Interest Level

PAUL · July 06, 2024, 05:15:22 PM

Not sure if a board like this is the perfect indicator, and I know it's summer, but it seems like interest level in the Badger program is really, really low. Maybe this is tied to expectations, past performance, the state of the program itself, or all of the above. Either way, this is not good news if it's true - especially since you'd have to think that folks who read this stuff are on balance the most loyal and dedicated of fans. I am really concerned that this could be a portender of total apathy, leading to an easy decision for the UW Athletic folks to consider dropping the program - especially giving the changing landscape of the Big 10 and the NCAA at larger. I sure hope I'm wrong....

npope · July 06, 2024, 09:26:34 PM

Well, first of all - you are focusing on what is traditionally the time for the least chatter on the wrestling forum - so temper any interpretation you might have with respect to the low amount of chatter on the board. That said, the program does have a pall cast over it - the energy level is lower than in previous years... for good reasons. Add to that the rapidly changing NCAA landscape due to NIL.

Wrestling (and other non-revenue sports) are experiencing a metamorphosis...and not in a good way. Money has become king in this romanticized world of amateur collegiate athletics; the traditional charade of the noble amateur is gone and replaced by open and blazon pursuit of money by individuals and programs alike. The only wrestling programs that will be experiencing any interest and excitement will be those with the money and thereby, can remain competitive (which will result in a limited handful of teams). Failing to remain competitive is the pall we are currently experiencing in Wisconsin and it will get worse before it gets better...and it won't get better. It will be a hole we won't be able to crawl out of. Lacking a competitive team will result in rapid fan-abandonment and a general lamenting as to what once was - that's what we are seeing right now. That is what things like the NIL have done for (amateur) collegiate sports.

Our professional sports understand the importance of "spreading out the talent", as reflected by the limits they place on total athlete salaries, annual drafts that allow the least among them to first select the best talent, revenue sharing, etc. The current collegiate athletic world has none of that. The NCAA deserves to be fired in mass for what they have done to collegiate (non-revenue) sports.

MNbadger · July 07, 2024, 06:20:41 AM

Sadly, you hit it right on the head Nat.

PAUL · July 07, 2024, 07:26:15 AM

Wow, what an awesome explanation Nat, seems like you totally reinforced what I am feeling or seeing or whatever it is. Seems to me like they really need to change something QUICK or the whole thing will be bye-bye within 2-3 years, maybe even less than that and maybe it's already too far gone. If so, it's pretty sad and you wonder if the "brain trust" could have foreseen this, or if they even care.....

Numbers · July 07, 2024, 08:36:23 AM

Quote from: npope on July 06, 2024, 09:26:34 PMWell, first of all - you are focusing on what is traditionally the time for the least chatter on the wrestling forum - so temper any interpretation you might have with respect to the low amount of chatter on the board. That said, the program does have a pall cast over it - the energy level is lower than in previous years... for good reasons. Add to that the rapidly changing NCAA landscape due to NIL.

Wrestling (and other no-revenue sports) are experiencing a metamorphosis...and not in a good way. Money has become king in this romanticized world of amateur collegiate athletics; the traditional charade of the noble amateur is gone and replaced by open and blazon pursuit of money by individuals and programs alike. The only wrestling programs that will be experiencing any interest and excitement will be those with the money and thereby, can remain competitive (which will result in a limited handful of teams). Failing to remain competitive is the pall we are currently experiencing in Wisconsin and it will get worse before it gets better...and it won't get better. It will be a hole we won't be able to crawl out of. Lacking a competitive team will result in rapid fan-abandonment and a general lamenting as to what once was - that's what we are seeing right now. That is what things like the NIL have done for (amateur) collegiate sports.

Our professional sports understand the importance of "spreading out the talent", as reflected by the limits they place on total athlete salaries, annual drafts that allow the least among them to first select the best talent, revenue sharing, etc. The current collegiate athletic world has none of that. The NCAA deserves to be fired in mass for what they have done to collegiate (non-revenue) sports.

Well said. I would add the courts have given athletes unlimited transfers. People say everyone is on a one year contract but some do not even make it one year.

There is a reason professional sports do not have everyone on one year contracts. Baseball teams have player rights until a player gets six years of major league service time.

One idea appears to have athletes unionized. But then football and basketball will breakaway because they will be outvoted by the non revenue sport athletes. The big money leaves. Then non revenue sports will struggle to keep scholarship programs.

Army Ant · July 07, 2024, 10:28:17 AM

Why should I be so interested in Badger wrestling? The athletic dept doesn't want to put much into it (not that I blame them; it generates negative revenue) and none of the top h.s. wrestlers in the state want to wrestle there either.

I do appreciate that they are investing in football since I enjoy watching that more anyway and I'm also glad that our natives are doing so well, regardless of the college. Loved watching guys like o'toole, messenbrink and keckeisen at NCAAs recently. D2 and D3 schools are also very competitive so I'm good.

I'm especially looking forward to watching this year's bumper crop wrestle as freshmen in college this upcoming winter. I'll be watching lots of college wrestling but, to be honest, probably won't watch one Badger meet.

dad 2 5 · July 07, 2024, 12:14:35 PM

If only Mac would read and consider this good insight by those posting on this thread and make a coaching change.

