Full Transcript for 2024 Tribute & Induction: Coleman Scott, Distinguished Member

excellence. However, every champion has 36 00:02:26.479 --> 00:02:29.800 setbacks on their way to the top, and I'm reminded 37 00:02:29.840 --> 00:02:32.719 of a time when Coleman a young freshman. We were 38 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:36.599 wrestling at the Iron Man Tournament at Walsh Jesuit, and 39 00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:41.120 Coleman was paired up against a senior who was already 40 00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:44.680 committed to a large Division I college and at the 41 00:02:44.759 --> 00:02:47.800 end of two periods. It was not going well for Coleman, 42 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.280 but it was his choice. He looked to the side, 43 00:02:51.599 --> 00:02:58.879 I said, neutral bottom top, I said, Coleman, that's all 44 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:00.960 there is. I'll cycle back through them if you want. 45 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:07.680 We also went to the Beast of the East tournament. 46 00:03:07.719 --> 00:03:10.919 We used to do the trifecta. I don't recommend it. 47 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:14.439 We would do Ironman, Beast and Power aid that's a 48 00:03:14.520 --> 00:03:17.639 tough couple of weeks. But the Beast of the East 49 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:21.879 I kind of saw a little bit of Coleman's prankster side. 50 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:22.240 Say. 51 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.840 I had a thing I would do to kind of 52 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:27.280 lighten the mood with my athletes when we would travel. 53 00:03:27.560 --> 00:03:30.039 I would sneak into their bags and maybe remove one 54 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:33.360 wrestling shoe, and then I'd say, okay, guys, after weighing's 55 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:35.319 time to get dressed. We got to warm up, and 56 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:38.000 I'd sit back and watch the guy look in the bag, 57 00:03:38.080 --> 00:03:40.599 look around, look in the bag, look around. Well I 58 00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:42.439 never did that to Coleman, but when we got to 59 00:03:42.479 --> 00:03:44.199 the Beast of the East it was a three day trip. 60 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:46.919 I got back to the hotel and somehow I had 61 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:51.159 failed to pack socks and underwear for a three day trip, 62 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:54.680 called my wife, Hey, did I really not pack socks 63 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:58.479 and underwear? Well, words started getting around, Hey, coach, you 64 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:01.080 might want to go check Coleman in his roommate. They 65 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:03.919 might have had something to do with it. So I 66 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:06.520 go to their hotel room and there they are in 67 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:10.199 bed with pizza boxes on their chest, eating, and I said, 68 00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:11.560 where's my socks at underwear? 69 00:04:11.639 --> 00:04:12.439 They said nothing. 70 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:14.879 So I grabbed the bottom of this double bed and 71 00:04:14.919 --> 00:04:17.160 picked it up off the floor and started shaking it, 72 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:18.879 and they said, they're in the ceiling. 73 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:19.680 They're in the ceiling. 74 00:04:20.839 --> 00:04:22.759 Sure enough, they had stood on the bed, removed the 75 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:26.000 ceiling tile and put my socks in underwear in there. 76 00:04:27.000 --> 00:04:30.079 Now I was kind of mad, but I got over 77 00:04:30.120 --> 00:04:32.079 it when Coleman won the Beast of the East the 78 00:04:32.160 --> 00:04:36.720 next day, and the way he won it was kind 79 00:04:36.759 --> 00:04:40.319 of a signature trademark move that he kind of invented, 80 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:42.399 one of those moves you can't teach in the wrestling room. 81 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:46.639 He's down two to one third period on bottom, struggling 82 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:51.480 to get out, Coleman goes short sit, starts turning his 83 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:54.120 feet like a jack rabbit, reaches for the head hip. 84 00:04:54.160 --> 00:04:56.079 HEISCE two and two wins the Beast of the East. 85 00:04:57.199 --> 00:05:00.920 About three months later, he's in the state finals, third period, 86 00:05:01.839 --> 00:05:07.560 trailing on bottom and maybe ten seconds fifteen I can't recall, 87 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:13.079 but Coleman goes short set and he was facing our 88 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:15.759 corner and he goes short set and he kind of 89 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:18.639 made eye contact with me, and I said to my assistant, 90 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:23.000 we got this. Coleman goes pressure back, feet churning like 91 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.360 a jack rabbit, grab the head hip pace. 92 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.120 Two and two wins the state title. 