Re: Modern day competition
Herein lies the conundrum . If we go back to 9 minutes of brutal wrestling the fan base will disappear. After Title IX fewer scholarships became available thus nearly everyone in Div 1 is a 4 star wrestler . Take 2 studs and put them on the mat for 9 minutes and you'll see the same 3-2 scores - everything becomes a battle of attrition .
Coach Blubaugh always said there was about 1 to 2 % difference in a champion and everyone else. At age 45 he could break me down (i was 19-20) as if I were a little girl. I was a walk on -yet he could do the same to Sam Komar. The man was just made of iron . Coach used to ride our hwt (who still holds the pins record at IU) until he puked . And Rod Chamberlain was a very bad ass wrestler.
Hi Russell,
My son came upon your post about who was the last American to beat Bruce Baumgartner. I had a few good bouts with Bruce over the years. The last time I beat Bruce was in 1980, but I know Lou Banach beat him in March of 1981 at the NCAA's in Princton. Erland Van Lidth de Juede was also Canadian.
Hope it helps.
Cheers
Rod
This is the e-mail Rod sent me -he should be the one to know .
i posted this e-mail a few years back when a discussion over the last American to beat Bruce was being bantered about.
Re: Modern day competition
Quote:
Originally Posted by
r.payton@att.net 
Herein lies the conundrum . If we go back to 9 minutes of brutal wrestling the fan base will disappear.
Could you imagine how long tournaments would last? My gosh, sitting any longer in gymnasium or arena seating is not a pleasant thought. I'm pretty sure live finals on ESPN would be a thing of the past too. Without a doubt, they would go to tape delay.
It may be interesting for a dual meet though.
Re: Modern day competition
Quote:
Originally Posted by
TLV True KR, but if you are talking "tough", I have to go with guys like Hodge, Koll#1, Gable, the Keller twins, Dutchen, KInnen, Baughman and Blubaugh.
I just meant that the playing field is level. Kids have access to so much more. Granted those guys were TOUGH. DT just said that this past week when he wanted to prep for the OTT he went after Casey Cunningham in practice everyday. CC can still drop the hammer. No kids in the room beat him or Cael.