Ledger · July 08, 2024, 09:10:15 AM

I'm feeling a little more optimistic than npope. First, we need to see what these changes actually do to our sport in the next couple of years prior to "firing" everyone. Second, the level of talent we're sending to the Olympics this year is unprecedented, and the USA will most likely win the medal race. In my opinion, with money now on the line, it will only help our international teams. As far as NCAA wrestling, creating these super teams will improve interest in the sport and could move our sport into an actual revenue producing sport. It'll be painful in the short term if our Badgers can't compete, but it'll force the administration to hire better coaching and put more effort into the support of wrestling. I see similarities with swimming in this scenario. Can you imagine if our athletes could make the kind of money that Katie Ledeck and Michael Phelps are making?

npope · July 08, 2024, 01:01:16 PM

Quote from: Ledger on July 08, 2024, 09:10:15 AMI'm feeling a little more optimistic than npope. First, we need to see what these changes actually do to our sport in the next couple of years prior to "firing" everyone. Second, the level of talent we're sending to the Olympics this year is unprecedented, and the USA will most likely win the medal race. In my opinion, with money now on the line, it will only help our international teams. As far as NCAA wrestling, creating these super teams will improve interest in the sport and could move our sport into an actual revenue producing sport. It'll be painful in the short term if our Badgers can't compete, but it'll force the administration to hire better coaching and put more effort into the support of wrestling. I see similarities with swimming in this scenario. Can you imagine if our athletes could make the kind of money that Katie Ledeck and Michael Phelps are making?

I hope you are right, Ledger, but...

As for Olympic success breeding interest at the collegiate level, I'll take your example of swimming. Swimming...and track, and gymnastics, etc. all get good air time during the Olympics - far more than wrestling. If your hypothesis that a good showing at the Olympics contributes to greater interest at the NCAA level is correct, can you tell me which school's team won the NCAA swimming championship this past year (without Googling it)? Gymnastics?

Personally, I think there is a significant disconnect between the Olympics and NCAA sports.

vsmf2010 · July 08, 2024, 02:46:00 PM

The portal and the current NIL usage have definitely taken a piece out of me. Not sure if I am going to renew my season tickets and all my subscriptions yet. I will see how I feel in the coming months.

Looking forward to Olympic wrestling but bummed out the Russians will not be there.

On the positive side. I did receive my settlement check for $93.45 for the Flowrestling class action lawsuit.

Tuco · July 08, 2024, 04:19:27 PM

Quote from: dad 2 5 on July 07, 2024, 12:14:35 PMIf only Mac would read and consider this good insight by those posting on this thread and make a coaching change.

Do you believe we would get a better coach than Bono? And are you sure MacIntosh hasn't shaken the trees for a new coach? UW might not be a hot draw for top notch coaching talent. Hope I am wrong on this

Ledger · July 08, 2024, 04:46:27 PM

Quote from: npope on July 08, 2024, 01:01:16 PM
Quote from: Ledger on July 08, 2024, 09:10:15 AMI'm feeling a little more optimistic than npope. First, we need to see what these changes actually do to our sport in the next couple of years prior to "firing" everyone. Second, the level of talent we're sending to the Olympics this year is unprecedented, and the USA will most likely win the medal race. In my opinion, with money now on the line, it will only help our international teams. As far as NCAA wrestling, creating these super teams will improve interest in the sport and could move our sport into an actual revenue producing sport. It'll be painful in the short term if our Badgers can't compete, but it'll force the administration to hire better coaching and put more effort into the support of wrestling. I see similarities with swimming in this scenario. Can you imagine if our athletes could make the kind of money that Katie Ledeck and Michael Phelps are making?

I hope you are right, Ledger, but...

As for Olympic success breeding interest at the collegiate level, I'll take your example of swimming. Swimming...and track, and gymnastics, etc. all get good air time during the Olympics - far more than wrestling. If your hypothesis that a good showing at the Olympics contributes to greater interest at the NCAA level is correct, can you tell me which school's team won the NCAA swimming championship this past year (without Googling it)? Gymnastics?

Personally, I think there is a significant disconnect between the Olympics and NCAA sports.

Concerning gymnastics, there's another reason I was aware that LSU were the champs, and it wasn't because they were the best team, LOL. I'll admit I didn't know who won the swimming championship, but watching the Olympic trials I noticed the best swimmers are coming from schools such as Virginia and Stanford.

Ledger · July 08, 2024, 04:49:13 PM

Quote from: vsmf2010 on July 08, 2024, 02:46:00 PMThe portal and the current NIL usage have definitely taken a piece out of me. Not sure if I am going to renew my season tickets and all my subscriptions yet. I will see how I feel in the coming months.

Looking forward to Olympic wrestling but bummed out the Russians will not be there.

On the positive side. I did receive my settlement check for $93.45 for the Flowrestling class action lawsuit.

I'm a little bummed about Russia not being there, but I'm not as bummed as we were in 1984. Big difference between the Soviet Union machine and the current Russian team. Also, there are a lot of Russian wrestlers competing for other countries, Akhmed Tazhudinov of Bahrain being the most notable. Plus there will be a lot less doping scandals this year.