From the corner chair

All-Star Iowa

The 43rd annual NWCA All-Star Classic is shaping up like a University of Iowa dual.

Five members of the defending champion Hawkeye wrestling team are scheduled to wrestle - Charlie Falck at 125 pounds, Joey Slaton at 133, Brent Metcalf at 149, Jay Borschel at 174 and Phil Keddy at 184.

That's impressive, even by Iowa wrestling's lofty standards.

Throw in two Iowa State wrestlers - Nick Gallick at 141 and Jake Varner at 197 - and UNI's Moza Fay in an exhibition at 165 and the state of Iowa is pretty well represented.

It looks like Iowa is wrestling state once again.

Out of sight, out of ...

One of the best coaching jobs in the sport of wrestling is going on right now in Cedar Rapids.

It's a shame Division III wrestling doesn't have the appeal of its bigger D-I counterparts or that wrestling in general doesn't have the wide appeal like football and other "ball" sports.

But what John Oostendorp has done at Coe College is remarkable.

It's taken time, maybe too much time for some, including Oostendorp. But that tells me he has done it the right way.

Coe begins this wrestling season ranked No. 4, behind Wartburg, Augsburg (Minn.) and Delaware Valley College.

The new Brute-ADIDAS NWCA poll was released today and Oostendorp has his Kohawks in the mix - again.

A former hurdler and, of course, wrestler at West Liberty High School (he also starred in football), Oostendorp was a standout on the Iowa wrestling team many years ago. He's been working, molding and building Coe for several years now and finally has the Kohawks in contention - every year.

That's what he wanted. He didn't want to be good this year, bad the next - good for three years, build for three more. He wanted a contender each and every year.

Coe still may not challenge the Wartburgs or Augusburgs of the D-III wrestling world, but with Oostendorp at the helm it very well could.

It's showdown time

The first USA Today/InterMat/NWCA Division I wrestling rankings are out and, guess what, Iowa and Iowa State are ranked 1-2.

The defending NCAA champion Hawkeyes garnered all 11 first-place votes and totaled 275 points. The Cylcones are second with 256.

Mark your calendars. Thet two teams are scheduled to meet in Iowa City on Dec. 6, starting at 7 p.m.

Is a sellout possible? I would hope so.

Northern Iowa also made the preseason at No. 24 and Moza Fay, one of the best wrestlers and a great kid, is ranked third at 165.

Iowa's Joe Slaton at 133 and Brent Metcalf at 149 both are ranked No. 1. The guess here is that Slaton won't lose this season. Seeing his face after his championship loss last March showed a wrestler who is determined never to feel that way again.

Hey, it's only October, but wrestling fans have to be excited about this season in Iowa.

Week 8 already?

That's right, folks, it's Week 8 in for high school football teams, meaning there is one week left before "substate" action hits the fields of Iowa on Oct. 29.

This whole substate deal had people scracthing their heads when it was announced last year. What other reason but money would the IHSAA have in increasing the playoff field size, some wondered.

Well, here we are and, surprise, it looks like a great deal for teams that have struggled for years or are struggling to get a little of their past tradition back.

Take a look at Cedar Rapids Jefferson. The J-Hawks beat Linn-Mar at Kingston Stadium last night and look to be headed for a 10th game.

Players and coaches talked all week, Jeff Dahn's story noted, about playing for that 10th game. What great motivation and what a great story - Jefferson will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

There are a lot of Jefferson's out there, a lot of teams that would never had made the playoff field in the past, but now have a chance.

While some may say teams like Jefferson don't deserve a playoff berth, try telling that to the coaches and players you worked hard all summer getting ready for this season.

This is what high school athletics are all about -motivating athletes to get better and have a little success along the way.

Long and short on Long

You all remember Chuck Long? The Golden Boy quarterback who could do no wrong in the early 1980s at the University of Iowa?

If you've been following Long's coaching career, you know he's the head coach at San Diego State, which is struggling at 1-4 this season.

He's not as loved in San Diego as he was here, at least not by San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa.

Here's what Canepa wrote about Long in Wednesday's edition:

"Fact is, State's program hasn't improved under coach Chuck Long. It's gotten worse where it matters most. I don't believe he honestly can deny it.

"He's been a player and a coach. He knows the drill. Long didn't take over anything close to Ohio State, but we know it can get better. It's happened at Vanderbilt. At South Florida. Boise State has become a power. Several others at least have shown a pulse rate.

"And very few have what San Diego State has to offer, not in climate, not in facilities and not in location, where the university, at which academics has improved dramatically, sits in an oil field of football talent, where it's one of but three that play large-school football in Southern California.

"There's something wrong. Don't tell me there isn't."

In the column, Long said things are getting better, players are improving. But Canepa, and I'm sure many fans, are wondering if Long can get it done.

Welcome home, Terry

Terry Brands made it official last night when he called to say he was "coming home" and excited to be doing so.

Terry will add another layer of intensity to the Iowa wrestling room, making the Hawekeyes even tougher - mentally and physcially.

I have to admit I was a little worried about the Brands brothers in the same room, but Terry said there will be no problems. And after taking to him - he joked the only time he worries about it is when others bring it up - I believe him.

This may not always be a perfect marriage, but does that really ever exist?

Terry said Steve Mocco, the former Hawkeye-Oklahoma State wrestler who was rumored to be joining him in Iowa City, will have to make his own decision. If Mocco wants to come to Iowa City and join the Hawkeye Wrestling Club, Terry said he would be welcome.

We'll have to wait and see, I guess.

Anyhow, good luck to the Brands brothers. Although neither will say it publicly, I have a gut feeling this is a "dream team" they talked about as youngsters growing up in Sheldon.