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OK STATE VS. WYOMING

Maybe… It’s growing like crazy all over the country for being such a “dying sport” though and we fill it for bedlam and Iowa later in the season. Schools with 1/100th history and resources are growing their base and fan involvement.

It’s just pretty unbelievable to me that we tie ourselves to the whipping post for soulless sports (at this point) like NCAA football and basketball but we can’t find enough time and resources to support THE ONE truly elite program at OSU.

Iowa averages somewhere around 14k per and that’s just due to them embracing THEIR tradition imo. It’s all about being trendy at OSU. Some of that OU little brother stuff people talk about IMO. We try really hard to be who we’re not.

Anyway… if wrestling does fail at OSU it will be because of us, not a lack of commitment from the admin and boosters. It’ll be because the people with the lightest load were too busy making excuses.
I get it but wrestling won’t ever be on the level of FB, and basketball across the country. OSU wrestling and golf is like Bama, tOSU and OU FB, KU and Kentucky basketball.
 
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Biggest home opening crowd in over 20 years and you want to shit on people because it didn’t meet your expectation….yeah, that’s the way to get people on your side.
Yep… It wasn’t a run of the mill opening dual. It was a recruiting weekend like we haven’t seen in years (arguably three #1 p4p recruits in attendance) and it was supposed to be a tone setter for the DT era. He was sold a bill of goods about who we are and what we value. We didn’t deliver. The ticket office was giving away 2 for 1 just trying to get people there and still only 50%. The importance was conveyed and people made excuses.
 
Some are diehard fans and some are casual fans . It will take time for the new staff to turn more casuals into diehards. The attendance #s weren't bad at all. It's not time to hit the panic button
Agreed but it was an opportunity missed and it’s not what was hoped for / expected. You don’t get very many opportunities to capitalize on unearned momentum like we’ve had with DT.
 
Yep… It wasn’t a run of the mill opening dual. It was a recruiting weekend like we haven’t seen in years (arguably three #1 p4p recruits in attendance) and it was supposed to be a tone setter for the DT era. He was sold a bill of goods about who we are and what we value. We didn’t deliver. The ticket office was giving away 2 for 1 just trying to get people there and still only 50%. The importance was conveyed and people made excuses.
Most fans probably didn't even know about the recruiting weekend. Only the diehard fans did. Your upset because you feel like it hurts your chances with Bo and Jax. Kids picking a school has way more to do with fit, coaches and partners then it does crowd size FYI
 
Most fans probably didn't even know about the recruiting weekend. Only the diehard fans did. Your upset because you feel like it hurts your chances with Bo and Jax. Kids picking a school has way more to do with fit, coaches and partners then it does crowd size FYI
Not exactly. It’s a total package and a tone setter. You also have to offer more in areas that other can’t offer when you’re not going to play the highest bidder in NIL and others have good rooms too. You can’t be behind in multiple areas
 
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Not exactly. It’s a total package and a tone setter. You also have to offer more in areas that other can’t offer when you’re not going to play the highest bidder in NIL. You can’t be behind in multiple areas
Iowa and Penn st are the only other 2 teams who put that many butts in the seats consistently. The sky isn't falling in Stillwater this morning. You had the biggest opening crowd in 20 years . To me that says people are excited
 
Iowa and Penn st are the only other 2 teams who put that many butts in the seats consistently. The sky isn't falling in Stillwater this morning. You had the biggest opening crowd in 20 years . To me that says people are excited
This is turning into a strawman. My point isn’t that DT won’t eventually find big success and drag peoples asses to GIA.

The point is WE the fans missed and opportunity and we have to do better.
 
I didn’t take it that way. Why not have it full? Will there be more at the FB game today?
Really? This is Mike Gundy level with this comment “It’ll be because the people with the lightest load were too busy making excuses.”
 
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This is turning into a strawman. My point isn’t that DT won’t eventually find big success and drag peoples asses to GIA.

The point is WE the fans missed and opportunity and we have to do better.
Some will say wow what a crowd we had the most we have had for an opener in 20 years. And some will say it should've been packed. You can always hope for better but the reality is you broke a 20 year record
 
Pisses me off that the ticket office will do $2 tickets and concessions to women’s bb but not to men’s bb or wrestling.We can’t raise money like most schools and pay as much in NIL but we darn sure could try to get butts in the seats.

Not to mention this is DT’s first home dual and a HUGE recruiting weekend. HS football playoffs are tonight and small schools have started basketball so OSU needs to do all it can to get people in GIA.
I guess you missed the promo that you buy a ticket for last nights dual and you get a ticket for Sunday as well.
 
I guess you missed the promo that you buy a ticket for last nights dual and you get a ticket for Sunday as well.
I saw that but that does no good if you can’t attend both.Just run the same promos as you do for other sports that are trying to build crowds.

Only way I see that we avg 8-12k fans is have PSU, IOWA, OU, tOSU, AND CORNELL on the schedule yearly 😂
 
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Maybe… It’s growing like crazy all over the country for being such a “dying sport” though and we fill it for bedlam and Iowa later in the season. Schools with 1/100th history and resources are growing their base and fan involvement.

It’s just pretty unbelievable to me that we tie ourselves to the whipping post for soulless sports (at this point) like NCAA football and basketball but we can’t find enough time and resources to support THE ONE truly elite program at OSU.

