Iconic Cyclones, PART TWO (ISU's own Andre the Giant, etc.)

  • After Iowa State won the Big 12, a Cyclone made a wonderful offer to We Will that now increases our match. Now all gifts up to $400,000 between now and the Final 4 will be matched. Please consider giving at We Will Collective.
    This notice can be dismissed using the upper right corner X button.

JunoSosa

Member
Oct 7, 2007
54
1
8
Hi all:

My research continues! Thanks to all who submitted information in my original thread! This time around I am looking for more information on cyclones from the distant past (read: more than 10 years ago) and that's where you guys come in! I am looking for memories, stories and/or pictures for any of these stories below:

Chris Taylor, ISU's own Andre the Giant:

I was stunned to learn about this former ISU wrestler who finished his career as an undefeated two-time champion in his two years in Ames. Chris Taylor was a beast of a man, standing six and a half feet tall and tipping the scales at between 400 to 500 pounds. (He was also the heaviest Olympian ever.) He won a bronze medal in the 1972 Munich Olympics and was in arguably the most famous wrestling match of all time. Tragically, he died when he was 29.

In the 1972 Olympics, he was controversially pinned by the West German Wilfried Dietrich, who suplayed Taylor, supposedly breaking his own neck in the process, but winning the match. It was the throw heard around the world.

Christaylor.jpg


At that time, wrestling had the touch fall rule where if a wrestler's back touched the mat completely for even a brief moment, they were considered pinned. Draw your own conclusions in the video below:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n79wBw_LJ9Y"]Chris Taylor pinned?[/ame]

Chris Taylor was definitely one of the most fascinating Cyclones in history! Check out this additional picture of him with the most of the 1972 USA Olympic wrestling team, including another two Cyclones, Dan Gable and Ben Peterson:

U1749663.jpg


Danny Harris:

I had heard of Danny Harris beating the legendary hurdler Edwin Moses in the 400m hurdles, but I didn't appreciate how good he was in his own right. Not only did Harris end Moses' 10 year winning streak in the 400m hurdles in 1987, Harris also won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics (Moses took gold) and lost the 1987 World Championships in Rome to Moses by .02 of a second after having lost to him earlier in the year.

Danny Harris and Edwin Moses


Here are some more Cyclones, feel free to expand on any of these further:

Nawal El Moutawakel--- she was a female hurdler who went on to win gold in the 400m hurdles at the 1984 Olympics, becoming the first Muslim African female champion ever. She is currently the chairwoman of the IOC.

Jamaal Tinsley--- any stories of his Rucker Park days? His nickname in Brooklyn was "Mel Mel the Abuser".

ISU's 1957 men's basketball upset of #1 Kansas where ISU's "Roland Rocket" Gary Thompson outscored KU's "Wilt the Stilt" Wilt Chamberlain 20 to 19.

Seneca Wallace--- does anyone have a picture of Seneca scoring the final TD that was called out on the 1 yard line against Florida State in Kansas City?

Hilton's "Floor Shaking" Game where Oklahoma State's best free throw shooter bricked his two shots to preserve ISU's one point win.

Dirty Thirty, ISU's 1959 football squad.

Thanks to all who can provide me with help! I am also open to any additional stories or pictures that any of you can provide. I am looking for memorable stories...
 
Last edited:

cybsball20

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2006
12,740
438
83
Des Moines, IA
That bottem picture almost reminds me of that insurance commercial where the cabbage patch kid grows up to be a cabbage patch adult...
 

DaddyMac

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
14,071
451
83
That is a big, big man.

If that's what the rule was - I'd have to say it was the right call on the pin. Cheap, but right.

Regardless, his opponent probably deserves it just for picking him up and taking the hit getting landed on.
 
Last edited:

cj0227

Member
Mar 21, 2006
386
3
18
46
Pleasant Hill
There is a book about him. I read it a few years back. The author is in central Iowa I believe. You can find it here.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Gentle-Giant-Chris-Taylor-Story/dp/1888223219]Amazon.com: The Gentle Giant: The Chris Taylor Story: Books: Lynn Marr-Moore,Harold J. Nichols[/ame]
 

IsUaClone2

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2006
2,740
1,659
113
79
Northville, MI
Hi all:


Chris Taylor was definitely one of the most fascinating Cyclones in history! Check out this additional picture of him with the rest of the 1972 USA Olympic wrestling team, including another Cyclone, Dan Gable:

U1749663.jpg


Danny Harris:

I had heard of Danny Harris beating the legendary hurdler Edwin Moses in the 400m hurdles, but I didn't appreciate how good he was in his own right. Not only did Harris end Moses' 10 year winning streak in the 400m hurdles in 1987, Harris also won a silver medal in the 1984 Olympics (Moses took gold) and lost the 1987 World Championships in Rome to Moses by .02 of a second after having lost to him earlier in the year.

Danny Harris and Edwin Moses

I can add the following --

Re: Chris Taylor and Dan Gable: They practiced for the olympics together at Iowa State along with the Peterson brothers (Ben & _____). I heard the practices were quite spirited with strange sights such as 149# Gable trying to take 450# Taylor down with a fireman's carry. I believe that all four medaled (two golds, one silver, and one bronze) with Gable and one of the Peterson brothers getting gold. Four years later the Peterson brothers went back and got gold and silver but reversed from four years prior.

Re: Danny Harris: Danny came to Iowa State as a football player (I think as a receiver) but dropped football to concentrate on hurdles.
 

