I have long supported John Smith as Our head coach as long as he wants the job. I thought it was a no-brainer, after all he arguably the best wrestler in the sport and a great technician and also a real force in recruiting and drawing great wrestlers to Stillwater. I still respect him greatly for the aforementioned attributes but there has been a slow but obvious decline in the quality of our wrestlers.
We still recruit great wrestlers but those same wrestlers come to Stillwater and for the most part do not get any better. As a matter of fact, most regress.
I am trying to remember the last wrestler we recruited who has gotten better and I think it probably goes back to Daton. You could make an argument for Ferrari but I don't know if he got better or not. Obviously, his strength and speed were his greatest assets. Technically, he was never a great wrestler but used those assets to dominate his opponent. I never ever liked his attitude and obviously for many reasons regarding his personality he did not represent OSU well. His parting could not have come fast enough for me regardless of. his success on the mat.
I am straying away from my point. When John arrived and for several years he brought technique, great name and enthusiasm to Oklahoma State and for that he should be remembered as probably our greatest coach. We have a great recruiting class coming in but I do not see the same enthusiasm and ability to "jump levels" as Harley has said many times. Mastro is a good example of this. He has regressed from High School and his ability to get off bottom has frankly "bottomed out". His offense has also declined. This may be his "fault" but I believe much of the fault lies with the coaches.
It has been highly apparent to me and most of the posters on this board that the last two duals our wrestlers have not shown the enthusiasm and winning attitude of our opponents. Either we made OU look like, what it is not, or their coaches have instilled a winning attitude which combined with our lack of enthusiasm did, We lost every close or toss up match. we failed to major a out of shape and inferior wrestler at 157. We were humiliated at 125 and after a great performance in the Minnesota dual Young at 141 went back to his old ways. Young has great talent , maybe second only to Fix in that regard but somehow his coaches have not been able to consistently bring that talent out. Wyatt Sheets was better two years ago than he its now. Gfeller has been up and down for his whole career. Witlake was better 2-3 years ago than he is now.
This overlong narrative leads to an extremely difficult choice for me. This year can not be salvaged but I advocate retiring Coach Smith with high honors for his long and valued service and seek a new head coach for next year. I have not gotten far enough into this to have any idea who his replacement should be. We are not trending towards a championship now and with new coaches and hopefully a rejuvenated training center we will do so in the future. John Smith is a legend and he will remain so in most fan's eyes including mine.
We still recruit great wrestlers but those same wrestlers come to Stillwater and for the most part do not get any better. As a matter of fact, most regress.
I am trying to remember the last wrestler we recruited who has gotten better and I think it probably goes back to Daton. You could make an argument for Ferrari but I don't know if he got better or not. Obviously, his strength and speed were his greatest assets. Technically, he was never a great wrestler but used those assets to dominate his opponent. I never ever liked his attitude and obviously for many reasons regarding his personality he did not represent OSU well. His parting could not have come fast enough for me regardless of. his success on the mat.
I am straying away from my point. When John arrived and for several years he brought technique, great name and enthusiasm to Oklahoma State and for that he should be remembered as probably our greatest coach. We have a great recruiting class coming in but I do not see the same enthusiasm and ability to "jump levels" as Harley has said many times. Mastro is a good example of this. He has regressed from High School and his ability to get off bottom has frankly "bottomed out". His offense has also declined. This may be his "fault" but I believe much of the fault lies with the coaches.
It has been highly apparent to me and most of the posters on this board that the last two duals our wrestlers have not shown the enthusiasm and winning attitude of our opponents. Either we made OU look like, what it is not, or their coaches have instilled a winning attitude which combined with our lack of enthusiasm did, We lost every close or toss up match. we failed to major a out of shape and inferior wrestler at 157. We were humiliated at 125 and after a great performance in the Minnesota dual Young at 141 went back to his old ways. Young has great talent , maybe second only to Fix in that regard but somehow his coaches have not been able to consistently bring that talent out. Wyatt Sheets was better two years ago than he its now. Gfeller has been up and down for his whole career. Witlake was better 2-3 years ago than he is now.
This overlong narrative leads to an extremely difficult choice for me. This year can not be salvaged but I advocate retiring Coach Smith with high honors for his long and valued service and seek a new head coach for next year. I have not gotten far enough into this to have any idea who his replacement should be. We are not trending towards a championship now and with new coaches and hopefully a rejuvenated training center we will do so in the future. John Smith is a legend and he will remain so in most fan's eyes including mine.