The thing about tickets sold is that their arena is the biggest. Hard to argue with the tv ratings, though.
Bo Bassett
- Thread starter Mr.OSU
- Start date
As a Steelers fan, I always watch the Cowboys to see them lose, so ratings are not a perfect measurement tool. A better tool is to look at recruiting. Is the brand good enough to attract elite recruits without buying them?
Eh. Recruiting is a terrible measurement though.
I'd classify "brand" as everything outside of the program. TV ratings, attendance (home AND away), merchandise, social media, ability to be a lightning rod (PAID HATERS!!!!)
So it's definitely still Iowa there. And the argument that it isn't PSU kinda makes the point. PSU is the BEST program since 2011 by a country mile, yet there are more people willing to talk, both negatively and positively about Iowa, regardless of the win column.
I'd say a big part of that is Carl's insistence on not doing much marketing-wise. But that seems to be changing quite a bit.
idk what to tell you guys. if you don't think Iowa Wrestling's 'brand' (by any definition) isn't enormous and as big as any other school's, you're just not a serious person.
You are moving goalposts a little here. Sure Iowa has a brand and a large footprint, but it dwindles each year and I'd say PSU has passed them by. Iowa still gets the clicks just like the Cowboys but clicks aren't always positive.
man come on, you’re the one that’s been moving the goal posts lol. They’ve mentioned tv ratings, attendance, clicks etc and you keep at it. I don’t like it either but Iowa is a bigger brand by all measurements.
This conversation will be moot in a couple years anyway when OSU is back on top and we are constantly filling up GIA with 13k rowdy!
Flo said after the dual. Dual starts at 7 eastern
Of course Iowa is a massive brand. Who is arguing differently?
Can we get back to how we are going to be disappointed tonight about not getting this little hammer?
1) biggest recruit ever! DT is amazing! We are gonna be back on top!
or
2) cant blame the kid for getting paid. Excited to see him wrestle regardless of where he goes
I'm ready for the evening
or
2) cant blame the kid for getting paid. Excited to see him wrestle regardless of where he goes
I'm ready for the evening
Of course I read the thread. Nobody said Iowa wasn't a massive, massive brand. I'm sorry that thinking the team that has dominated the sport for the past 15 years like no other team has dominated a sport is currently the biggest brand offends you. I don't see what is unserious about that thought.
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Well Willie grew up in Pennsylvania attending Penn st duals and was a Penn st fan 1st and since has also become a Nebraska fan as well. But he's smart enough to look at things and understand that Iowa still has the biggest brand. Looks around this message board and the Iowa talk go to Penn st boards and look at the Iowa talk. Iowa has the #1 brand in wrestling and it's not even close. Penn st is kicking everyone's *** and dominating the sport those are facts and Cael is the best coach currently. But that doesn't mean they've the biggest brand
I just don't know that being hateable is a true value add in branding. Iowa loves Iowa and there are other people who fall in love with the brash culture, but on the whole most people cant stand Iowa and want to see them humbled (that brings attention). I watch PSU and I watch their wrestling.. I watch Iowa just to see them lose. I'm younger so I'm sure it started slow with people just not caring for how much Gable won (people always hate long runs), but IMO the current level of hate just comes from the culture TnT have created and also how the fanbase carries itself. Iowa fans arent quite "philly fans" but theyre not far off imo.
I think you will find a less welcoming PSU fanbase once DT really starts to threaten their crown.
My gut says it will.Let’s hope that momentum continues tonight,
Counterpoint for the sake of discussion. Dallas Cowboys are arguably the biggest NFL brand but haven't won the Superbowl since 1990 something. They're consistently mediocre yet have the most money, the most marketing, the most recognizability to casual fans.
Cael's mysterious ways and aloofness keep PSU from being a bigger brand. Winning all the time while also working to erode your sport isn't a good look either for your "brand".
Also doesn't really matter lol so please don't take this is as a challenge. Just interesting to think about what makes a brand.
Don't disagree at all with any of this. I think the Cowboys are a great counter-example. I will say the NFL is so different than College Wrestling. The NFL is all about parity. Teams have runs but no single franchise dominates the way Penn State currently does. If we are sitting here in 10 years and the Chiefs have won 11 out of 15 Super Bowls will we still think of the Cowboys as the biggest brand? Maybe but I don't think it is 100%.
When people think of college wrestling right now the first thing you think of is Penn State.
its not as easy to quantify "brand" in wrestling compared to the pro football analogy because there is not a jersey and memorabilia market so to speak as is the case with pro football. Dallas has been dubbed Americas team in large part to their massive nationwide sales of gear and memorabilia. Just cant compare the same brand because such limited wrestling sporting attire. I'm sure its not even tracked. Iowa has a great attendance base and that is i believe what most base this assertion on.
I could see this. In the wrestling world, Penn State is probably bigger but to all the general public (unknowing), Iowa = wrestling. We’re going to shake up things in the next few years though
yeah. i can confirm this is not true. People still think of Iowa. I'm known as the "wrestling guy" - and i'll have wrestling stuff on when i travel.
The questions are usually - "iowa is the best team right?" "didn't that Cael guy used to wrestle for Iowa?" "the toughest guys come out of Iowa right? Iowa high school wrestling is super tough!"
Never mind that its completely wrong on almost all fronts. But Iowa captured attentions and are the Dallas Cowboys of college wrestling. Carl just doesn't do enough. Which is fine, it isn't his style - but Iowa had a prime time feature on ESPN. Iowa still draws the most views of Flo (docs, practices, etc)
So you combine that history with the sheer amount of "things" that Iowa has gone world-wide for - Metcalf pushing Caldwell, Desanto, Spencer's Mom, "Gable" Steveson - where they made sure to remind everyone WHO he was named after.
It ain't always positive. Iowa doesn't always win the big one - but they're still the biggest brand. That stops the day Carl opens up the chest more. Keeping everything a mystery, does exactly that.
I actually think this has worked into Penn State’s favor. They’ll probably never be the biggest brand, and thus regardless of success, they still always feel like the underdog against mighty Iowa.
Yep.
If you ask the median fan on the street of say the big 4 sports what wrestling program has won 11/14 titles, they’ll say Iowa.
The goalpost moving is hilarious. Iowa gets clicks because everyone hates them. Literally. No one respects them anymore as a school that does things the right way. I guess if Iowa wants the title of biggest brand, I'll gladly give it to them and take second prize as the best wrestling team (no offense OSU).
I can respect Iowa wrestling, but still do not like them. Their fans show up and pay attention. A lot to be admired. Heck, David Taylor's wife really liked that Oklahoma Sate paid attention to wrestling. She commented that Penn State did not care about wrestling as it was all football. Iowa and Oklahoma State are focused a bit more on wrestling. Cael has a log of talent in his backyard and has done a lot with it!
Well, they do benefit in the views and click category extremely well on their own accord.
They have a large fanbase and they participate in everything Iowa Wrestling. They are also the most hated, which generates clicks as well.
So, to say they aren't a large brand or the biggest brand is really hard to argue. Will I say the largest, nope, but if you add in all those that hate them too, I would say the viewing of them is the largest.
This kind of proves you are in an Iowa/wrestling bubble. The notion that Desanto and Spencer's mom are world- wide is silly. No one outside of the wrestling community knows a thing about Austin DeSanto.
I got told that, but it didn’t make logical sense to me. Message board rumor relayed from flo.