OT: Rutgers Wrestling Gets 5,500

[HeavenUniv.]

WOW! That is a crowd of 5,500 vs Maryland. Not vs Iowa or Oklahoma State or Penn State or Ohio State, but against a lower school. Amazing what Coach Goodale has done at Rutgers. I think he has said the first match he coached at Rutgers drew less than 100 people.

 

[RUskoolie]

5 years ago that was about the crowd for Pedo St or Iowa. Impressive.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

I’m a first-time season-ticket holder, and the atmosphere is a blast. Wrestling fans are like hockey fans in that the sport isn’t as popular as some others, but those who follow it really know their stuff. I’m a relative newby to wrestling styles and technique and conditioning and strategy, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the sport. The fact that we draw crowds that place is in the top five nationally in attendance attests to how much of an appetite there is in NJ for higher-level athletics. It’s a virtuous cycle—do reasonably well and fans will come, which causes recruits to want to wrestle for Rutgers, which generates higher attendance. We are a young team this year, and from what I can tell with recruiting and current grappler development, the future is bright.

 

[tru2ru1]

I’m a first-time season-ticket holder, and the atmosphere is a blast. Wrestling fans are like hockey fans in that the sport isn’t as popular as some others, but those who follow it really know their stuff. I’m a relative newby to wrestling styles and technique and conditioning and strategy, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the sport. The fact that we draw crowds that place is in the top five nationally in attendance attests to how much of an appetite there is in NJ for higher-level athletics. It’s a virtuous cycle—do reasonably well and fans will come, which causes recruits to want to wrestle for Rutgers, which generates higher attendance. We are a young team this year, and from what I can tell with recruiting and current grappler development, the future is bright.

Actually the atmosphere last night was rather tame in comparison to many prior RAC matches, you will enjoy it when the RAC really starts to rock for wrestling!

 

[RUScrew85]

I’m a first-time season-ticket holder, and the atmosphere is a blast. Wrestling fans are like hockey fans in that the sport isn’t as popular as some others, but those who follow it really know their stuff. I’m a relative newby to wrestling styles and technique and conditioning and strategy, and I’m looking forward to learning more about the sport. The fact that we draw crowds that place is in the top five nationally in attendance attests to how much of an appetite there is in NJ for higher-level athletics. It’s a virtuous cycle—do reasonably well and fans will come, which causes recruits to want to wrestle for Rutgers, which generates higher attendance. We are a young team this year, and from what I can tell with recruiting and current grappler development, the future is bright.

Still get queasy thinking of those Chili Cheese Fries I had - Barf.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

Still get queasy thinking of those Chili Cheese Fries I had - Barf.

@RUScrew85 I was gonna start a thread....

 

[RutgersRaRa]

Actually the atmosphere last night was rather tame in comparison to many prior RAC matches, you will enjoy it when the RAC really starts to rock for wrestling!

Yeah, I picked up on that. I was at the Oklahoma State match last year since an acquaintance has something like ten season-tickets, and it was electric. There were moments in the match where the crowd got into it, but I could tell it was more subdued. There was a really funny moment during one of the matches, though. The Maryland coach was trying to explain something to the ref, which eventually delayed the start of a new match or the resumption of the current one. He had been whining the entire match, seemingly about everything he could think of. When he was demonstrating to the ref what his question/problem was, he got right next to the ref and put his arm around him to explain what he thought our wrestler had done that was illegal. About two seconds later someone on the other side of the RAC, at a perfect moment in which the whole crowd was quiet, yelled, "Stop trying to hug the ref!!' It was a perfect delivery at a perfect moment, and I had one of those momentary belly laughs. Ya gotta love this part of sports.

 

[Abro1975]

The Cornell match on Jan 17 will be the best home dual of the season, The Big10 Tourney at RU in march will be terrific. And Michigan at the Garden should be fun as well.

 

[RUScrew85]

@RUScrew85 I was gonna start a thread....

Henry's Diner - skip it.

 

[newwavedave1]

The Cornell match on Jan 17 will be the best home dual of the season, The Big10 Tourney at RU in march will be terrific. And Michigan at the Garden should be fun as well.

Please tell me you were at the match.

 

[MGSA99]

What is happening at the RAC is the antithesis of the wine and cheese crowds of UNC basketball and ND football. Newer, younger fanbases are just more vocal and intense, and that creates an electric atmosphere.

 

[50 yd line RR]

WOW! That is a crowd of 5,500 vs Maryland. Not vs Iowa or Oklahoma State or Penn State or Ohio State, but against a lower school. Amazing what Coach Goodale has done at Rutgers. I think he has said the first match he coached at Rutgers drew less than 100 people.

Heard one of his interviews. I think he said 22 people were in attendance for his first match at RU.

 

[CJ1987]

I was there on Saturday and I attended three matches last year, this one against Maryland was the most calm crowd of the four but I think the score played a major part. Match was never in doubt.

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

yep, this is what the program was just 7 years ago:

 

[Scarlet_Scourge]

 

[koleszar]

One thing I will ***** about. Who thought it would be a good idea to put the entrances to season parking pass holders right next to paid parking. There is another entrance but they chose to close that off. It took a while to get in because as soon as paid parking backed up(understandable counting change) season parking pass holders couldn't get to their lot. Pretty fvcking stupid set up.

 

[RU Diesel07110]

No one mentioned Coluccis CHOP after his match!

 

[HeavenUniv.]

One thing I will ***** about. Who thought it would be a good idea to put the entrances to season parking pass holders right next to paid parking. There is another entrance but they chose to close that off. It took a while to get in because as soon as paid parking backed up(understandable counting change) season parking pass holders couldn't get to their lot. Pretty fvcking stupid set up.

Pay for parking ?

 

[KnightFan]

Goodale has done an amazing job building wrestling. It is a top program and is enormously enjoyable to watch. I strongly recommend checking it out