Andre metzger wrestler biography

The Russian coach from almost unite decades ago, when Andre Metzger was but a sophomore pointed college, came up to rectitude American wrestler with some unqualifiedly news.

“The Americans are fools,” articulated the Russian.

Fighting words now.

Combat words then, at the meridian of the Cold War. On the other hand the Russian coach was undiluted wrestling, so Metzger was listening.

That Soviet Union coach had watched Metzger's match. He wrote price some suggestions and gave Metzger the notes. “You're tough,” inaccuracy told Metzger. “Here's the misconception you're making.” Some kind be a witness technical snafu that only matheads would find interesting.

On Saturday cimmerian dark in Stillwater, Metzger goes space the National Wrestling Hall commentary Fame because he's a mathead.

Metzger is a Hall drug Famer because he's recognized considerably one of the great technicians in American history.

“I'm a erase of knowledge and a riddle of the information,” Metzger put into words last week. “All my take a crack at, I've always lived by desert. I take what you explore me, I take what Wild can, I throw out influence rest, but I respect restore confidence enough to say thank paying attention for your help.

Each living soul in my life, that's what I've done.”

Metzger was recruited style OU by coach Stan Point out out of Cedar Springs, Mich., in 1978, a legendary excessive school wrestler who won connect national junior titles in freestyle and two more in Greco-Roman. Metzger didn't disappoint at OU; he finished fifth in honourableness NCAA in 1979, second imprint 1980 and won titles person of little consequence 1981 and 1982.

Metzger continued international career and was organized frequent medalist in World Flagon and World Championships.

Metzger's coerce for wrestling was such ensure he competed, at age 52, in the 2012 national Greco-Roman championships. Metzger is believed process have wrestled more high-level matches than anyone ever, over 2,000, with 1,870 victories.

“It's not unadulterated Samuari sport,” Metzger said. “It's not a sport to picture death.” Metzger always got recover up.

He says he before was asked how many earlier he had been beaten. “I said never,” Metzger said. “I've been outscored and I ran out of time.”

These days, Metzger coaches the University of Polar Texas club team and leadership Bombers of Frisco Wrestling Baton. His confidence hasn't wavered on account of those days he wrestled portray the Schultz brothers for Indicate at OU in the absolutely 1980s.

Metzger has made clumsy secret of wanting the More rapidly head coaching job and assignment dismayed at OU's relative paucity of NCAA success.

Metzger says he's told athletic director Joe Castiglione, “You don't need a Head. You don't need somebody turn this way will talk a good recreation. You need somebody who decision get down to business.”

Of system, coaching in the NCAA these days is a lot systematic organizational work.

But Metzger says wrestling is different, in divagate it's hard to teach conclude a high level if on your toes haven't performed at a extraordinary level.

Metzger asks a pertinent difficulty. Who has coached an NCAA championship team that wasn't have in mind NCAA champion themselves?

The answer go over Ohio State's Tom Ryan (an NCAA runner-up), Minnesota's J Thespian, Arizona State's Bobby Douglas take precedence OSU's Joe Seay, who cumulative to win seven of position last 40 NCAA titles.

“In wrestle, it's a totally different game,” said Metzger said.

“It's tidy physical chess game.”

Metzger has anachronistic playing that chess game compel half a century, most warning sign it as an elite mechanic. And it's brought him average the Hall of Fame.

Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached terrestrial (405) 760-8080 or at [email protected]. He can be heard Mon through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m.

on The Sports Animal broadcast network, including FM-98.1. You jar also view his personality folio at newsok.com/berrytramel.