You don't know enough about his life to make this judgment. God very well could have "told" him that the money was the most important thing. He's an elite athlete at the peak of his earning potential. Like @McScoreley said, maybe his family needs money? Plus, Iowa is a pretty religious program too.
2021-2023 Transfer Portal news
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The C-levels I’ve encountered that I respect the most were always firm on a no-discount sales policy, saying it destroys the brand. We’ll see if this one destroys one or two brands.
I always liked what Joe Frazier said about God. He was fighting Ali in their 1st bout and Ali was telling Frazier he was God. Frazier said: God, you’re in the wrong place tonight”
I don't think it's out of the realm to believe that God wants him to take care of his family. Like it or not, that typically takes resources, one of which is money.
I don't know why this surprises some people, it happens all of the time in other sports and walks of life. People have different motivations, or needs, and they make decisions based on them.
We’ll see if this actually plays out as predicted, but I still like our guys. What will be interesting to watch is whether the fundraising and financial backing of the Hawkeyes is sustained should they continue to place less than 1st as a team, continue to have few finalists and champs, and continue to have minimal representation/output on the international stage. There will be a lot more angst if the dollars still don’t bring back the dynasty fans are expecting.
Yes, however there is only enough money for one paid Iowa hater. Plus Mineo is already second in line.
True for now. But we are not seeing the results from JTS that he produced last year. This season:
One can always internally justify choosing money. The more difficult decision is rejecting the money.
Maybe "not" in this case, but generally speaking when facing a tough decisions, the more courageous path is usually the moral, correct, right path. It's the temptation and ease that makes the alternative so attractive, which of course confounds wisdom and blurrs the decision making process.
As for Iowa and the now second or 3rd case (Real) of using a (in their words) slush fund to fill their gaps. I say be careful what you wish for. Eventually the unintended consequences will surface. I see discord amongst the ranks right around the corner.
This is true. I agree.
There have been numerous times I’ve heard Iowa guys (Sammy Brooks, Austin Desanto, Jacob Warner) scream “Oh God!” whilst being spladled, cradled, and arrowed by PSU guys.
To me, this is exactly the same coping that Iowa fans used to do about PSU "recruiting over" guys. In reality, it's going to be a positive.
*PSU is so good at developing talent and recruiting that you aren't guaranteed to start*
*Iowa has the ability to dole out big NIL deals*
Those are features, not bugs.
Regarding "God very well could have "told" him that the money was the most important thing.". And his reply "Wow. Just wow. "
I suspect his comments indicate some amazement at what is likely a secular explanation.
In that context I agree. I suspect it is exceedingly rare that God speaks to anyone with the message 'take the money'. No matter the circumstances.
Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's
I have to admit, I don't really follow you past rejecting money.
Why would anyone reject money all else equal, or earned completely morally? What makes the courageous path the moral path in any endeavor?
Is it your contention that everyone who chooses to take care of his/her family is taking an immoral path that confounds wisdom?
In that case, @matter7172 misinterpreted as it wasn't a secular explanation. I think it's arrogant to think we know what God wants us to do. Maybe God gave him his talent and health to provide an opportunity for his family and now he's taking it? Maybe God has plans for him in Iowa City and the money is the guiding path towards that purpose?
In my experience, anyone who thinks they know exactly what God's purposes are probably doesn't know the least thing about God.
Whatever . . . Wanted to talk cheddar on all his visits first and foremost
Therein lies the hypocrisy.
Maybe it's actually sort of insane to believe that there is an all-powerful magical wizard living in the sky at all, much less one talking to a kid like this about his future, and he is just confusing "God" with just his own internal conscience, which is telling him he needs to take the money more than anything else (maybe also due to completely altruistic motivations like family financial security). There's really nothing wrong with that. If he feels like that is what is best for him, then I wish him all the best in his future endeavors (except when wrestling against Penn State of course).
Cenzo was such a slacker, waiting until the 3rd to pin a 2x defending champ.
I think they can become bugs, sure.
They become bugs different from recruiting over guys in a few ways:
The ultimate bearer of PT (wrestling "over" a guy) gets played out in practice each and every day. Winners don't get picked by a booster or payer of NIL, they get picked by the invisible hand of superiority. No one had to convince Beard to take less playing time than Dean. Wrestling each other did that.
With NIL, and using money to bring guys in, you start dealing with guys with "haves" and "have nots" that might not align with achievements or even PT. That's not an invisible hand at all, that's a series of guys, and this won't be unique to Iowa, who will feel slighted, almost certainly. It's people, conceivably with resources to spend, choosing who to spend on. But people are people and they feel slighted. I think different programs will handle this differently, personally, and Iowa clearly is handling on the side of throwing money upfront rather than throwing money after achievement (which doesn't make sense to me, to be honest. It's high risk- Iowa doesn't need to do this I would think).