93 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:33.199 So every coach hopes to have an athlete like Coleman. 94 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:38.000 Every coach knows that watching your wrestler continue to achieve 95 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:42.279 and succeed at every level is more rewarding than any 96 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:44.959 trophy we bring back and put in a trophy case. 97 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:48.800 This is why we continue to coach the sport that 98 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:49.319 we love. 99 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:51.079 So do you Coleman. 100 00:05:51.240 --> 00:05:56.360 Congratulations on being so recognized for your accomplishments that your 101 00:05:56.439 --> 00:05:59.839 name and face are forever to be enshrined in the 102 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:03.560 greatest hall of fame that our sport has. You truly 103 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.000 deserve to be among the greatest wrestlers of all time. 104 00:06:17.560 --> 00:06:21.240 Thank you, Coach Yates. Next we'll hear from former teammate 105 00:06:21.839 --> 00:06:25.160 and longtime friend Neil Irschmann. 106 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:32.839 Thank you. First. 107 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:35.240 I'd like to start to say that I want to 108 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:38.199 throw the brick at Leroy for giving me only five 109 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:40.800 minutes as

a coach and talk about my greatest friend. 110 00:06:41.079 --> 00:06:41.839 That's not cool. 111 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:45.800 We can change that in the future maybe, But I 112 00:06:45.839 --> 00:06:48.759 want to start off by saying thank you. Thank you 113 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:53.319 to Coleman for giving me this great honor to be here, 114 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:56.279 to be a part of this, to get to speak 115 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.759 on your behalf. Thank you to Coleman and Jess for 116 00:07:00.399 --> 00:07:02.439 being a part of our family and allowing us to 117 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:05.160 be a part of your family. It's been a big privilege, 118 00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:10.000 not just to call you friends but family. An Ecclesiasts 119 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:14.199 Ecclesiastes three one through eight, it talks about there's a 120 00:07:14.279 --> 00:07:18.759 time and a season and a purpose under heaven. I 121 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:21.040 won't read the whole scripture, but I will get back 122 00:07:21.079 --> 00:07:23.560 to it. Coleman and I have been through a lot 123 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:26.519 of seasons and a lot of times in life, thick 124 00:07:26.519 --> 00:07:29.720 and thin, sometimes extra thin when he was making fifty 125 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:34.360 seven kilos. But there's not much that we really haven't 126 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:40.879 been through, you know, whether it be friends, teammates, coaches, colleagues, family, 127 00:07:41.079 --> 00:07:44.680 that we've really experienced a lot together. And today I'm 128 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:46.279 not going to tell a bunch of stories. I will 129 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.279 tell a few, but I really want to talk about 130 00:07:48.319 --> 00:07:52.839 the traits that, you know, really make up Coleman, who 131 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:55.360 he is as a person, and the things that I 132 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:59.920 know about him. First, the word believe comes to mind 133 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:04.279 when I think about Coleman's belief in himself. I think 134 00:08:04.319 --> 00:08:07.240 of a funny story that I heard Jamie tell one time. 135 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:10.920 He said, you know, Coach is coming to the house. 136 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:14.839 You are absolutely not committing. And you know, Coleman always 137 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:17.560 believed in himself, and the first thing he did was 138 00:08:17.600 --> 00:08:21.399 commit before Coach left the house. So he's believed in 139 00:08:21.480 --> 00:08:24.399 himself since day one. I remember watching him wrestle at Fargo, 140 00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:27.680 and you know, watching him on the stage, and I 141 00:08:27.720 --> 00:08:29.600 was like, this, dude just believes he's gonna win, you know. 142 00:08:29.639 --> 00:08:30.879 And that was before I knew it was going to 143 00:08:30.920 --> 00:08:33.919 be teammates with him. To come in and to start 144 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:36.840 as a true freshman and be an All American takes 145 00:08:36.840 --> 00:08:37.519 a lot of belief. 