Inspired by Moonlight Graham from The Field of Dreams, our podcast aspires to capture some of the best stories from sports heard directly from the athletes and figures who experienced them.Read more »
Inspired by Moonlight Graham from The Field of Dreams, our podcast aspires to capture some of the best stories from sports heard directly from the athletes and figures who experienced them.Read Less
"My preparation was all week long, every week."
Dan Gable grew up in Waterloo, IA and toughness was just a part of the way he grew up. He grew up as a wrestler and credits the coaches he had in a youth program. Wrestling was the sport where he didn’t have to sit still or take breaks. Even in the conversation, Gable’s intensity and pace clearly show. Gable was undefeated as a wrestler through high school and into the final match of his college career. Tim asks Gable about that historic match against Larry Owings of Washington.
Gable believes that loss to Owings helped drive him into throughout his career after college, including a 7-1 victory in the rematch with Owings in the 1972 Olympic trials. Gable’s dominance of Iowa high school wrestling and college wrestling carried into the world stage with gold at the 1971 Pan-American Games, the 1971 Worlds, and the ‘72 Olympics. Gable famously didn’t give up a single point in the ‘72 games. The one point Owings scored against Gable in the trials was the only point he gave up in that run to gold.
Throughout the interview, Gable’s respect for his parents and coaches is a common theme. His transition from the center of the mat to the corner was guided by those examples in his own life. As the Hawkeye coach, he looked for the right attitude on top of wrestling success and athletic ability in the wrestlers he recruited. In 21 seasons at the helm of the Iowa program, he won 21 conference titles and 15 national titles. Hawkeye wrestling has taken on Gable’s identity for toughness and absolutely grinding on opponents. Tom Brands, a Gable product, has brought that identity back to the #3 Hawkeyes who are looking to knock off Penn State at this week’s National Championships.