Match Thread: Iowa at RU !! , 8pm, BTNplus or Flo: story&info :

[RU93]

Are we allowed to appreciate the past accomplishments of the current staff but still be honest about the current state of affairs?

NJ/PA is a top-level wrestling region with deep tradition and feeder programs. Fans support the program and are showing up at matches. RU is in the premier collegiate wrestling conference, wrestling is a top tier sport in the eyes of the B1G. Much thanks to those who helped reach this point.

But reality is the program is in real danger of taking a step back.

Wrestling is about no excuses, pure competition, yet any critique here brings out name calling like troll and hater. Give me a break. Just look at this thread, everybody has seen the odd decisions during matches, questionable strength and conditioning, weight class drama, top recruit not qualifying, touted recruits not producing despite being state champs/finalists, etc. - this stuff is obvious. Bottom line is the program has not closed the gap with the upper tier.

Wrestling is about getting it done on the mat, today, no matter what you did 5 years ago. I gotta believe that applies to coaches too.

I agree. I want to see us go to the next level with or without Goodale! B/c we are ready in terms of the infrastructure to be there at the next level. And if it was his strategy to duck Kem at 157, that's a chicken cr*p. I would like to think it was him protecting Richie's inability to get up for the match to cut weight.

yesterday's match sucked, just like the lock haven match. so pissed as a fan of this program.

 

[Jaroslav Hasek]

nice to see the passion but it's the first week of December. 2 tough dual losses to Lock Haven and Iowa mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Likewise, the dominant wins over Oklahoma and Virginia were not cause for those programs to panic, even though the results would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

this is how wrestling seasons go. there is zero reason to think the program is taking a step back imo. very much the opposite. its disappointing but honestly you need to learn to deal with disappointing results in a year long grind. it's a long season and a much much longer process in getting a program to jump to the next level.

it's been repeated often but the programs that are ahead of Rutgers are there because they out-recruit Rutgers, and they our-recruit because they spend way more money and have far better facilities. that extra money and those facilities won't appear overnight. it takes decades. or a donor that wants to cut a 10 million check. but there's no other short cut.

the biggest danger to the progress that is being made every year (and in fact is enviable but quite a few other big programs) is panicking over a a match like this and making a poor decision that actually will set the program back.

just my 2 cents.

 

[koleszar]

I agree. I want to see us go to the next level with or without Goodale! B/c we are ready in terms of the infrastructure to be there at the next level.

How are we there infrastructure wise? The concrete hasn't even been poured on the new facility yet. We still practice in the basement of a building built in 1931. Is that really a selling point for recruits? Pictures and drawings are nice but actually stepping into the building and walking onto the mat is an entirely different story.

We're still way, way behind facility wise and wrestling club wise. We just became fully funded last year. When you only have 9.9 scholarships, that's pretty important. In a conference where everyone has had decades upon decades to reach the next level we're supposed to do it in 4?

 

[ro89ru]

Huge fan and post sometimes. In recruiting , I am happy getting guys 5-15 In weight class but to take next step we really need to get the guys 1-3 in these weight classes. I feel like we really have a ton to offer and outside of PSU, Ok St and Iowa we can provide very equal elements especially with new facilities coming. With that said I still think we have a pretty good roster for next year;
Suriano
Firestone/ Mackall
Ashnault/Van Brill
If Ash back maybe MVB here or ?
Hopefully Glasgow
JVB
Grello/Pagano
Gravina
Mulligan
Correnti
So 70% of lineup back and 6 Ncaa qualifiers plus hopefully a few guys who make it like MVB and Grello.

Agreed it all starts with recruiting. Going against PSU, Iowa, OK State with all that tradition and backing is no easy task but this team is now down at #16, last two duals revealed some problems. The question is why at this stage is there a depth issue.

