Iowa State extends Pollard's contract through 2024

[Tornado man]

Yeah, but the funeral procession is only about 3 cars long, so traffic isn't really affected.

Your frame of reference is obviously limited. The "funeral procession" of wrestling would be short now, but only because Pollard has let interest wane so much.
Attendance now is a third of what it once was. Once upon a time, Hilton would be full every year for the Hawks. Throngs of ISU fans used to travel where the national championships were, knowing that the team would be in contention for the team title or for several individual ones.
Sorry, Lou McCullough or Gene Smith would have never let it get to this level...

 

[theshadow]

As far as the wrestling thing it was in decline before he got here and I'm not really sure what it would take to turn it around. It's glory days were in the 70's and I don't really know what it would take to turn the program around and how to bring the crowds back.

Despite being top-2 for most of the 1980s and winning an NCAA title in 1987, wrestling attendance started sliding at the same time that Orr started turning around the basketball team. Not entirely a coincidence, I'd bet.

 

[jsb]

I believe all these improvement were done on his watch.
South endzone
Sukup bball
New tennis facility
Golf facility
New softball stadium
Improvements to Jacobson
Bergstrom indoor practice(?)

What else am I missing?

There were additional improvements to Jack Trice (bigger concourse, more bathrooms, etc). Also, added Johnny's to Hilton.

 

[jkclone]

There were additional improvements to Jack Trice (bigger concourse, more bathrooms, etc). Also, added Johnny's to Hilton.

Johnnys yeah but where are these bigger concourses and more bathrooms?

 

[theshadow]

Once upon a time, Hilton would be full every year for the Hawks. Sorry, Lou McCullough or Gene Smith would have never let it get to this level...

"Once upon a time" = 1976-83.

 

[bringmagicback]

Your frame of reference is obviously limited. The "funeral procession" of wrestling would be short now, but only because Pollard has let interest wane so much.
Attendance now is a third of what it once was. Once upon a time, Hilton would be full every year for the Hawks. Throngs of ISU fans used to travel where the national championships were, knowing that the team would be in contention for the team title or for several individual ones.
Sorry, Lou McCullough or Gene Smith would have never let it get to this level...

I think 95% of ISU fans are glad the focus has been on fb and bball the last 12 years or so. I get some people enjoy it but even in the glory days how many people showed up to non iowa wrestling? Id doubt that many, ISU is still 7th in attendance for national wrestling. I think its more of a not many people care issue opposed to Jamie hates wrestling.

 

[BoxsterCy]

In before "Bring back baseball".

Also should probably grab some popcorn for the wrestling fan backlash.

 

[Tornado man]

Johnnys yeah but where are these bigger concourses and more bathrooms?

Hilton has been neglected no doubt. ONE elevator to get people with disabilities from the ground floor to the concourse? Larger concourses needed as you mentioned. A larger entrance/atrium on the south side, men's and women's bball hall or fame area, Cyclone apparel/collectables store open year-round, etc.
These are not unique or groundbreaking ideas; many college arenas have them.

 

[NWICY]

Despite being top-2 for most of the 1980s and winning an NCAA title in 1987, wrestling attendance started sliding at the same time that Orr started turning around the basketball team. Not entirely a coincidence, I'd bet.

I would agree there are only so many nights people can drive to Ames. Johnny was extremely charismatic and made BB fun/exciting. He woke up/ created a sleeping giant. When I was in school before Johnny it was like maybe I'll go to a BB game. I was there the night we beat Mo and sold on hoops ever since.

 

[Tornado man]

I think 95% of ISU fans are glad the focus has been on fb and bball the last 12 years or so. I get some people enjoy it but even in the glory days how many people showed up to non iowa wrestling? Id doubt that many, ISU is still 7th in attendance for national wrestling. I think its more of a not many people care issue opposed to Jamie hates wrestling.

Don't know if national attendance is down or not, just know that tons of fans who used to have season tix no longer even attend one home meet. Because we are not a contending team.
And in those "glory days" - putting up that black curtain would have been unthinkable...

 

[Cy$]

I wonder if Twitter will still be around by then.

I'd bet not.

 

[CyForPresident]

Bring back baseball

 

[CysRage]

Johnnys yeah but where are these bigger concourses and more bathrooms?

You obviously didn't go to JTS prior to the 2009 season. If you thought the concourses and restroom situation is bad now, you should find a time machine and go back in time. I'll give you a hint. Where the blacktop ends in this picture is where the concessions and restrooms used to begin..

 

[jkclone]

You obviously didn't go to JTS prior to the 2009 season. If you thought the concourses and restroom situation is bad now, you should find a time machine and go back in time. I'll give you a hint. Where the blacktop ends in this picture is where the concessions and restrooms used to begin..

Misread was thinking Hilton.

 

[Mr Janny]

Your frame of reference is obviously limited. The "funeral procession" of wrestling would be short now, but only because Pollard has let interest wane so much.
Attendance now is a third of what it once was. Once upon a time, Hilton would be full every year for the Hawks. Throngs of ISU fans used to travel where the national championships were, knowing that the team would be in contention for the team title or for several individual ones.
Sorry, Lou McCullough or Gene Smith would have never let it get to this level...

My frame of reference is not limited to just iowa state wrestling.I'm talking about the sport as a whole. It's nowhere near what it used to be. On the national scene, wrestling is a niche at best. We could spend millions of dollars on restoring the program, but the return would be terrible. The nation cares less and less about the sport everyday. Why throw time, money and resources down a well?

 

[jkclone]

My frame of reference is not limited to just iowa state wrestling.I'm talking about the sport as a whole. It's nowhere near what it used to be. On the national scene, wrestling is a niche at best. We could spend millions of dollars on restoring the program, but the return would be terrible. The nation cares less and less about the sport everyday. Why throw time, money and resources down a well?

There is a difference between throwing millions of dollars at it and investing in it.

 

[Judoka]

This is a pretty random thread to turn in to a five minute hate on wrestling.

Show us on the doll where Cael touched you.

 

[CycloneErik]

Janny's War on Wrestling, round #?

 

[Mr Janny]

There is a difference between throwing millions of dollars at it and investing in it.

Not really. It takes money to build a program back to prominence. Money that could be spent better elsewhere.

 

[jkclone]

Not really. It takes money to build a program back to prominence. Money that could be spent better elsewhere.

The problem is near zero investment. The easiest investment is probably in promotion. Then we should look at coaching. After that you can look at facilities. There's a ton of room to improve that doesn't cost a ton of money.