ADVERTISEMENT

Bo Bassett

We all measure it differently I guess. Viewership, tickets sold, the way they travel on the road and the support they get makes me feel that way. They've won 1 title in 15 years I believe and still have all that going on.
The thing about tickets sold is that their arena is the biggest. Hard to argue with the tv ratings, though.
 
As a Steelers fan, I always watch the Cowboys to see them lose, so ratings are not a perfect measurement tool. A better tool is to look at recruiting. Is the brand good enough to attract elite recruits without buying them?

Eh. Recruiting is a terrible measurement though.

I'd classify "brand" as everything outside of the program. TV ratings, attendance (home AND away), merchandise, social media, ability to be a lightning rod (PAID HATERS!!!!)

So it's definitely still Iowa there. And the argument that it isn't PSU kinda makes the point. PSU is the BEST program since 2011 by a country mile, yet there are more people willing to talk, both negatively and positively about Iowa, regardless of the win column.

I'd say a big part of that is Carl's insistence on not doing much marketing-wise. But that seems to be changing quite a bit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: moug
idk what to tell you guys. if you don't think Iowa Wrestling's 'brand' (by any definition) isn't enormous and as big as any other school's, you're just not a serious person.
You are moving goalposts a little here. Sure Iowa has a brand and a large footprint, but it dwindles each year and I'd say PSU has passed them by. Iowa still gets the clicks just like the Cowboys but clicks aren't always positive.
 
You are moving goalposts a little here. Sure Iowa has a brand and a large footprint, but it dwindles each year and I'd say PSU has passed them by. Iowa still gets the clicks just like the Cowboys but clicks aren't always positive.
man come on, you’re the one that’s been moving the goal posts lol. They’ve mentioned tv ratings, attendance, clicks etc and you keep at it. I don’t like it either but Iowa is a bigger brand by all measurements.

This conversation will be moot in a couple years anyway when OSU is back on top and we are constantly filling up GIA with 13k rowdy!
 
man come on, you’re the one that’s been moving the goal posts lol. They’ve mentioned tv ratings, attendance, clicks etc and you keep at it. I don’t like it either but Iowa is a bigger brand by all measurements.

This conversation will be moot in a couple years anyway when OSU is back on top and we are constantly filling up GIA with 13k rowdy!
Fine. We'll agree to disagree.
 
did you actually read this thread? wtf
Of course I read the thread. Nobody said Iowa wasn't a massive, massive brand. I'm sorry that thinking the team that has dominated the sport for the past 15 years like no other team has dominated a sport is currently the biggest brand offends you. I don't see what is unserious about that thought.
 
Last edited:
Of course I read the thread. Nobody said Iowa wasn't a massive, massive brand. I'm sorry that thinking the team that has dominated the sport for the past 15 years like no other team has dominated a sport is currently the biggest brand offends you. I don't see what is unserious about that thought.
Well Willie grew up in Pennsylvania attending Penn st duals and was a Penn st fan 1st and since has also become a Nebraska fan as well. But he's smart enough to look at things and understand that Iowa still has the biggest brand. Looks around this message board and the Iowa talk go to Penn st boards and look at the Iowa talk. Iowa has the #1 brand in wrestling and it's not even close. Penn st is kicking everyone's ass and dominating the sport those are facts and Cael is the best coach currently. But that doesn't mean they've the biggest brand
 
  • Like
Reactions: moug
Well Willie grew up in Pennsylvania attending Penn st duals and was a Penn st fan 1st and since has also become a Nebraska fan as well. But he's smart enough to look at things and understand that Iowa still has the biggest brand. Looks around this message board and the Iowa talk go to Penn st boards and look at the Iowa talk. Iowa has the #1 brand in wrestling and it's not even close. Penn st is kicking everyone's ass and dominating the sport those are facts and Cael is the best coach currently. But that doesn't mean they've the biggest brand
Oh now ... it is not even close?
 
  • Like
Reactions: west2east
Well Willie grew up in Pennsylvania attending Penn st duals and was a Penn st fan 1st and since has also become a Nebraska fan as well. But he's smart enough to look at things and understand that Iowa still has the biggest brand. Looks around this message board and the Iowa talk go to Penn st boards and look at the Iowa talk. Iowa has the #1 brand in wrestling and it's not even close. Penn st is kicking everyone's ass and dominating the sport those are facts and Cael is the best coach currently. But that doesn't mean they've the biggest brand
I just don't know that being hateable is a true value add in branding. Iowa loves Iowa and there are other people who fall in love with the brash culture, but on the whole most people cant stand Iowa and want to see them humbled (that brings attention). I watch PSU and I watch their wrestling.. I watch Iowa just to see them lose. I'm younger so I'm sure it started slow with people just not caring for how much Gable won (people always hate long runs), but IMO the current level of hate just comes from the culture TnT have created and also how the fanbase carries itself. Iowa fans arent quite "philly fans" but theyre not far off imo.
 
I just don't know that being hateable is a true value add in branding. Iowa loves Iowa and there are other people who fall in love with the brash culture, but on the whole most people cant stand Iowa and want to see them humbled (that brings attention). I watch PSU and I watch their wrestling.. I watch Iowa just to see them lose. I'm younger so I'm sure it started slow with people just not caring for how much Gable won (people always hate long runs), but IMO the current level of hate just comes from the culture TnT have created and also how the fanbase carries itself. Iowa fans arent quite "philly fans" but theyre not far off imo.
I think you will find a less welcoming PSU fanbase once DT really starts to threaten their crown.
 
Of course I read the thread. Nobody said Iowa wasn't a massive, massive brand. I'm sorry that thinking the team that has dominated the sport for the past 15 years like no other team has dominated a sport is currently the biggest brand offends you. I don't see what is unserious about that thought.
Counterpoint for the sake of discussion. Dallas Cowboys are arguably the biggest NFL brand but haven't won the Superbowl since 1990 something. They're consistently mediocre yet have the most money, the most marketing, the most recognizability to casual fans.

Cael's mysterious ways and aloofness keep PSU from being a bigger brand. Winning all the time while also working to erode your sport isn't a good look either for your "brand".

Also doesn't really matter lol so please don't take this is as a challenge. Just interesting to think about what makes a brand.
 
Counterpoint for the sake of discussion. Dallas Cowboys are arguably the biggest NFL brand but haven't won the Superbowl since 1990 something. They're consistently mediocre yet have the most money, the most marketing, the most recognizability to casual fans.

Cael's mysterious ways and aloofness keep PSU from being a bigger brand. Winning all the time while also working to erode your sport isn't a good look either for your "brand".

Also doesn't really matter lol so please don't take this is as a challenge. Just interesting to think about what makes a brand.
Don't disagree at all with any of this. I think the Cowboys are a great counter-example. I will say the NFL is so different than College Wrestling. The NFL is all about parity. Teams have runs but no single franchise dominates the way Penn State currently does. If we are sitting here in 10 years and the Chiefs have won 11 out of 15 Super Bowls will we still think of the Cowboys as the biggest brand? Maybe but I don't think it is 100%.

When people think of college wrestling right now the first thing you think of is Penn State.
 
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest posts

ADVERTISEMENT