Dan Gable on the Best Match at the 1997 NCAA Finals

Iowa Wrestling Coach Dan Gable was on a roll at the 1997 NCAA wrestling championships until this match happened: future Olympic wrestling champion Brandon Slay vs Mike Uker. In a second-round match that ended up being the match of the tournament, Slay took out Uker 12-11.
This clip is from episode 2 of Slaying Saitiev - a 5 part audio documentary that explores Brandon Slay’s improbable win over Russian star, Buvaisar Saitiev, at the 2000 Summer Olympics - a match that is widely considered one of the biggest upsets in Olympic wrestling history.
Listen to all 5 episodes of Slaying Saitiev on the Wrestling Changed My Life Podcast: linktr.ee/WrestlingChangedMyLife

[@samuelgardner5939]

The statement that his practices never go according to plan is really comforting for those of us who are mere mortals in the coaching realm.

[@robertmartin5308]

I saw Dan wrestle while in college. He was at ISU and I was at the university of Nebraska, I was not a wrestler but a football player at UNL. The Big 8 wrestling tournament was held in Lincoln and I got a front row seat to watch this great legend wrestle. Best college wrestler of all time. Thanx for the memories Dan.

[@smurfblue4209]

Uker was my favorite math teacher and coach in high school. To hear a legend like Gable give such praise to him is awesome!

[@Thedjeatsalot]

Brands didn't take over at Iowa till I was a senior in high school. My dad was a season ticket holder so I got to grow up going and watching Gables Hawkeyes. What I truly miss is how Gable talks about, "flying out of his char," I don't feel like that is there anymore. I know there are harsher penalties in today's duals, however I miss the days of seeing that deep intensity out of the coaches. I miss watching Terry Brands dance on the sidelines because of a missed call.

[@ninomartinez1554]

Awesome 👏🏿