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What's your take on Shak here -

erie lion

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2002
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Shak seems he may be a little frustrated that he still has to prove he is the guy at 197
Has been very positive and at ease in past interviews - just seems a little different here.

 
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The "sugar" discussion was hilarious. Thanks for posting.

Didn't see anything wrong with his energy.
 
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He wants the starting spot, so does Cassar. Tough for both kids, though they've handled it really well. Classy, both of them.
 
Two great young men who both believe they can rule the 197 weight for PSU. I heard they are friends and have no reason to doubt that. I hope Cael can decide soon but what great competition for them to hone their skills and drama for all of us to ponder as we approach decision day for the conference tournament.
 
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my take is that Shak was the baddest man in the room there. Calm yet cocky... lookin good and liking it. (not they he actually was the baddest man... tough room... but he was feeling it).
 
Shak definitely wants it and wants it bad. Time for Cael to make a decision and stick with it. Preparation for BIGs is as much mental as physical and the constant questions has got to be a distraction at this point.
 
i know Cassar has the big win over Moore but the way Shak continues to thoroughly dominate ranked wrestlers and bonus point level wins, I gotta think it is going to be his spot come tourney time.. health is the big issue with both of them.. stay healthy and at that weight they have a really good shot to finish HIGH on the podium..
 
I'll be honest, I don't know who is better between AC and SR. From what I've seen, SR is more "funk" and AC is more traditional?

Is that the stylistic difference between the two? I am going off one or two matches of each and really have no data. Are we looking at two different guys with different styles who can yield similar results? Or is it the same style for both guys?
 
Best interview in the sport. I like and respect TB. Ran into him outside MSG 2 years ago. Quick exchange. Nice guy, with that mischievous, crazy look in his eyes. Just as expected.

The interview he did after an Oklahoma State loss about the effort required to turn close losses into close wins was inspirational as all hell. Listen to it every time I feel like skipping a workout.

 
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Am I the only one here who thinks Cael looks uncomfortable, disinterested, and even slightly awkward during his post match interviews? I get the impression that he would rather be almost anywhere else than there, and his answers to reporters’ questions seemed designed to discourage further dialogue. Not a big deal, just an observation. I’d rather have a successful coach than a talkative one (Hail Cael!). But it does decrease my motivation to tune in for his interviews.
 
Am I the only one here who thinks Cael looks uncomfortable, disinterested, and even slightly awkward during his post match interviews? I get the impression that he would rather be almost anywhere else than there, and his answers to reporters’ questions seemed designed to discourage further dialogue. Not a big deal, just an observation. I’d rather have a successful coach than a talkative one (Hail Cael!). But it does decrease my motivation to tune in for his interviews.
I think he is guarded in interviews and that makes him look hesitant at times, trying to avoid saying the wrong thing. Obviously he speaks very well when recruiting as his results show. I'd like to speak or hear him speak when he felt comfortable and relaxed sometime. Some of us are not gifted public speakers.
 
I think he is guarded in interviews and that makes him look hesitant at times, trying to avoid saying the wrong thing. Obviously he speaks very well when recruiting as his results show. I'd like to speak or hear him speak when he felt comfortable and relaxed sometime. Some of us are not gifted public speakers.

Cael interviews when he has his guard down are a treat. I look fwd. to blackshoediaries season previews because you get a ton of info from him (well a ton by his standards).
 
For years I've enjoyed TB's interviews--very candid, to the point, and often entertaining. I've said it many times before, but Brands is good for the sport!
 
When Tony Ramos went crazy in his interview after his loss at the trials to Dennis, I thought Tom Brands handled that tough interview with class. And personally I love his honest interviews.
 
Brands is frustrated because most of his wrestlers won't wrestle the way he thinks they should. If that doesn't reek of a coaching issue I don't know what does. He needs to look at himself and staff as that's where the problem lies.
 
Getting back to Rasheed.... if he wrestles BIG10 tourney and gets hurt, is there any way Cassar can go at NCAAs?
Or vice-versa.
I am thinking not, is that correct?
 
Brands is frustrated because most of his wrestlers won't wrestle the way he thinks they should. If that doesn't reek of a coaching issue I don't know what does. He needs to look at himself and staff as that's where the problem lies.