146 00:08:38.639 --> 00:08:40.000 To continue to go on. 147 00:08:41.759 --> 00:08:45.039 To lose in the national finals and come back and 148 00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:49.039 be a national champion takes a lot of belief. His 149 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:54.240 belief was more than just in himself. He took a 150 00:08:54.279 --> 00:08:57.039 guy that fell a little bit short in his dreams 151 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:01.000 and his goals and believed in him and brought him 152 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:03.960 along and helped me get to where I am today. 153 00:09:04.919 --> 00:09:10.840 Next would be discipline. I got to live out Coleman's 154 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:14.120 career with him on a day to day basis and 155 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:17.919 watching the discipline that it took. You know, college is 156 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:20.519 one thing, but when you graduate and you're going to 157 00:09:20.559 --> 00:09:24.519 trying to make a world team, you're a dad. It 158 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:26.840 becomes a very very hard thing to do to wake 159 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:29.759 up every single day and do the mundane and do 160 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:30.720 the things. 161 00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:32.799 That are very very difficult. He would drop his daughter 162 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:33.840 off at our house. 163 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:36.879 He would go, well, we would go and he would train, 164 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:39.200 and I would watch him do the same thing over 165 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:42.240 and over every single day until he made that Olympic 166 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:50.159 team and got his medal. Watching that made me realize 167 00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:54.120 how locked in and tuned in he was with himself 168 00:09:54.960 --> 00:09:56.840 and the things that he had to do around him 169 00:09:56.840 --> 00:09:58.360 on a daily basis. He had to say no to 170 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.200 a lot to make that happen. 171 00:10:02.120 --> 00:10:04.000 Number three would be leadership. 172 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:06.919 In two thousand and six, I entered Oklahoma State as 173 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:09.440 a freshman I was from a small town in Kansas, 174 00:10:09.679 --> 00:10:12.320 and I was in the number one recruiting class in 175 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:16.200 the country, and there were fourteen student athletes in my class, 176 00:10:16.879 --> 00:10:20.159 and I remember Coleman and a couple of the other 177 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:23.440 older guys pulled me aside and they said, you're different. 178 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:27.559 These guys aren't going to make it. Separate yourself, get 179 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:31.759 away from them. And that was my first seeing him 180 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.000 be a leader in any sorts. Well turns out I 181 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:36.840 was the only one of fourteen to actually make it 182 00:10:36.840 -->

00:10:39.519 out of that class, and so he has a great eye, 183 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:42.480 you know, for how to help people and how to 184 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:46.320 guide people. Fast forward about you know, a year later, 185 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:49.159 in two thousand and seven, I was wrestling my first bedroom. 186 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:52.279 I don't even know if he remembers this. I lose, 187 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:55.200 which you don't lose in bedlam, let alone any match, 188 00:10:56.440 --> 00:10:58.559 and I dropped my head at the end of the match, 189 00:10:59.799 --> 00:11:02.159 and I remember I walked off and I'm not going 190 00:11:02.200 --> 00:11:04.600 to repeat everything he said to me. He's my teammate 191 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:07.440 at the time, not my coach, by the way, and 192 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:10.919 he said something was explicit, explicit, explicit. Don't you ever 193 00:11:10.960 --> 00:11:13.519 do that again. That's not who we are, that's not 194 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:16.519 what we do. And so since the day I walked 195 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:18.759 into Oklahoma State, whether he. 196 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:21.600 Knew it or not, he was leading me. He went 197 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:21.960 on to. 198 00:11:21.960 --> 00:11:25.919 Lead a fantastic program to take it back to national 199 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:28.000 glory and to bring it back to what it is today. 