Jason Bryant

[figure4 40]

You are my hero.  I don't know how you were able to pull this off. 

 

http://www.mattalkonline.com/podcast/short-time/st156-cleveland-state-athletic-director-john-parry-talks-about-the-future-discontinuation-of-wrestling/

[Billyhoyle 2,475]

Parry comes off from this interview looking clueless.   A couple of things that stood out:

 

-He dropped the program based off of "national trends" and no hard data that suggest it will apply in Ohio.

 

- He hopes to attract students from the "outer Cleveland ring."  What does that mean?  That's the type of statement that you can really use to fire up the local community/politicians.  There are strong racial and class undertones in that statement.  What is wrong with the students from the local area...the ones the university is meant to support?   

 

-The reason he says he is forcing wrestling to find funding but not lacrosse despite wrestling being established is because he feels it has a better chance of fundraising because there are alumni/a strong local community....Quite backwards logic there! Hmmm...We have a strong alumni base, so lets try to alienate them and force them to cough up money so that he can add a sport where there is no need.  

 

JB did a great job getting this guy to go on record before he really had time to formulate a logical strategy/thought process.  He essentially admitted that the decision was whimsical and not thought out.  

 

This AD is in over his head and needs to be fired ASAP.  

[madcat11 434]

Way to go, JB.

[cornercoach 448]

.... you held his feet to the fire- awesome!!! ...

[silver-medal 670]

Thank you JB for immediately stepping forward as a leader in this fight.  

[hammer 13]

great report JB, nicely laid out, and skewered

[RealAmericanHero 127]

JB: Excellent work

 

I echo Billyholye's entire post. 

[Pinnum 836]

Any chance there is a transcript?

 

I haven't had the chance to listen yet but would really like to be able to pull out and cite any interesting quotes.

[jammen 336]

Kudos to JB for being so well prepared.  Parry must have thought that he was on "60 Minutes", tough questions being professionally delivered.

[thefatman 34]

Way to step up, Jason. Wish more wrestling "media" would take this approach.

[PhiferFuqua 187]

Terrific job on the Pucillo story, and now this. That's a solid couple of weeks, JB.

[pipewrench 71]

I'll add to the kudos.   Nice work, JB.  You are a credit to your profession and sport.

[tommygun 52]

Grilled the dude! Love it.

[hammerlockthree 2,587]

must listen. Share it on Facebook

[Billyhoyle 2,475]

Another interesting line in this audio is at 8:00 where he calls men's and women's fencing "virtually club sports."  Is that something an AD would say who supports his student athletes?  

[PAFAN01 54]

I think the folks in Ohio will be grilling him also.  Gave no valid reason for funding lacrosse other than to say he was a former lacrosse coach.  Once again the 1% get richer.

[Abovetheline1 1]

Great job thank you

[SetonHallPirate 988]

Agreed with the other statements...great job JB!

Edited April 2, 2015 by SetonHallPirate

[cjc007 774]

..nice job JB. 

[MSU158 1,984]

PAFAN01,

 

 

Although I understand your argument, It's a bit much putting the AD of a State School like CSU into the heavily criticized "1%" category.  I would be willing to bet there are quite a few DI wrestling coaches, let alone revenue sports coaches, that make more money than he does. 

 

Also, I don't think CSU adding Lacrosse is going to make any Uber Rich people richer.........

[Tofurky 611]

I didn't hear the whole thing, but that was some excellent work. You should consider law school.

Edited April 2, 2015 by Tofurky

[denny 216]

Thanks JB.

 

I am thankful that we have you as one of the premier advocates for our sport. Very nice preparation. Good delivery.

[Pinnum 836]

Was just able to listen to it! I can't believe some of the things Parry alluded to or outright said... Anyone in the Vikings athletic department not vested in Lax should be a little concerned right now.

[MadMardigain 1,596]

I commend the AD for his willingness to take the interview, but he didn't provide to many responses that would really help his case. It's worth sending this interview with your e-mails to anyone who has a stake in the matter (board members, the school president, important alumni, etc.). Most of those people don't want to hear a long rant from wrestling fans about this, especially after the first several come in. But just asking them kindly to take the time to listen to the AD own word on the topic would do a lot to show them his skewed logic in this decision.

Edited April 3, 2015 by MadMardigain

[Jaroslav Hasek 2,047]

first, great interview by Jason. second, pretty weak responses from this Parry guy. he's the supposed expert but i'm having a real tough time buying into his lacrosse strategy. and i like lacrosse. 

 

the whole athletic department sounds sorry, to be honest. men's and women's fencing? and sometimes they don't have enough participants to be NCAA eligible? thats pitiful. 

 

i think women's wrestling programs are the best defense for at risk programs. every school in the lower half of the tournament should start pitching a program to their AD and some of the best funded programs should take a leadership role in helping start them as well. that is the entity of my soap box pitch, not trying to threadjack.