Would you say the same about John Smith RE Dean Heil? Smith has seemed pretty flabbergasted about Heil’s performance/wrestling philosophy lately.
 
Nickal sticks a Hawkeye in under 60 seconds and can’t even make the cut for the post-match presser. :rolleyes:

Somehow, I doubt his feelings were hurt all that much. He'll find a way to deal with it. ;)
 
Would you say the same about John Smith RE Dean Heil? Smith has seemed pretty flabbergasted about Heil’s performance/wrestling philosophy lately.


Thats silly.... I am not a very bright man, but as soon as I saw the new scramble rules I thought "Dean Heil's not winning under these rules"... now Casino Banjo is open for small wagers that Dean Heil doesn't even AA this year.

DH's go to move is ankle grab roll to your back and stalemate. He didn't adapt.

Asking why Dean Heil is losing is akin to asking why Ethan Lizak would start losing if rules switched to Greco. His game simply doesn't thrive in the new rules.

And I know PSU fans agree about the rolling to one's back. Gulibon had Heil pinned. A LOT last year.
 
Am I the only one here who thinks Cael looks uncomfortable, disinterested, and even slightly awkward during his post match interviews? I get the impression that he would rather be almost anywhere else than there, and his answers to reporters’ questions seemed designed to discourage further dialogue. Not a big deal, just an observation. I’d rather have a successful coach than a talkative one (Hail Cael!). But it does decrease my motivation to tune in for his interviews.
There are many coaches who are not that friendly to the media. They don't like the nonsense and stupid questions. First person that comes to mind is Bob Knight, Indiana basketball coach. Every single person was on edge during Knight's pressers-all waiting for him to erupt at a dumb question that typically came from a sports reporter who had limited basketball knowledge. Knight just could not understand why these type people would be in a position to be questioning him.

I think Cael answers intelligent questions fairly but he just does not enjoy talking about the obvious or injuries. Why the heck would you divulge injury information to your opponents? He is just really all business.

Why tell opponents who they might be wrestling at 197 when you can keep them guessing and make them prepare for two differant wrestler types?
 
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as soon as I saw the new scramble rules I thought "Dean Heil's not winning under these rules"

Your comment is non-responsive to mine, Banjo. There’s no dispute on this board about the impact of the “Heil Rule” on Heil. That point has been made repeatedly here. I was asking if PSUAllTheWay was holding only T&T accountable for wrestlers on their roster not embracing their wrestling philosophy or if it’s a standard he applies across the board (eg to Smith).
 
Your comment is non-responsive to mine, Banjo. There’s no dispute on this board about the impact of the “Heil Rule” on Heil. That point has been made repeatedly here. I was asking if PSUAllTheWay was holding only T&T accountable for wrestlers on their roster not embracing their wrestling philosophy or if it’s a standard he applies across the board (eg to Smith).


Should have been more clear, was saying "how can John smith be flabbergasted?? I am a dumbass and I figured it out in 5 minutes."
 
Your comment is non-responsive to mine, Banjo. There’s no dispute on this board about the impact of the “Heil Rule” on Heil. That point has been made repeatedly here. I was asking if PSUAllTheWay was holding only T&T accountable for wrestlers on their roster not embracing their wrestling philosophy or if it’s a standard he applies across the board (eg to Smith).

A valid question, PSUbluTX. I think I said Brands is frustrated because most of his wrestlers won't wrestler the way he thinks they should. I think that's a lot different than having one wrestler who you can't get to buy-in to your philosophy. Probably most every coach has a problem child that isn't buying in.
 
Would you say the same about John Smith RE Dean Heil? Smith has seemed pretty flabbergasted about Heil’s performance/wrestling philosophy lately.

I don't thing Heil is comparable. Heil has been scraping by guys for years. It was bound to catch up to him. This year it did. He couldn't keep barely scraping by forever. You add in the rule changes where he can't just roll on his back and lay there in a scramble, and you have a guy forced to do more and he's not scraping by, by the skin of his teeth this year. Those matches are going the other way.

I think in the case of Iowa, you're probably right in that he's frustrated that his guys won't wrestle the way he thinks they should, but the reality is that that those guys simply aren't good enough. Gunther and Bowman are nowhere near Hall and Nickal and Sorenson just isn't in Zain's league no matter how much HR wants to believe he is.
 
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