200 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:33.720 And so leadership has been in his in him for 201 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:37.600 a long time. The next would be perseverance. And I 202 00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:40.279 think the ultimate perseverance story for Coleman is making the 203 00:11:40.320 --> 00:11:41.000 Olympic team. 204 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:43.399 So it's not an easy process. 205 00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.879 Most people don't understand everything that he had to go 206 00:11:47.960 --> 00:11:55.159 through to make this happen. He had to win the open, 207 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:58.080 the weight had to be qualified by others, have a 208 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:03.480 wrestle off in New York City, and there's a lot 209 00:12:03.480 --> 00:12:06.159 of nuance here. But there were a lot of things 210 00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:08.240 going on in the background that he could have let 211 00:12:08.279 --> 00:12:10.919 affect him that he didn't, and he persevered and he 212 00:12:10.919 --> 00:12:17.320 stayed strong. Lastly, his family. Coleman's all about family. He's 213 00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:20.200 a great father, he's a great husband, and he's a 214 00:12:20.200 --> 00:12:24.480 great friend. And a lot of people talk about the 215 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:28.799 different times in the seasons and Ecclesiastes three to one 216 00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:34.440 through eight, but they forget nine through eleven. What profit 217 00:12:34.519 --> 00:12:37.960 a man has the worker from that in which he labors. 218 00:12:38.360 --> 00:12:40.679 I have seen the God given task with which the 219 00:12:40.679 --> 00:12:43.799 sons of men are to be occupied. He has been. 220 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:48.080 He has made everything beautiful in his time. Also he 221 00:12:48.120 --> 00:12:51.080 has put eternity in their hearts. Except that no one 222 00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:54.120 can find out the work of the work that God 223 00:12:54.159 --> 00:12:58.919 does from beginning to end. Coleman is still young. He 224 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:02.279 deserves this honor in every way, and he's earned it. 225 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:05.519 But with the great traits you have, the hard work 226 00:13:05.559 --> 00:13:08.440 that you know how to do in a christ centered focus. 227 00:13:09.320 --> 00:13:12.120 This is just the beginning, and there's absolutely nothing that 228 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:12.879 he cannot do. 229 00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:14.159 Coleman. 230 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:17.840 I'm proud to call you my friend, my family, and 231 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:29.559 thank you for having me here today. 232 00:13:29.919 --> 00:13:35.440 Good evening, everyone, Welcome, Welcome to the twenty twenty four 233 00:13:36.679 --> 00:13:41.120 Hall of Fame Induction of honorees. We're delighted to have 234 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:46.519 you here with us this weekend and this evening. I'm 235 00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:52.000 happy now to bring to the podium the Chairman of 236 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:55.559 the Board of the Governors of the National Wrestling Hall 237 00:13:55.600 --> 00:14:00.080 of Fame, Tom Slowey. 238 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:07.440 Good evening, actually great evening on behalf of the Nashal 239 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:11.039 Wrestling Hall of Fame. Welcome to the forty seventh Honors 240 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:16.799 Induction ceremony. This evening's turnout is certainly a testimony through 241 00:14:16.799 --> 00:14:20.519 the exceptional individuals we honor this evening, but also to 242 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:24.919 the fantastic and loyal support of our wrestling community. So 243 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:27.960 thank you for being here. The National Wrestling Hall of 244 00:14:28.039 --> 00:14:31.519 Fame is grateful you're with us to celebrate the class 245 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:36.960 of twenty twenty four inductees. This is a very special 246 00:14:37.000 --> 00:14:40.639 time as we recognize and enshrine our sports very best 247 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:45.480 and honor their extraordinary achievements. The class of twenty twenty 248 00:14:45.480 --> 00:14:48.200 four inductees our inspiration to us. 249 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:48.519 All. 250 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:53.600 Their life pass and accomplishments offer positive guidance and examples 251 00:14:53.639 --> 00:14:57.159 to us all, and especially to our country's youth and 252 00:14:57.240 --> 00:15:01.559 future leaders. The National Wrestling Hall of Famers privileged to 253 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:06.799 host and celebrate Honors weekend with them.