Iowa averages somewhere around 14k per and that’s just due to them embracing THEIR tradition imo. It’s all about being trendy at OSU. Some of that OU little brother stuff people talk about IMO. We try really hard to be who we’re not.

Anyway… if wrestling does fail at OSU it will be because of us, not a lack of commitment from the admin and boosters. It’ll be because the people with the lightest load were too busy making excuses.
Sorry for living 12 hours away.
 
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Iowa and Penn st are the only other 2 teams who put that many butts in the seats consistently. The sky isn't falling in Stillwater this morning. You had the biggest opening crowd in 20 years . To me that says people are excited
And who is getting the other top recruits and transfers? Those 2 teams you referenced. I can see why Poke is disappointed and I am sure he is not the only one disappointed. And for the sake of OK State wrestling coaches and wrestlers, I hope that you are right that the people/fans are excited about the team. I would say most are.
 
Yep… It wasn’t a run of the mill opening dual. It was a recruiting weekend like we haven’t seen in years (arguably three #1 p4p recruits in attendance) and it was supposed to be a tone setter for the DT era. He was sold a bill of goods about who we are and what we value. We didn’t deliver. The ticket office was giving away 2 for 1 just trying to get people there and still only 50%. The importance was conveyed and people made excuses.
Most OSU fans aren’t wrestling sickos like we are. Most of them probably had no idea about the recruiting weekend.
 
Guys sitting around me last night:
Dallas (me)
Wisconsin
Houston
Denver
Stillwater

But I’m not ribbing anyone. Your comment just made me want to share how cool it was that people did come from afar. I’ve had season tix for a few years and didn’t make it up once last year (did go to big12s).
All of those places are WAY cheaper to fly from too. I haven’t been back for any OSU sports but I’d bet a wrestling match will be my first.
 
I thought it was a very good crowd and the excitement was high. I think the excitement would have been higher if Plott,Surber, Young, Jamison had wrestled better matches. Jamison in particular looked like he was wrestling in slow motion. Spratley did not panic when he was taken down and slowly but surely stalked Volk and looked great in the 2nd half of the match and overtime. Hamiti continues to amaze me. He is so smooth and confident in his movement. Hendrickson is an outstanding athlete. I was just disappointed in the four wrestlers I mentioned earlier and Surber seemed to echo my
disappointment when he walked off the mat. They had off days but are better than they showed. The crowds will continue to increase but we will have to have more matches like we had at 125 to help build the attendance.
 
And who is getting the other top recruits and transfers? Those 2 teams you referenced. I can see why Poke is disappointed and I am sure he is not the only one disappointed. And for the sake of OK State wrestling coaches and wrestlers, I hope that you are right that the people/fans are excited about the team. I would say most are.
If I remember correctly after DT was hired OSU had record interactions for all media platforms across all sports so I would say the excitement is real, but I could be misremembering things. @west2east could correct me if I'm wrong
 
If we step back from expecting a sellout this was a very very good crowd for the opening dual against a weak opponent.

Almost 7,000 people which is the biggest opening crowd in 21 years. It looked and sounded like a big time wrestling environment. I’m sure DT, the staff and recruits felt the same.

We can nitpick on why there weren’t a few thousand more but this was a very good start for a new staff and hopefully a new direction for our program.
 
If we step back from expecting a sellout this was a very very good crowd for the opening dual against a weak opponent.

Almost 7,000 people which is the biggest opening crowd in 21 years. It looked and sounded like a big time wrestling environment. I’m sure DT, the staff and recruits felt the same.

We can nitpick on why there weren’t a few thousand more but this was a very good start for a new staff and hopefully a new direction for our program.
I would've been happy with 8k. Most disappointed in empty 200 level seats. Season ticket holders not showing and then not making sure someone is in there seats. It's pretty easy to buy the whole season just so you can go to the big matches. It hurts the product. Fill you seats even if you have to give them away to friends, family or kids wrestling clubs.
 
I would've been happy with 8k. Most disappointed in empty 200 level seats. Season ticket holders not showing and then not making sure someone is in there seats. It's pretty easy to buy the whole season just so you can go to the big matches. It hurts the product. Fill you seats even if you have to give them away to friends, family or kids wrestling clubs. And don't wait till the last minute.
 
I asked last night and I'll ask again, anybody in attendance last night see if John Smith was there?? I figured they would have done something before to celebrate his career. Also kinda thought he would have a front row seat.
 
How do the Club 34 deal look? Good amount of people? Just curious if this idea is working out.
 
I would've been happy with 8k. Most disappointed in empty 200 level seats. Season ticket holders not showing and then not making sure someone is in there seats. It's pretty easy to buy the whole season just so you can go to the big matches. It hurts the product. Fill you seats even if you have to give them away to friends, family or kids wrestling clubs.
Good point.Not sure the answer but maybe the ticket office can reach out to season ticket holders via text or email and if they don’t plan on attending GIVE them away?
 
Our fan base makes too many excuses. It’s a black eye for us. Simple as that. We talk a big game. We needed everyone to show up last night and about half did.

I drove my crew from Altus and we didn’t get home until 1am and all 3 of my kids are wrestling at 8:30 this morning.
My seats were filled and they won’t be empty very often, if ever.

I didn’t like missing this, but my circumstances aren’t excuses and won’t be public.
 
I asked last night and I'll ask again, anybody in attendance last night see if John Smith was there?? I figured they would have done something before to celebrate his career. Also kinda thought he would have a front row seat.
I did not see him.
 
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