I think ESPN was pretty effective in trying to make Dean the darling of the tournament.

[therod]

Their presentation before the match between Nickel and Dean would make it hard to root for Nickel if you had no knowledge of him. Dean wearing the white hat and Nickel obviously wearing the black hat. (edit add - This was very evident when you heard the crowd screaming for Dean during their match). I'm pretty sure old Billy was all set to interview Dake to talk about how he coached Dean to stay away from the dangerous Nickel and make Nickel wrestle the entire seven minutes. But in hindsight, you have to hand it to ESPN for covering the event. Sure beat not watching another woman's b-ball event.

 

[Ian]

I hope the Cornell love fest is finally over.... and no more Dake!

 

[PSUoh90]

I for one enjoyed the vast, "Let's go Gabe" chants as he fell to Bo, just like I enjoyed the "stalling" screams from tOSU fans right before Hall dropped him one last time with a few seconds left.

 

[theXbomber]

Gabe Dean is easy to market around. 2 time NCAA champion. Ivy league school. Well spoken and well mannered. Always classy. Senior. Good looking guy. Very likable.

Why wouldn't ESPN feature Gabe Dean from a marketing standpoint? Next year I'm sure it'll be Zain and Snyder (if Snyder sticks)

 

[kjb32812]

PSU got more pub than any other team and it wasn't even close. DT basically was awarded a promo spot over the weekend and then the interviewer started saying WE ARE to every PSU wrestler after they won their Finals match. The announcers were also very complimentary of PSU over the weekend. Meanwhile, Dean came across as a solid young man. He's also had a pretty nice career so giving him extra attention is warranted IMO.

Guess who will come into the tournament as their Senior darling next season?

 

[theXbomber]

PSU got more pub than any other team and it wasn't even close. DT basically was awarded a promo spot over the weekend and then the interviewer started saying WE ARE to every PSU wrestler after they won their Finals match. The announcers were also very complimentary of PSU over the weekend. Meanwhile, Dean came across as a solid young man. He's also had a pretty nice career so giving him extra attention is warranted IMO.

Guess who will come into the tournament as their Senior darling next season?

Good point on the DT promo the entire night. I also recall the announcers echoing the "fun wrestling" mantra the entire night. Last night was a PSU showcase and promo video lol

 

[kjb32812]

Good point on the DT promo the entire night. I also recall the announcers echoing the "fun wrestling" mantra the entire night. Last night was a PSU showcase and promo video lol

I wasn't even talking about last night. He had a full segment (or maybe two) spot on Friday as well. I'm sure it had to do with his role last night but it certainly didn't come across that way when he originally did it.

Sometimes...and I'm guilty of this as well...I think PSU fans think that the wrestling championships should show every PSU match and also make every feature about Penn State, their wrestlers and Cael. That's just not a realistic expectation.

 

[creamery freak]

PSU got more pub than any other team and it wasn't even close. DT basically was awarded a promo spot over the weekend and then the interviewer started saying WE ARE to every PSU wrestler after they won their Finals match. The announcers were also very complimentary of PSU over the weekend. Meanwhile, Dean came across as a solid young man. He's also had a pretty nice career so giving him extra attention is warranted IMO.

Guess who will come into the tournament as their Senior darling next season?

Well maybe we can get NCAA Tournament comittee to set up a Feature match with Jason Nolf vs Zain to close out the tournament. Now who wouldn't want to see those fireworks!

 

[Real_Proposition_Joe]

Gabe Dean is easy to market around. 2 time NCAA champion. Ivy league school. Well spoken and well mannered. Always classy. Senior. Good looking guy. Very likable.

Why wouldn't ESPN feature Gabe Dean from a marketing standpoint? Next year I'm sure it'll be Zain and Snyder (if Snyder sticks)

Uh oh. What did I start last night?

 

[T J]

I for one enjoyed the vast, "Let's go Gabe" chants as he fell to Bo, just like I enjoyed the "stalling" screams from tOSU fans right before Hall dropped him one last time with a few seconds left.

One of the most refreshing moments was when Mark Hall silenced the crowd, by capping off the victory with a final "nail in the coffin" takedown.

Left no room for doubt and left no room for the woulda - shoulda - coulda comments that might have implied Hall was too passive down the stretch. Mark was fully engaged and looking to pounce, as he sealed the deal with his solid takedown thud to the mat for the Championship Title.

His defiant stance at the end seemed to be a message to the crowd that he was all business in that match and in the end, he was still active, engaged and scoring.

Quite a finish for Mark Hall, in his first NCAA title match. Very fun to watch.

 

[Nittany.Lion]

PSU got more pub than any other team and it wasn't even close. DT basically was awarded a promo spot over the weekend and then the interviewer started saying WE ARE to every PSU wrestler after they won their Finals match. The announcers were also very complimentary of PSU over the weekend. Meanwhile, Dean came across as a solid young man. He's also had a pretty nice career so giving him extra attention is warranted IMO.

Guess who will come into the tournament as their Senior darling next season?

the ONLY thing I liked about Quint C all tournament long was the "we are" during the after match interviews.

 

[Used2BEerie]

the ONLY thing I liked about Quint C all tournament long was the "we are" during the after match interviews.

I loved when he was able to find Bo's parents for him at the end of the interview.

 

[LemonPie]

I hope the Cornell love fest is finally over.... and no more Dake!

Doubt it. Yianni, Arujau, and Darmstedt on their way.

 

[garw]

Is that enough horsepower LemonPie to keep Cornell top 5? Serious question. I don't follow recruiting much except for PSU.