As we all know, 254 00:15:07.559 --> 00:15:13.440 wrestling teaches invaluable lessons. It also instills positive traits that 255 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:20.120 serve us well over a lifetime. Determination, commitment, perseverance, persistence, 256 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:24.559 and resilience, to name just a few. And so as 257 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:27.840 we move forward in life, we are well prepared to 258 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:32.320 manage the challenges and opportunities that we will encounter with 259 00:15:32.480 --> 00:15:37.080 purpose and excellence and as leaders as an example for 260 00:15:37.159 --> 00:15:38.440 others to follow. 261 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:40.799 On. 262 00:15:40.879 --> 00:15:46.440 Behalf of the Sponsors Volunteers, National Wrestling Hall of Fame Staff, 263 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:51.080 Board of Governors Governors' Associates. Thank you for sharing this 264 00:15:51.159 --> 00:15:54.759 evening with us as we proudly celebrate the class of 265 00:15:54.759 --> 00:15:57.000 twenty twenty four. Thank you. 266 00:15:58.440 --> 00:16:02.639 Our next honoree for a distinguished member, Coleman Scott. 267 00:16:10.080 --> 00:16:13.360 The coach was always about give back to what's given 268 00:16:13.399 --> 00:16:16.159 you everything, and that's the sport and that's this community, 269 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:16.639 you know. 270 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:18.360 So it's the least I can do it. 271 00:16:18.639 --> 00:16:21.159 The school is a level at one rule. We drugs him. 272 00:16:21.200 --> 00:16:23.399 I he's up into the brand of position that looks 273 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:26.679 like a brand of position. It's reply is it's two pints. 274 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.919 It's a three one lead. Now Haun is up and 275 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:34.519 paulman stout in the last thirty seconds at period three 276 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:36.360 has won a bronze medal for the. 277 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:40.879 USI couple people with big influences, you know. Of course, 278 00:16:40.879 --> 00:16:42.200 my grandfather was probably. 279 00:16:41.960 --> 00:16:45.559 The first one just to just to always be there 280 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:51.600 and encouraging didn't miss wrestling matches as a young kid. 281 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:53.759 It meant a lot to him that. 282 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.240 I love the sport as much as he did you 283 00:16:57.279 --> 00:16:58.639 know at a young age. 284 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:01.399 He's very determined, he's very passionate. 285 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.200 He is. 286 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:08.279 He's a giving person in real life and then and 287 00:17:08.319 --> 00:17:10.920 in wrestling life. He'll give back to this team, the 288 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:13.480 sport one hundred, just like he does our family and 289 00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:14.160 all of our friends. 290 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:16.319 And that's what I want to pass on to the 291 00:17:16.359 --> 00:17:18.599 next generation, you know, give back to this sport what 292 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:21.079 it gave me. And it gave me the opportunity to 293 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:24.240 wrestle at Oklahoma State under Coach Smith. It gave me 294 00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:28.079 the opportunity to be my wife here in Stillwater, to 295 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:31.480 start my career as a wrestler, as a coach, and again, 296 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:33.039 I couldn't do anything without the sport. 297 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:34.279 It gave me everything. 298 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.640 He had a double leg, and when you have a 299 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.000 double leg, everybody's scared a little bit. 300 00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:41.799 You know. 301 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.759 I never had a double leg as a wrestler, but 302 00:17:44.839 --> 00:17:47.160 the guys that I wrestled at is I always gave 303 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.519 him a little bit more respect. 304 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:53.160 I think the I don't know if I ever mastered skills. 305 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:57.240 I think I became good at stuff and it evolved, 306 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:58.200 you know. 307 00:17:58.240 --> 00:18:01.279 I think that I came into school again with a. 308 00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:07.240 Very great base of of skills in mindset of ultra competitor, 309 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.519 you know, always willing to learn. 310 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:13.039 I'm going to take criticism whether I like it or not. 311 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:15.599 I might be mad at the front end, but I 312 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:18.599 know I'll have a thought later that evening about Okay, 313 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:28.400 they're right, I need to do this. I knew I 314 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.640 needed coach in my life because of the way he coached. 315 00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:32.319 I knew I needed him to get me to the 316 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:32.880 next level. 317 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:36.319 Looking for a cradle now, and he's got it. 318 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:39.079 He's got a lot of traddle boy that he's shun 319 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.079 went on the downside. 320 00:18:40.519 --> 00:18:41.480 And he keeps him in. 321 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:50.200 Oh my goodness, Oh my gosh, pauland's got where's it? 322 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.039 In unbelievable fashion. 323 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:58.880 He was obviously real successful here and then following his 324 00:18:59.039 --> 00:19:01.960 four years as a student athlete here at Oklham State, 325 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:04.440 he went on and I went to the Olympics, and 326 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:07.799 I had a good staff here that really played a 327 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:09.720 big role in him making that team. 328 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.000 What an exciting time. 329 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.799 Two thousand and twelve when he made the Olympic team. 330 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:22.440 Unbelievable times square, middle of times square. I mean,

