Illinois Match Thread

[Tom McAndrew]

Ridge Riley Award Winner is ...
Mark Hall

Interview with Hall:

Congrats to you and the team. Certainly not easy
- no it wasn't we had to dig deep

You knew the team needed bonus from you
- mindset was one thing at a time, and I almost got in trouble trying to go big

You went for the cement mixer. Did it just slip off?
- I don't think I hit it as well as I could. It was smarter for me to just give up and get out of it

Missed the next question

As a team, it does seem as though you're relishing the opportunity to give different guys a shot, and show your competitive nature
- I think the biggest thing is knowing that everyone has something going on. Let your mind be free, go with the flow. For me, my job is to wrestler as hard as I can for 7 minutes, or longer. I can only hope I set the right example

Question about Starocci. Talk about the relationship
- he's freaking tough. I was in the same position he was freshman year. I have to keep proving, and wrestling hard. He has the mindset that he could go this year. I think he could win 174 this year. I see a lot of myself in him, and I'm excited that I got to show him the ropes, and show him the mindset

You are as dialed in as anyone
- it's just my attitude. If I'm tired, I can't imagine what the other guy is feeling. If I keep my mind clear, don't let things get foggy, that's my attitude for the past 6 months.

 

[eddy line]

Hall and Lee looked very good. AB and Seth looked good. Everyone else? Lots of room for improvement.

 

[Ski]

Im listening to Byers. How's Shak look? He got the quick escape. But not much else (just got the counter takedown). Any brace?

If you have trouble falling asleep tonight, pull up the replay and put it on loop. Once or twice through and you will be sawing logs like a chainsaw.

 

[johnstownsteel]

Seth seems bigger and faster than Nick. I'm impressed by this first match.
Not worried about Rasheed, Rust Wait til Sunday

He had quicker feel than I anticipated. Right Lemonpie?

 

[El-Jefe]

Another look at Shak's winning takedown:

 

[Kale_yeah]

Meh, but a win is a win. Any concerns about shack, time will tell.

 

[PASLP2]

Appreciate Mark Hall so much

 

[PAgeologist]

If you have trouble falling asleep tonight, pull up the replay and put it on loop. Once or twice through and you will be sawing logs like a chainsaw.

Sounded like it, Byers didn't even make it sound exciting. Hope he gets back into form, really quick.

 

[tikk10]

That was less than inspired wrestling but nice to see a few new guys wrestle their first match in a PSU singlet.

 

[WEAREPSU_LI]

I know they're being cautious with Brady, but I'm also feeling like he may not be back this year. His health is paramount, so whatever is best for him.

 

[El-Jefe]

Sounded like it, Byers didn't even make it sound exciting. Hope he gets back into form, really quick.

That's because Cael worked Byers hard this week, to make Ironhead push through this match. He needs to peak in March, not January.

 

[PAgeologist]

That's because Cael worked Byers hard this week, to make Ironhead push through this match. He needs to peak in March, not January.

I didn't think it was possible to get Byers winded and tired. Cael must have had him call live practice drills for the entire team.

 

[a_mshaffer]

wow a tough one... similar to last year - thought there was a sluggish match after the break. I think Illinois wrestled tough. They have a pretty good young team. Decent positioning that made it tough for the PSU aggression. I wouldn't be surprised if a little holiday weight pull plus the infamous flu going around didn't impact the team. Shaq is an AA easily. There are some that give him match up problems and this kid stayed low and didn't leave his left leg available. Had a pretty tough left and right hook tie ups! We are spoiled!

 

[joe_college]

Shaq is an AA easily.

Not sure this match screamed easy AA. Guess I didn't get any answers from this match. If anything it caused some doubts.

 

[NittanyChris]

Most football players need a full year to rehab from an ACL tear. Shak is back wrestling, a sport not easy on the knees, in 9 months. If he takes a few matches to get his feet under him, I'm ok with that.
WE ARE!!!

 

[PAgeologist]

Most football players need a full year to rehab from an ACL tear. Shak is back wrestling, a sport not easy on the knees, in 9 months. If he takes a few matches to get his feet under him, I'm ok with that.
WE ARE!!!

I have to think going in his first match without a brace has to be a good sign that the knee is feeling good. I'll be worried if he has one on his knee Sunday.

 

[Hawky42]

Were they all in when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?!

I assume youre joking but Japan bombed PH not Germany

 

[Ja1339]

I assume youre joking but Japan bombed PH not Germany

Dude, Animal House joke...come on man

 

[El-Jefe]

I assume youre joking but Japan bombed PH not Germany

 

[baccafarmer]

"Mark Hall jamming to the groove".