 

[FoxRU]

nice to see the passion but it's the first week of December. 2 tough dual losses to Lock Haven and Iowa mean very little in the grand scheme of things. Likewise, the dominant wins over Oklahoma and Virginia were not cause for those programs to panic, even though the results would have been unthinkable a few years ago.

this is how wrestling seasons go. there is zero reason to think the program is taking a step back imo. very much the opposite. its disappointing but honestly you need to learn to deal with disappointing results in a year long grind. it's a long season and a much much longer process in getting a program to jump to the next level.

it's been repeated often but the programs that are ahead of Rutgers are there because they out-recruit Rutgers, and they our-recruit because they spend way more money and have far better facilities. that extra money and those facilities won't appear overnight. it takes decades. or a donor that wants to cut a 10 million check. but there's no other short cut.

the biggest danger to the progress that is being made every year (and in fact is enviable but quite a few other big programs) is panicking over a a match like this and making a poor decision that actually will set the program back.

just my 2 cents.

Good post. Thank you. Looking at this team I see 9 NCAA qualifiers if 141, 174 and 197 continue to develop, anywhere between 3-5 rd of 12 guys, 2-4 AA’s and a possible NCAA champ. Facilities on the way. Bigger donors on the way. Improved SKWC on the way. Next year the only real question mark weight will be 133.
125- Nick S. Another year better (AA/NCAA) Champ
133- ?
141- AA- Upgrade (AA/NCAA Champ)
149- MVB- Probable NC qualifier; a year better (Rd of 12)
157- JVB/Glasgow- JVB at natural weight; a year better (Rd of 12)
165- JVB/Glasgow- Glasgow is a stud
174- Grello/Pagano- A year better (Rd of 12)
184- Gravina- ditto (Rd of 12/AA)
197- Mulligan- A year better (Rd of 12)
HWT-Correnti- Returning NCAA qualifier (Rd of 12)

That is progress.

 

[ro89ru]

Good post. Thank you. Looking at this team I see 9 NCAA qualifiers if 141, 174 and 197 continue to develop, anywhere between 3-5 rd of 12 guys, 2-4 AA’s and a possible NCAA champ. Facilities on the way. Bigger donors on the way. Improved SKWC on the way. Next year the only real question mark weight will be 133.
125- Nick S. Another year better (AA/NCAA) Champ
133- ?
141- AA- Upgrade (AA/NCAA Champ)
149- MVB- Probable NC qualifier; a year better (Rd of 12)
157- JVB/Glasgow- JVB at natural weight; a year better (Rd of 12)
165- JVB/Glasgow- Glasgow is a stud
174- Grello/Pagano- A year better (Rd of 12)
184- Gravina- ditto (Rd of 12/AA)
197- Mulligan- A year better (Rd of 12)
HWT-Correnti- Returning NCAA qualifier (Rd of 12)

That is progress.

Would gladly sign on for that, yes that would be progress.

 

[ScottRU93]

Would gladly sign on for that, yes that wou be progress.

It’s evident Mulligan needs to get Stronger. He has the skills. And Grello needs to wrestle more aggressively. He’s better then he’s wrestled last 2 weeks. Think he’s a little gun shy on big stage right now.

 

[Jaroslav Hasek]

Agreed it all starts with recruiting. Going against PSU, Iowa, OK State with all that tradition and backing is no easy task but this team is now down at #16, last two duals revealed some problems. The question is why at this stage is there a depth issue.

the team is deeper than I can ever remember. there are only so many roster spots and so many scholarships. you just saw Dippery, a former NQ, transfer to another team to find a starting spot, and he will almost definitely qualify for the NCAAs again. that is excellent depth.

would more depth be nice? sure, but literally every team can say that. roster management is probably the most difficult job in D1 wrestling and right now, the way things are set up, having 1 Suriano is worth more than having 3 top 30-20 ranked guys at every weight.

I'm not trying to be a pollyanna. there are things for the wrestlers and coaching staff to work on. 157/165 chief among them. but Rutgers just had close to 7,000 fans at home watch a less than full strength squad go toe to toe with Iowa. compare that to Iowa's first match at Rutgers just 3 years ago. that progress matters sooooo much more than whatever the the dual meet score was.

 

[Kenwood1]

the team is deeper than I can ever remember. there are only so many roster spots and so many scholarships. you just saw Dippery, a former NQ, transfer to another team to find a starting spot, and he will almost definitely qualify for the NCAAs again. that is excellent depth.

would more depth be nice? sure, but literally every team can say that. roster management is probably the most difficult job in D1 wrestling and right now, the way things are set up, having 1 Suriano is worth more than having 3 top 30-20 ranked guys at every weight.

