University of Oklahoma Head Football Coach Bob Stoops’ Thoughts on Wrestling and Football

 

 

Having played football at the University of Iowa and gotten to know legendary Iowa Coach Dan Gable, I have become a big fan of the sport of wrestling.

 

In addition to enjoying the sport, I am convinced that wrestling as a sport is extremely beneficial to football and believe that high school coaches would benefit greatly by allowing their players to wrestle and by recruiting wrestlers.

 

Wrestling helps develop discipline to stay in one’s stance. Wrestlers also generally have good balance, understand leverage and know how to use their hands. This benefits them in blocking, defending blocks and tackling. Perhaps the greatest benefit of wrestling is developing mental and physical toughness.

 

Many of the top football programs like Nebraska have a number of former wrestlers on their team. We have several and I not only allow, but have encouraged these to wrestle in the off-season.

 

I am a football man, but have the greatest respect for wrestling and all those who compete in wrestling.

 

 

Sincerely,

Bob Stoops

 

 

 

Pass along to any "unenlightened" Football Coaches who do not support wrestling for their team members.  While I was living in State College, PA and watching Penn State Football, the team went 12-0 and won the Big Ten Championships finishing second in the National Rankings to Nebraska.  Of there 33 starters, 11 were former State HS Wrestling Champions and they were the only ones that I new. 
 
Coach Paterno said there were many more of their 105 football players who wrestled and they actively recruit football/wrestling combinations more than any other combination of sports.
 
Al Bevilacqua