JunoSosa

Member
Oct 7, 2007
54
1
8
That is a big, big man.

If that's what the rule was - I'd have to say it was the right call on the pin. Cheap, but right.

Regardless, his opponent probably deserves it just for picking him up and taking the hit getting landed on.

Ahh, but the controversial part is when Dietrich fell backwards as part of the throw, notice how he lands flat on his back for a second before completing the throw-- that should have been considered a pin, i.e. he pinned himself.

cj0227-- thanks for the book info.
 

Steve

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
4,201
758
113
Re: Danny Harris: Danny came to Iowa State as a football player (I think as a receiver) but dropped football to concentrate on hurdles.

Danny was a corner with NFL level talent if he had chosen to concentrate on FB. IMO, he would have been as good or better than either Barry Hill or Ellis Hobbs. After his freshman year, it was clear that he was world class in the hurdles and didn't want to risk a gridiron injury derailing his track career.
 

Me State

Well-Known Member
Oct 19, 2007
2,440
122
48
I found this interesting:
When Taylor arrived in Munich with the American team, he was introduced to Dietrich in the Olympic village and Dietrich made a big show out of hugging Taylor and making nice for the cameras.
After the match, Dietrich admitted that he felt he could suplex Taylor if, but only if, he could take him by surprise. What Dietrich didn't know is whether he could get his arms around Taylor, so the hug wasn't a friendly gesture, he was measuring him for when they wrestled later in the games.
 

DaddyMac

Well-Known Member
Oct 18, 2006
14,071
451
83
Ahh, but the controversial part is when Dietrich fell backwards as part of the throw, notice how he lands flat on his back for a second before completing the throw-- that should have been considered a pin, i.e. he pinned himself.

cj0227-- thanks for the book info.

I thought the same thing.
 

cloneu

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2007
4,674
293
83
Urbandale
www.golfdsm.com
I would like to hear about the former men's gymnastics coach. I know he still lives in Ames. He made ISU one of the best mens gymnastics team in the country. I don't know his name, but he seems like an interesting person and a person who brought a lot to ISU athletics.
 

JunoSosa

Member
Oct 7, 2007
54
1
8
I would like to hear about the former men's gymnastics coach. I know he still lives in Ames. He made ISU one of the best mens gymnastics team in the country. I don't know his name, but he seems like an interesting person and a person who brought a lot to ISU athletics.

Ed Gagnier was indeed one of ISU's legends. He had represented Canada in the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games before graduating from the University of Michigan. Gagnier started ISU's men's gymnastics program from scratch in 1963 and by the early 70's had built it into a dominant force with national championships in 1971, '73 and '74 and runner-up finishes in 1970 and '72. ISU's dominance was all the more impressive, because collegiate gymnastics were at their peak with over 170 programs nationwide.

More noteworthy was his positive attitude and trademark "Hi everyone, it's going to be a great day." Interestingly, Ron Gallimore, one of Gagnier's standout gymnasts at ISU, was the first African-American to qualify for a U.S. Men's Gymnastic team in the 1980 Moscow Olympics; however, he could not compete due to the U.S. boycott. Additionally, Ron was the first person to score a 10.0 in NCAA gymnastic competition with a perfect vault. (Additionally, Ron's father was a star running back for the Chicago Bears.) A picture of Ron is below-- check out those massive deltoids!

sports-galimore.jpg


Thanks for providing the impetus for me to research ISU's gymnastics history!
 

CRcyclone6

Well-Known Member
Bookie
Dec 27, 2007
11,711
3,623
113
53
Cedar Rapids
"Hilton's "Floor Shaking" Game where Oklahoma State's best free throw shooter bricked his two shots to preserve ISU's one point win."

The loudest I ever heard Hilton. The floor was definately shaking. Never thought Darwyn Alexander would brick two FTS. Long live Justus Thigpen!!
 

The_Architect

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
13,422
2,032
113
I remember seeing Chris Taylors picture in Beyer hall before and wondering the the heck he was. Interesting...
 

CyinCo

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
5,745
254
63
Clive, IA
"Hilton's "Floor Shaking" Game where Oklahoma State's best free throw shooter bricked his two shots to preserve ISU's one point win."

The loudest I ever heard Hilton. The floor was definately shaking. Never thought Darwyn Alexander would brick two FTS. Long live Justus Thigpen!!

I wasn't part of this game (not in the stands). But I was for the Texas game in Ames a few years back. The game ends similarly. A player for Texas is at the line (and I believe this player had Iowa ties) and he misses both.

Can anyone fill in the blanks here. What year was it? And who was the texas player with Iowa ties?
 

CyinCo

Well-Known Member
Mar 24, 2006
5,745
254
63
Clive, IA
I'd like to hear more about Blaise Bryant. I started at ISU in 1997. I can't even recall if Blaise was a player then. I know he was a Heisman Candidate. We all know about Troy Davis and Seneca Wallace. I really dont' know much about Blaise.
 

wesley_w

Well-Known Member
Oct 23, 2006
2,047
1,212
113
I remember seeing Chris Taylors picture in Beyer hall before and wondering the the heck he was. Interesting...

Chris would sit in the old Green Pepper on Welch with his wife and drink beer from a pitcher, except it looked like a mug. He would sign autographs after the meets till everyone who wanted one, had one. You can make a great argument for a few others but I would have to think he was the most popular athlete in ISU history.
 

Help Support Us

Become a patron