Originally published at: https://pistolsfiringblog.com/osu-wrestling-attendance-nearing-13-year-high-this-season/
A look at attendance numbers and what OSU needs to match recent marks.
Reading this article about Cowboy attendance for wrestling and stating that fans should embrace wrestling more seems mind boggling to me who became a Cowboy wrestling fan 54 years ago. During the Myron Roderick era there was no need to try to drum up business. The Cowboy wrestlers then had almost the status of Hollywood celebrities. Well, at least to the coeds! And for big dual matches such as Bedlam and Iowa State they had to use a lottery system to see which students could attend those matches. Standing room only for those important matches when Gallagher Hall held 6,000 and it got so loud that you could not hear yourself think and you felt your sternum vibrate when all those happy feet were stomping on those bleachers. There was then no need to try to motivate students to embrace the sport. It was like Penn State is now. At the top of a dynasty. Then a young coach named Dan Gable came along and that is when things started to change and OSU under Tommy Chesbro had great dual match teams but won only one NCAA tournament and then went 17 years without a national title. Then they brought in a great Division ll coach, Joe Seay who won a few national titles until he had to leave coaching for awhile. So I guess the interest in Cowboy wrestling dropped a few levels after the dynasty fizzled out. I think if Cowboy wrestling ever climbs back to the top for awhile then the students will once again embrace the sport and boost attendance figures. Even without winning it all the lineup starting next season should set a record for attendance. Daton Fix will have a good supporting cast for his performances now. It has been a very strange experience as of late seeing no individual OSU national champions some years. I think when there is a lack of enough full scholarships that is what happens.