who 331 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:23.880 gets to make the Olympic team in. 332 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.960 The middle of times square? 333 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:25.680 Wow? 334 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:31.079 On a mat in New York City. Just incredible experience. 335 00:19:31.160 --> 00:19:33.480 One of my favorite times as a coach. 336 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.720 He took experience. 337 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:37.079 Colin being inducted to the Hall of Indoor. Family is 338 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:39.599 kind of funny because our kids probably could care less, 339 00:19:41.319 --> 00:19:46.920 But to me, it's an amazing accomplishment. 340 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.119 It's the top. 341 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:52.720 Of like, what's the word I'm looking for, a pinnacle, 342 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:57.079 Pinnacle Awards, you know, like this is it's probably not 343 00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:00.119 something he ever thought he would ever be in. And 344 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.440 after he finished, it was like, oh wow, I could 345 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:06.720 actually be in the Hall of Fame, as you know 346 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.839 what next to some of the greats came across, John Smith, 347 00:20:09.920 --> 00:20:14.000 Kenny Monday, some of the mentors you had here at 348 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:14.680 o Clomba State. 349 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:20.599 You know, winning an Olympic medal was it's an unbelievable accomplishment. 350 00:20:20.640 --> 00:20:22.359 Don't don't get me wrong, right, but. 351 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:24.920 You don't ever think about winning anything other than a 352 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:28.039 gold medal, you know. And I didn't get there, you know, 353 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:31.920 And so there was a mixed emotion, you know, shortly 354 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:34.440 after when you're on the awards stated and you hear 355 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:38.640 somebody else's national anthem, you know, because again I didn't 356 00:20:38.640 --> 00:20:42.799 have a thought process ever leading up to that moment 357 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:45.319 that I was going to lose. I didn't know, didn't 358 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:47.599 wasn't like, hey, what do you do if you do? 359 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:50.359 I never had that even question. Nobody around me had 360 00:20:50.359 --> 00:20:50.880 that question. 361 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:53.279 So I was a. 362 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:55.519 Lost man there for a couple hours after I lost. 363 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:58.200 You got four to six minutes to either leave with 364 00:20:58.200 --> 00:21:00.799 the medal and change your life and change people around you. 365 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:03.640 And you got ninety five people that flew over here 366 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.599 to support you. 367 00:21:06.680 --> 00:21:07.200 Do it for them. 368 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.119 If you're not going to do it for yourself, you know, 369 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.240 do it for somebody bigger.

Right, There's it's never for 370 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.759 me that metal, you know, And I I hate to 371 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:15.160 put it that way, but it was. It was a 372 00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:18.680 hard match. It was hard to get refocused. And am 373 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.799 I very grateful you? Am I very Yes? Absolutely, I 374 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:22.920 would never change a thing about what I did. I 375 00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:25.319 don't have any regrets in my training and that guy 376 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.000 beat me that day. Do I still believe I was 377 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.720 the best in the world that day? One hundred percent, right. 378 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:31.720 I'm always going to believe that. But it wasn't my day, right, 379 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.519 He got me in that moment. You know, I remember 380 00:21:34.119 --> 00:21:36.920 coming back as well. You know, we landed in Oklahoma City, 381 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.880 He says, get your metal out. And I said, Coach, no, 382 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.680 I'm not. That's embarrassing, right, I'm not. It's it's abroad. 