Yes - that was hilarious on an otherwise nervous night. Hopefully someone will have a video clip. His little dance while Gunther was getting settled to the down position was a classic. Mark was super relaxed tonight.

 

[PASLP2]

I assume youre joking but Japan bombed PH not Germany

What!?

 

[El-Jefe]

Serious leadership by Mark. Knew the team needed more than his usual, turned up the effort and delivered.

 

[diggerpup]

1. Remind me to never choose bottom vs Seth Nevills.

2. Mark Hall. Leader.

3. All the bitching tonight from PSU “fans” ?? With 3 starters out and 2 nervous debuts?

I hope this amazing 8 for 9 run that Cael & the boys have blessed us with haven’t spoiled this fan base too much.

 

[El-Jefe]

1. Remind me to never choose bottom vs Seth Nevills.

2. Mark Hall. Leader.

3. All the bitching tonight from PSU “fans” ?
With 3 starters out and 2 nervous debuts?

I hope this amazing 8 for 9 run that Cael & the boys have blessed us with haven’t spoiled this fan base too much.

Tonight we were down 2 national champs, 2 more AAs, and an R12.

10 years ago, we would've been thrilled just to have that on the roster.

 

[diggerpup]

I assume youre joking but Japan bombed PH not Germany

Seems most of the HR posters who visit here either grade F in English, grammar, now pop culture.

 

[McScoreley]

I think it's been established, Shak overthinks things sometimes. I'm truthfully not too surprised he's passive first match off surgery when his team is tied 16-16 against a huge underdog. He knew he could win 1-0 and I think he was okay with doing that first match back.

 

[Fatmarc]

1. Remind me to never choose bottom vs Seth Nevills.

2. Mark Hall. Leader.

3. All the bitching tonight from PSU “fans” ?? With 3 starters out and 2 nervous debuts?

I hope this amazing 8 for 9 run that Cael & the boys have blessed us with haven’t spoiled this fan base too much.

well said.

 

[seminnylion]

home cooking

Stfu

 

[82bordeaux]

Seems most of the HR posters who visit here either grade F in English, grammar, now pop culture.

But they passed history 101.

 

[NittanyLion84]

All the bitching tonight from PSU “fans” ?? With 3 starters out and 2 nervous debuts?

It’s concerning that you are not as concerned as so many of our fellow posters.

 

[Media Fan]

Imo, there are as many PSU front runners as there are in other schools. Nature of the day we live in.

 

[CSauertiegPSU]

Shak gonna Shak. Sorry, just do not see points from him come March.

Weird take.

 

[El-Jefe]

Is now when we can expect all the football board mouth-breathers to take drive-by shots here?

Page 6, post 216.
https://bwi.forums.rivals.com/threads/illinois-match-thread.257962/page-6#post-4611316

 

[lionlover]

I feel like I finally understand that old country song "did I shave my legs for this"

 

[lionlover]

Sugar gone flour

 

[lionlover]

That was less than inspired wrestling but nice to see a few new guys wrestle their first match in a PSU singlet.

With March being the primary goal and the streak being broken, it just makes sense to give some of these kids a taste of the limelight for working their ass off grinding each day to make this team better.

Kudos to Cael!

 

[seeyajohn]

With March being the primary goal and the streak being broken, it just makes sense to give some of these kids a taste of the limelight for working their ass off grinding each day to make this team better.

Kudos to Cael!

It is not Cael's MO to put in backups for "the experience." It is concerning that three starters could not go after a month off. Berge's situation is especially worrisome.

 

[lionlover]

It is not Cael's MO to put in backups for "the experience." It is concerning that three starters could not go after a month off. Berge's situation is especially worrisome.

 

[7brwnpsu]

Got home from the match, it was a three hour drive! My thoughts:

I actually think Mark Hall started to gas himself at the end of the second from all his takedowns and earned stalling calls.

I love AB but got a little worried in the third when things got tight. AB did have my favorite run out song.

Looking forward to seeing Shak on Sunday, loved it when his opponent took neutral during his choice instead of tasting a cross face cradle.

Heard through a friend of a friend whose great aunt knows the parking lot attendant that Cenzo's replace made a decent cut to be the replacement. If true, thank you Konner.

Happy to see Seth get the win. I saw big brother there and I think someone said this dad was there. Congratulations to the Nevills family.

 

[nitlion6]

Starting to wonder if this team is having a problem with leadership.

Because kids are hurt? Damn leaders.