http://whatdriveswinning.com/video/john-smith/ What it takes to be a champion 6 years in a row. Oklahoma treasure.
Since your all a fan of John Smith
- Thread starter mike tognetti
- Start date
Volume 2 of the video will be: "What it took 10 years ago to be a champion..."
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Since "your all"? Maybe Daton wants an education. ya no
I like John too. He's intellectual with well thought out and introspective ideas. The program he came up in lacked integrity at the time and was known to be crooked in the wrestling world. He's turned that around as far as one can see, so I give him credit there as well.
I also enjoyed the video, especially the part about John growing up in a large family. Great stuff.
I'm a newer wrestling fan, and I was lucky enough to attend the OSU v PSU dual this past season. With the history and tradition of OSU wrestling, there was a very exciting vibe. After the match, we left through the innards of Rec Hall, and we happened to walk by John while he was giving a post match interview. I hesitated for a few seconds, thinking I would say hi, but he was very intense, so I kept moving. His demeanor was a combination of frustration, disappointment, and anger. What I took from that very brief moment was that John is a very intense guy, who hates losing, but especially hates losing to PSU. Clearly, these recruiting battles will get very intense with us fans. But because of their competitiveness and intense desire to win championships, even more so for the coaches.
Good luck to you and the other OSU wrestling fans.
I'm a newer wrestling fan, and I was lucky enough to attend the OSU v PSU dual this past season. With the history and tradition of OSU wrestling, there was a very exciting vibe. After the match, we left through the innards of Rec Hall, and we happened to walk by John while he was giving a post match interview. I hesitated for a few seconds, thinking I would say hi, but he was very intense, so I kept moving. His demeanor was a combination of frustration, disappointment, and anger. What I took from that very brief moment was that John is a very intense guy, who hates losing, but especially hates losing to PSU. Clearly, these recruiting battles will get very intense with us fans. But because of their competitiveness and intense desire to win championships, even more so for the coaches.
Good luck to you and the other OSU wrestling fans.
Not me. Way outside my control, so it's not, and never will be an "issue" as far as I'm concerned.
Guessing you intended your post (of OSU's weight cutting) as a PSU fan base "observation" that may or may not affect OSU Wrestler's performance. Hard to argue with 6 National Championships, so I rarely join the fray when it's discussed.
Guessing you intended your post (of OSU's weight cutting) as a PSU fan base "observation" that may or may not affect OSU Wrestler's performance. Hard to argue with 6 National Championships, so I rarely join the fray when it's discussed.
I'm less so concerned with performance than I am health. Part of the reason I didn't love Shak starving himself to to 165 this year.
Again, outside my control, but I understand your point. The health issues were addressed with the Weight Certification Rules, the stamina and endurance of some wrestlers at their lowest possible certified weight still happens.
Just curious, specifically which tactic do you have issues with?
I don't think he hates losing to PSU any more than he would hate losing to Iowa or Cumberland College. Would have been the same no matter who the loss was!
Tactic was the wrong word. More the decision to have kids who've probably outgrown the weight class suck down to levels that aren't the best for them. Collica at 141 comes to mind initially. But again, I really like John and this shouldn't be taken otherwise
I like John Smith. He seems like a good guy, was a great wrestler, and his team is always ready to roll. If a kid certifies at a weight, you can't blame the program for trying to put the best team on the mat. I'm sure the kids have some say in the matter. Look at all of the top programs last year. They all had someone struggling to maintain a difficult weight: Rasheed (PSU), Micah (tOSU), Brody (Iowa), Chance (OSU).
I can understand that. But most of these situations don't fall completely on John or any other coach, it is normally partially the kid's choice. In that instance Collica was not going to beat Kindig (a finalist that year) and 157 was Dieringer, so if he wanted to get on the mat, it was going to have to be at 141. Did John suggest it? I don't know for sure, but I would guess he explained the situation and let Anthony make the choice. Lost in the blood round in 2014 at 141, lost in the blood round at 157 in 2015. Neither ideal, but both his choice and helping the team.
I guess that's part of the issue, should't a coach step in and stop a guy from cutting extreme amounts of weight instead of just leaving it up to the wrestler. I remember watching Dallas Bailey wrestle right in front of us at nationals the year he dropped to 157 and he looked awful physically. Now I'm sure he wanted to make the cut to get into the lineup but really he had no business there and Smith should of said no.
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John was one of the first D1 head coaches I ever met at a camp in MN a few years back. He seemed very down to earth. I think we heard him curse and say something about Burger King, and me and my buddies got bug-eyed like "D1 coaches swear and eat BK?"
He was very personable.
He was very personable.
I think a coach should assess the situation. Let the kid try it out if he feels he can do it and if the coach sees its a stretch and the kid can't handle it step in and pull the plug.
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John Smith is a national treasure. Success as an athlete and as a coach. If there a Mount Rushmore of wrestling, he could take two spots.
Okie State and the weight cutting is something that is fun to make fun of. Same as it was fun to label all Okie State wrestlers as retreaters and back-stepping racers simply because, well that pretty much described Chris Perry.
In a serious conversation, if a wrestler is certified at a particular weight and he wants to give it a shot in order to make the team - have a shot.
Many fans believe Smith ordered Marsteller to cut to 157. 157 was the only place he was going to make the team and when it became apparent he could not perform at that weight Smith quit putting him out there.
In a serious conversation, if a wrestler is certified at a particular weight and he wants to give it a shot in order to make the team - have a shot.
Many fans believe Smith ordered Marsteller to cut to 157. 157 was the only place he was going to make the team and when it became apparent he could not perform at that weight Smith quit putting him out there.
I remember a John Smith interview about this time (discussed on the board). His comment on Chance was "He has to learn the discipline." He never did. It wasn't that John Smith stopped putting him out there, he stopped himself from going out there. It's easy to say now, but it's obvious that John Smith has right and if Chance would have listened he'd be in a much better place now.
That is, of course, if you consider Oklahoma better than jail.
It is 98 degrees in Stillwater right now, with heat index about 105. Glad I'm not on the chain gang today!I remember a John Smith interview about this time (discussed on the board). His comment on Chance was "He has to learn the discipline." He never did. It wasn't that John Smith stopped putting him out there, he stopped himself from going out there. It's easy to say now, but it's obvious that John Smith has right and if Chance would have listened he'd be in a much better place now.
That is, of course, if you consider Oklahoma better than jail.
I remember a John Smith interview about this time (discussed on the board). His comment on Chance was "He has to learn the discipline." He never did. It wasn't that John Smith stopped putting him out there, he stopped himself from going out there. It's easy to say now, but it's obvious that John Smith has right and if Chance would have listened he'd be in a much better place now.
That is, of course, if you consider Oklahoma better than jail.
Agree, you really can't blame Marsteller's problems on the weight cut. He obviously has some major issues that were interfering with his wrestling while at OSU.
...John was a great collegiate wrestler who did even better on the international scene..
...however, both Ed Ruth and David Taylor had more success at the NCAAs...John DNP as a Freshman, took 2nd as a Soph, RS 3rd year, then won gold in Junior and Senior years...
...however, both Ed Ruth and David Taylor had more success at the NCAAs...John DNP as a Freshman, took 2nd as a Soph, RS 3rd year, then won gold in Junior and Senior years...