I'm not trying to be a pollyanna. there are things for the wrestlers and coaching staff to work on. 157/165 chief among them. but Rutgers just had close to 7,000 fans at home watch a less than full strength squad go toe to toe with Iowa. compare that to Iowa's first match at Rutgers just 3 years ago. that progress matters sooooo much more than whatever the the dual meet score was.

Absolutely growing but let's not make less then full strength an excuse ..they were full strength , no one is hurt with possible exception of Nick and his bum shoulder but he still won, Richie wasn't hurt in any way and JVB was ready to go but had rug pulled out from under him which was a raw deal . We lost but coulda been different say a couple of close matches .Injuries had no part in this loss so don't use that as an excuse.

 

[ro89ru]

the team is deeper than I can ever remember. there are only so many roster spots and so many scholarships. you just saw Dippery, a former NQ, transfer to another team to find a starting spot, and he will almost definitely qualify for the NCAAs again. that is excellent depth.

would more depth be nice? sure, but literally every team can say that. roster management is probably the most difficult job in D1 wrestling and right now, the way things are set up, having 1 Suriano is worth more than having 3 top 30-20 ranked guys at every weight.

I'm not trying to be a pollyanna. there are things for the wrestlers and coaching staff to work on. 157/165 chief among them. but Rutgers just had close to 7,000 fans at home watch a less than full strength squad go toe to toe with Iowa. compare that to Iowa's first match at Rutgers just 3 years ago. that progress matters sooooo much more than whatever the the dual meet score was.

"Less than full strength" means there's no B1G caliber depth behind a few top kids. The program won't improve, or even maintain, unless they recruit well enough to overcome stuff like injuries, kids transferring out, or having the top kid in the last class not qualify. You are right that 2 duals aren't the end of the world, but they made the depth problems more obvious.

 

[matter7172]

"Less than full strength" means there's no B1G caliber depth behind a few top kids. The program won't improve, or even maintain, unless they recruit well enough to overcome stuff like injuries, kids transferring out, or having the top kid in the last class not qualify. You are right that 2 duals aren't the end of the world, but they made the depth problems more obvious.

Nobody has depth in college wrestling anymore, with a couple of possible exceptions at a couple of weight classes per team. Penn State had to use a backup 149 at 165 when Joseph didn't go against Lehigh. When Suriano got hurt last year, there was no one to plug in. Depth is a thing of the past.

 

[ro89ru]

Nobody has depth in college wrestling anymore, with a couple of possible exceptions at a couple of weight classes per team. Penn State had to use a backup 149 at 165 when Joseph didn't go against Lehigh. When Suriano got hurt last year, there was no one to plug in. Depth is a thing of the past.

Don't entirely agree with you, but why do you think depth would be a thing of the past?

 

[Jaroslav Hasek]

uh, Ashnault is hurt? hence the not full strength? didn't think that was possible to miss.

and if you think depth is a problem please research more big ten teams and their rosters. RU's depth is good. could be better (same could be said with everyone) but it's not anywhere close to a problem for the program.

none of these things are excuses. Iowa is a better team. they were better before the match and they are still better after the match. they'll "probably" be better for a long quite a while. sucks I guess but its reality.

 

[KidDagger]

He was just pointing out it's better to have a few top or even just one high end wrestler then a bunch of mid tier depth type wrestler.. least that's how scoring at NCAA dictates it to be... better to have one champ then bunch of r12, qualifier, depth

 

[BanjoSaysWoof]

Don't entirely agree with you, but why do you think depth would be a thing of the past?

OK State has depth to burn I think at every weight?

 

[matter7172]

Don't entirely agree with you, but why do you think depth would be a thing of the past?

9.9 is the basic reason. Look at any team that gets an injury to a top guy at a weight. There is a significant dropoff to the #2 guy in almost every case.

none of these things are excuses. Iowa is a better team. they were better before the match and they are still better after the match. they'll "probably" be better for a long quite a while. sucks I guess but its reality.

This is the weakest Iowa team in quite a while and will be the weakest you will see for a while in all likelihood. I don't agree that they were a better team. I think Rutgers blew a big opportunity.