From the corner chair

Olympics need Mike Zadick

Terry Brands, the former University of Iowa standout and current USA Wrestling national team coach, told me last week that another former Hawkeye, Mike Zadick, may yet be wrestling in the Olympics next month.

That would be great to see.

Zadick won the Olympic Trials in Las Vegas, earning a berth on the U.S. team. But the U.S. failed to qualify his weight, leaving his status up in the air.

Later, China got all the wild-card spots, likely ending Zadick's hope. But there is hope, Brands said.

Zadick will go to the Olympic Games and be "on weight." If someone at his weight is injured or misses weight, Zadick will wrestle.

Zadick said today he is confident that will happen.

"I'm training and I'm getting ready and hoping for the best," he said in a phone conversation from Colorado Springs, where he's training. "I feel I was meant to and supposed to."

Let's all hope Zadick - a World silver medalist - gets his wish.

Where's UNI?

InterMat just released it's Top 30 college wrestling recruiting classes. The University of Northern Iowa did not make the list.

Brad Penrith is a great guy and was a great wrestler, but he's struggled as coach at UNI the past several years. The Panthers seemed to turn the corner a bit in March when Moza Fay earned all-American honors, ending a three-year AA drought.

But, if this ranking holds true down the road, Penrith may be in trouble. These rankings, quite honestly, are useless for the most part. Some of Dan Gable's greatest teams at Iowa were never ranked as recruits.

What you do with those recruits when they enter your room is what matters most. That's where Penrith has to make his mark and, I'm guessing, make it quickly.

Are 2 Brands better than 1?

Is Terry Brands coming back to the University of Iowa? And is Steve Mocco coming with him?

Message boards have been active with this scenario since Wes Hand announced he was stepping down as an assistant wrestling coach at Iowa, leaving head coach Tom Brands with two assistants jobs to fill.

John Oostendorp has been mentioned, but he told me today he has not been contacted. Lee Fullhart? Another interesting possibility since it looks like his competitive days are over.

But the Brands-Mocco return is getting the most attention – and there may be something to it.

Terry said today he has not been contacted by Iowa, but has heard the rumors, too. Mocco has not returned a couple of phone calls or an e-mail, but Terry said “I know Mocco likes Iowa City. I know he likes Stillwater (Okla.). I know he likes Colorado Springs.”

He did not deny the possibility.

“You never know,” he said.

So what do you think? Can Tom and Terry work together? Will Mocco be greeted with open arms after leaving the Hawkeye program after two years (and one NCAA title) to rival Oklahoma State?

The hire would make some sense and give Tom Brands one heck of a staff – Doug Schwab and Mike Zadick, included.