There is no need to debate this further. Admittedly, we are all grossly uninformed.
Absolutely none of us knows his unique circumstances.
He could have a sick mother for instance with no health insurance and in need of a life saving procedure. Money could represent a most basic and entirely compelling moral need.
That said money, sex and power are the most basic temptations for which we all need to remain on guard. All can influence our judgement in negative ways.
The only tangible reference that we possess relative to Aaron, is his interview, which was total devoid of any mention or indication there was a monetary component to his choice to enter the portal. He specifically emphasized faith and the desire to be his best.
I am full confident PSU trumps Iowa in both areas by a significant margin.
Absolutely none of us knows his unique circumstances.
He could have a sick mother for instance with no health insurance and in need of a life saving procedure. Money could represent a most basic and entirely compelling moral need.
That said money, sex and power are the most basic temptations for which we all need to remain on guard. All can influence our judgement in negative ways.
The only tangible reference that we possess relative to Aaron, is his interview, which was total devoid of any mention or indication there was a monetary component to his choice to enter the portal. He specifically emphasized faith and the desire to be his best.
I am full confident PSU trumps Iowa in both areas by a significant margin.
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Is there another source other than Mineo describing or commenting on Nagao's "process"?
You don't even know that's true. It's Mineo
It doesn't matter if someone feels that God guides them or they ask a magic 8 ball. In the end it is their personal decision and as long as it does not negatively impact others we should accept and wish them the best (except if it impacts PSU guys). Determining someone's integrity on the minimal information we have via Twitter and message boards says more about your moral compass then theirs. If Nagao thinks he can reach his wrestling goals and take care of his family its his personal decision and none of us should criticize him. I happen to think his wrestling goals would are more achievable in the PSU room but am a fan on a message board, not someone with a nuanced understanding of all of the variables.
Right. For all we know, these tweets could be a troll-job attempt to build up Iowa fans’ hopes and then bask in the glorious outrage when Nagao announces a different decision.
Only when Cael brings out the white singlets.
NIL definitely is a factor with sone kids and I'm not saying it's wrong. With others it is not a factor. If Nageo comes to PSU, that's great. We know he'd thrive here. If he doesn't come , that's fine too.. He will make his decision what is best for him. We have such a great team with lightweights only getting stronger over the next few years. and Cannon transfer is also still a possibility. PSU is in such great shape for the forseeable future.
The field they play on is level, but it's still the '27 Yankees against the Bad News Bears.
Nagao is going to Iowa so naturally they are dreaming of scenarios where Ayala, Chittum, Kennedy wins. AJ wrestles for them and wins. Nelson is in the finals and all our guys tank and they win lol.
stone cold lock
Yeah, but to Iowa fans, Nagao = Kelly Leak!
That would be the biggest problem with NIL if someone is doing something dirty..
You will never keep up with it, better off to let them know the compliance office will work with them getting their deals they earn approved.
Once you open the NIL dark money up it will be pandoras box and you'd never get the lid back on it..
You will never keep up with it, better off to let them know the compliance office will work with them getting their deals they earn approved.
Once you open the NIL dark money up it will be pandoras box and you'd never get the lid back on it..
This is where I'm at. IF Truax and Nagau were given the offers up front that have been reported, I think the likelihood of the fan base/boosters souring after a few more 2nd or 3rd place finishes is much more likely. I also think it's quite likely that there will be internal strife with the kids that came into the room as true freshman who AREN'T being offered bags of money. As for Nagau (or any other college wrestler who transfers within the rules of the portal), it's not for me to second-guess them and in this case, I really couldn't care less. Even with Nagau, Iowa's not beating a full-strength PSU team this year. As others have pointed out, it's possible that Cannon will have the better season, beat Nagau (again) and place higher at nationals (if Cannon ends up at PSU "instead").
Right. Except their history of wrestlers improving is about 10% success rate, with only 6 individual championships in 10 years.
Chittum is highly regarded recruit, but also has a 8-3 loss to #22 Josh Finesilver last season. The odds of him having the same career trajectory as Spencer are exceptionally low.
Nelson’s performance this year was his high-water mark, like the Confederacy’s 2nd day at Gettysburg. I see only calamity and disastrous fortune in his future
That match score is a little misleading:
Chittum got hurt in the 1st and gave up an escape after
Chittum escapes in the second
Finesilver TD and rideout and Chittum is hurt again
Stall call (since it was between periods) and point for Finesilver and he escapes so it's 5-1
Chittum gets a TD and Finesilver reverse him when he is trying to cut him and he has no more fight and gets ridden out
Long story short, yes he might be a bit overhyped by Iowa fans but not reading too much into that result as a HS senior. Yes he is not Spencer Lee, nobody really is.
We know Matt Ramos is no Spencer Lee!
Push, push, heeeeeesssss stttttaaaaallllliiiiinnnnnn
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