383 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.440 What do people want to see a bronze medal for? 384 00:21:43.599 --> 00:21:43.799 You know? 385 00:21:44.319 --> 00:21:46.519 And he sort of got it into my butt a 386 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:48.759 little bit and said, you never know what somebody is 387 00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:51.759 going through in that day, and this may change their life. Right, 388 00:21:51.839 --> 00:21:55.079 You never know what somebody might need as an inspiration 389 00:21:55.200 --> 00:21:56.400 to change, and it might be that. 390 00:21:56.319 --> 00:21:57.079 Metal right there. 391 00:21:58.400 --> 00:22:01.119 And as we're walking, I landed on Oklahoma City and 392 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:03.640 we're walking past just the lady working in the in 393 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:06.359 the convenience store in the airport, and she recognized Coach 394 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:08.960 and me, and he told me to get my medal 395 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:10.880 out again and show her and she started balling and 396 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.160 she said, you don't know what this means to me. 397 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.319 Right. 398 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:14.079 So it's like, you know, I had that opportunity twenty 399 00:22:14.119 --> 00:22:18.440 fourteen to go to Carolina and unbelievable opportunity. Thankful and grateful. 400 00:22:18.559 --> 00:22:21.680 And then when Coach called, you know, I was again 401 00:22:21.759 --> 00:22:25.400 it was eight years as a head coach, and I 402 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:29.359 felt doing some special things there. And when he called, though, 403 00:22:29.400 --> 00:22:32.359 it's again Coach Smith got me. 404 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:36.960 You know, it's a great sense of pride, and he's 405 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.079 well deserving of it. 406 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:39.920 You know, I may have

a little part in that. 407 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:42.039 I might have had a big part in it. 408 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:44.759 I don't know, but I know that. 409 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:49.680 We take a lot of pride here at Oklahoma State 410 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:53.599 with these guys that have the that have done enough 411 00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:56.359 to be inducted in the Hall of Fame. You know, 412 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.559 there's a lot of people out there that deserves to 413 00:22:58.640 --> 00:22:59.799 go in that they're not. 414 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.000 And Yeah, when you have a. 415 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:03.559 Great group of people that have the same goals and 416 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:06.000 they chase him together, there's nothing better in this world. 417 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:22.000 Let's bring out Coleman Scott Distinguished Member and his presenter 418 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:23.759 Mike Sheets. 419 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.640 Perfect. 420 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:47.160 Gonna keep it short and sweet tonight. Just first off, 421 00:23:47.160 --> 00:23:49.000 would like to thank the National Wrestling Hall of Fame 422 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:52.440 for being inducted as a Distinguished Member, as well as 423 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:56.079 congratulate all the other honorees this evening. As everyone in 424 00:23:56.119 --> 00:23:59.200 this room knows, wrestling and life is filled with adversity 425 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:02.279 and uncertainties. I wouldn't have been able to get through 426 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:04.519 all those times if it wasn't for the people closest 427 00:24:04.559 --> 00:24:08.319 to me. When I think of how I got here, 428 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:14.559 it's the selflessness of others. My parents, family, friends, coaches, 429 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:17.799 and most importantly, my wife and kids. I wouldn't have 430 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:20.680 been able to accomplish everything I have without them, So 431 00:24:20.720 --> 00:24:26.079 thank you. For thirty two years, I've chased a dream, 432 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.279 I set a goal, and I've done everything in my 433 00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:35.519 power to achieve it, sometimes coming up short, sometimes failing, 434 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:41.160 sometimes succeeding. I'm not sure where this sport has led 435 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:49.799 me through this whole time, and as I progressed through this, 436 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:53.839 I know there's one thing I'll forever be thankful for 437 00:24:54.559 --> 00:24:57.119 is what this sport has shaped me and who I 438 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:01.519 am personally and who it's made me again. Thank you 439 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:05.440 everyone who has poured their time their effort into my 440 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:09.160 dreams and my goals. Thank you everyone who is able 441 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:12.599 to make it here this evening, celebrate with myself as 442 00:25:12.599 --> 00:25:13.960 well as all of the other inductees. 443 00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:14.519 Thank You. 444 00:25:27.640 --> 00:25:30.160 Legends is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of 445 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:32.839 Fame and produced by the matt Talk podcast network. 446 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.640 If you want to hear more from. 447 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.920 Wrestling's legends, contribute to the project today by going to 448 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:42.920 matttalkonline dot com slash contribute. We hope you've enjoyed this 449 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:47.839 look into wrestling history. This has been Legends. I'm Jason 450 00:25:47.880 --> 00:26:03.039 Bryant Putt