them at 91 points, just behind Iowa. Then drop other teams for their seniors leaving, and that puts scUM 3rd -- without factoring how their guys would move up from other seniors leaving.Micic
I see Michigan with about 75 points next year. Depending on the year, that'll get you anywhere from 3rd to 6th. I took the lowered expectations because I hear that Michigan is making the leap every year but they never seem to do so. Maybe they do that this year, but I'm hedging the bet. I'll stick with #5 and you can remind me next March. Wouldn't be my first mistake.
Absolutely! The fundraising campaign is in high gear and that has a lot to do with TnT.
Brands brand is Iowa. Iowa is Brands brand. He is a living legend in the sport, at the University and in the State. He may be the best interview in the game and his program is not only open to the wrestling media but the public at large with their open practices and off season road shows.
He isnt going anywhere, anytime soon.
But say Kim Jong Un got in as AD at Iowa, well maybe then they would fire him. If that happens who is their bench? Not only do you have to contend with the shadow of gable but also the brands, regardless of their title drought, everyone knows them and loves them.
Firing Z was easy because you had the Brands just waiting in the wings and my opinion is that all along Z was just a bridge from Gable to TnT, his losing just made that decision easier. Has Z made the Iowa Admin regret the decision?
Iowa HS wrestling is not what it was during gables day, brands had to reshape his recruiting. They got snake bit by several recruits. They had injuries that caused major holes in their lineup. All of these can be explained and understood by the admin and faithful.
Brands is also great for PSU. Great for message boards. Great for fans to gin up discussion.
This news will have the homer of all homers John from Michigan on the Flo Boards predicting championships
We all don't live rent-free inside Gary Barta's head, but if he fires Tom Brands for Iowa being down this upcoming season, he's dumber than we all thought. I felt like Iowa had two options after the 2017 NCAA's, namely fire Brands, or give him an extension. Everybody and their grandmother knows that Iowa is going to be down next year...did anybody advocate giving John Smith the boot in 2009 after their performance that year? Oklahoma State finished far worse than Iowa will that year (16th, Jared Rosholt was their only All-American).
Brands is not going anywhere, he's a great coach and is great for the sport of wrestling. The streak of national title-less seasons will continue to grow and SOME of the fans might get restless, but their AD is no dummy and realizes he's got the best coach for their team. Gable is not coming back, which is the only thing that might satisfy some fans in about three years.
They are still in the running for the 2nd best program, although I think tOSU probably outpaces them for that over the next few years. The downturn in Iowa HS wrestling has really hurt, and Brands is not going to out recruit Cael nationally, maybe he can hold his own with Ryan, but Ryan holds a big home court advantage - it just is what it is. But then again, who is????
They also seem to be in reaction mode - first, with the way they recruit; now, with the realization that the comfortable, closely held HWC might need revamping. But I think Brands recognizes this and will make changes and be competitive. The deck is stacked a bit against him.
They are still in the running for the 2nd best program, although I think tOSU probably outpaces them for that over the next few years. The downturn in Iowa HS wrestling has really hurt, and Brands is not going to out recruit Cael nationally, maybe he can hold his own with Ryan, but Ryan holds a big home court advantage - it just is what it is. But then again, who is????
They also seem to be in reaction mode - first, with the way they recruit; now, with the realization that the comfortable, closely held HWC might need revamping. But I think Brands recognizes this and will make changes and be competitive. The deck is stacked a bit against him.
Last edited:
I think the Brands guys are entertaining. There isn't much else going on in Iowa best I can tell from the national news.
Myles Amine just took 4th @174 as a RSFR. He might crack that line-up.
One mans comment
It was one person making a bizarre statement. Overreacting is a thing now on forums, or didn't you know?
Brands will take a group of kids and teach them to fight until their hearts no longer beat. For the near future the Hawks aren't going to beat a Cael run Penn State team and Ohio State has done a better job than Brands recruiting top end talent, but year in year out they will contend.
Most true Hawk wrestling fans seem to understand that in Brands they have a solid Hawk guy leading their program. A few idiots within a fandom is just normal.
Maybe Brands can match the dual meet record he had in his second year at VT (1-15). Then he might actually get fired.
It's almost like the comments supporting Brands that followed that bizarre statement never existed. I expected Iowa fans to be happy with the response. Instead ...
Good point! I wonder how Amine vs Mahomes turns out (assuming Mahomes comes back from injury)? Older Massa I think is still around, but can't see him cracking that line-up. Pretty good depth!
Just an fyi...Iowa DOES wrestle Ohio State and Michigan in 2017-18..
Amine is definitely the guy at the weight. Mahomes just couldn't stay healthy and may be done wrestling. Taylor Massa is definitely done wrestling.
Some believe the true Iowa question for next year is can Iowa avoid a shutout against Penn State. I think the question of interest is can Iowa score an offensive point against Penn State.
I thought this was hyperbole at first, but then I thought about it. I can't think of a weight where they would be a clear favorite. Maybe 133.
I agree that Michigan beats Iowa up at the dual, Big Tens, & Nationals.
Michigan top 4 next year if healthy. Just still a gap after us & OSU
Michigan top 4 next year if healthy. Just still a gap after us & OSU
Bizarre? I'm not sure about that. It was in response to how well UM is going to do while PSU (we are on this board) continues to do well. The fact is the success of these programs means the demise of others including one of the all time greats. I'm sorry your comments are 100% focused on the thread topics all the time. It is a message board, you know?
I think McFarland has done less with more overall at Michigan and needs to have a really good year. It's actually kind of surprising he has lasted this long in light of the team results over the past 10 years. Considering their resources and Michigan high school wrestling, they should be better then 10-20 every year, imo.
Last edited:
Not trying to diss Cenzo (or IMar for that matter), but Massa is good enough to win it all. Not saying he will, but he could.Nice! I took a stab too, fairly conservative:
Absolutely agree on that. Some epic battles next season between those 3 and between Cenzo and Massa for 2 seasons after that.
Not advocating for firing Brands at all. I like the guy's passion and think he's good for the sport.
That said lets not blow smoke up our poster friends from HR's pants. All they have "contended" for lately is fourth or fifth place and next year they may not even be a top ten team.
Have to be honest and call it like it is.
Is that coaching or is it facilities or is it lack of funding of a RTC or a combo? To me, the culprit at Iowa is funding and commitment on the part of the Iowa admin. Coaching is a very distant third to those other two. The only knock I'd have on brands is either his lack of vision or his lack of salesmanship in selling his vision to the large donors and admin. Probably the latter.
