Originally Posted by r.payton@att.net i thought I posted earlier about this buit this would be my choice as well -you are the first person besides myself to have even heard of Pope -That last 30-45 second scramble was legendary .
Pope is one of my personal heroes comingfrom Div 3 to 1 and national finals -.He dominated people that year . |
Brother R.Payton,
Darryl Pope wrestled for Cal Bakersfield in D2 not D3 (I know its a small deal, but as a former D2 guy myself, gotta have our best guys give D2 it's due

). As you probably know, Pope and several other tough guys followed coach TJ Kerr from San Jose St. to Bakerfield when Joe Seay left for OSU. Sort of the same deal as the whole Iowa-Va.Tech dust-up, but since it was pre-internet, i didn't create the same controversy. Pope was an AA (5th) for San Jose as a soph. You are right about his dominance his senior year. He was a beast. Kind of Metcalfesque, but more physical and mean, IMO. Fun guy to watch wrestle.
Small bit of trivia, the year before Pope lost to Chiparelli, Rico was decked in less than 1:00 by Pope's San Jose/CSUB teammate Marvin Jones in the NCAA consolation finals. Sweet bodylock throw!