Post by ideamark on Aug 24, 2006 15:37:16 GMT -5
Thanks to Intermat for this link from the Tulsa World...
www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?ID=060824_Sp_B1_Mocco6630
Mocco's new arena
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
8/24/2006
View in Print (PDF) Format
Former NCAA wrestling champion turns attention to football
STILLWATER -- His appearance on the Oklahoma State football roster raised a curious eyebrow or two.
Steve Mocco's athletic exploits previously came solely on the wrestling mat. The heavyweight created an aura of superiority during his two years in coach John Smith's wrestling program.
Mocco was on OSU's national championship teams in 2005 and 2006. He won an individual national title ('05) and finished runner-up at heavyweight ('06).
Now he's a defensive lineman and merely wants to make his presence known. Through the first two weeks of organized football in his life, this much is clear about Mocco and his new sport -- it's not a gimmick.
"If you have a motor, you have a chance in anything," said offensive lineman Steve Denning, who has worked against Mocco. "He goes hard every play. He is still getting his reads down, but he is coming along. This is not a novelty act."
Because he is a first-year player in the football program, Mocco is off limits from media interviews. But judging from his practice enthusiasm and comments from teammates on the football field and wrestling room, Mocco is relishing this new challenge.
"I think he's enjoying the experience and appreciates Coach (Mike) Gundy for the opportunity to come out and try to make the roster," Smith said. "It's something new for him. He's 24 now. And the last 16 years, he's done nothing but wrestling strictly year-round. So the change of pace has definitely been healthy for him."
Said former wrestling teammate Chris Pendleton: "He loves it out there. All he wants to talk about now is football."
Mocco isn't listed among the first two teams at defensive tackle on OSU's depth chart. But he had five tackles in OSU's first scrimmage Aug. 12.
"He's been a joy," defensive line coach Nelson Barnes said. "But you can't make a decision on that young man until everything has a chance to work out."
Mocco decided to try football this fall after working out with a few offensive linemen last winter to prepare for bouts against Minnesota heavyweight Cole Konrad, who beat Mocco in all three of their matches last wrestling season.
Gundy and Smith were in the same youth wrestling program growing up in the Midwest City-Del City area. Smith asked if Gundy could send a few of his big, stout linemen to work out with the Cowboys' heavyweight wrestler.
Senior offensive tackle Corey Hilliard was one of the players drafted. Hilliard was skeptical that his presence would help the wrestler.
Hilliard has tangled with several top-notch defensive linemen in his college football career and held his own. He thought working out with Mocco would be no problem.
Wrong.
"The first day was trying. Real trying," Hilliard said. "I remember waking up the next morning and my neck was sore. Wrestling is such a hard deal, especially when going against Mocco. He was slamming all of us, throwing us all on the ground. It was like 'Wow!' "
Hilliard, Denning and fellow offensive linemen David Koenig, Noah Franklin and David Washington were among those who got worked over by Mocco.
Denning went into the workouts trying to treat Mocco like he would a defensive lineman.
"I did mostly offensive line stuff, try to drop block him and get my hands inside. But that didn't work, and he got me with a headlock," Denning said. "That's tough stuff. As soon as you get tired, or as soon as you let down, he will take you down."
Added Hilliard: "He never got tired. One of us would come off on our knees just gassed and breathing hard, and the next one was ready to get their beating from him."
After losing this spring in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials, Mocco decided to step back from wrestling and give football a try. Gundy was receptive but had no illusions.
Gundy knew he was getting an athlete with no football experience. In wrestling, all Mocco had to face was his opponent. In football, Mocco has to handle his assignment and adapt to the team scheme.
But after conversations with Smith and his own personal observations, Gundy knew there would be no questions about Mocco's work ethic.
"The guys are very impressed with him," Gundy said. "I think that they enjoy his toughness and who he is. He's a very physical and tremendous athlete in his own world. But football is different.
"I do know that if you can wrestle, it means you are tough. Which he is. Now, he just has to learn all of the things that go on with football. There is no doubt that we'd like to get him in the first game and let him play."
www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?ID=060824_Sp_B1_Mocco6630
Mocco's new arena
By MATT DOYLE World Sports Writer
8/24/2006
View in Print (PDF) Format
Former NCAA wrestling champion turns attention to football
STILLWATER -- His appearance on the Oklahoma State football roster raised a curious eyebrow or two.
Steve Mocco's athletic exploits previously came solely on the wrestling mat. The heavyweight created an aura of superiority during his two years in coach John Smith's wrestling program.
Mocco was on OSU's national championship teams in 2005 and 2006. He won an individual national title ('05) and finished runner-up at heavyweight ('06).
Now he's a defensive lineman and merely wants to make his presence known. Through the first two weeks of organized football in his life, this much is clear about Mocco and his new sport -- it's not a gimmick.
"If you have a motor, you have a chance in anything," said offensive lineman Steve Denning, who has worked against Mocco. "He goes hard every play. He is still getting his reads down, but he is coming along. This is not a novelty act."
Because he is a first-year player in the football program, Mocco is off limits from media interviews. But judging from his practice enthusiasm and comments from teammates on the football field and wrestling room, Mocco is relishing this new challenge.
"I think he's enjoying the experience and appreciates Coach (Mike) Gundy for the opportunity to come out and try to make the roster," Smith said. "It's something new for him. He's 24 now. And the last 16 years, he's done nothing but wrestling strictly year-round. So the change of pace has definitely been healthy for him."
Said former wrestling teammate Chris Pendleton: "He loves it out there. All he wants to talk about now is football."
Mocco isn't listed among the first two teams at defensive tackle on OSU's depth chart. But he had five tackles in OSU's first scrimmage Aug. 12.
"He's been a joy," defensive line coach Nelson Barnes said. "But you can't make a decision on that young man until everything has a chance to work out."
Mocco decided to try football this fall after working out with a few offensive linemen last winter to prepare for bouts against Minnesota heavyweight Cole Konrad, who beat Mocco in all three of their matches last wrestling season.
Gundy and Smith were in the same youth wrestling program growing up in the Midwest City-Del City area. Smith asked if Gundy could send a few of his big, stout linemen to work out with the Cowboys' heavyweight wrestler.
Senior offensive tackle Corey Hilliard was one of the players drafted. Hilliard was skeptical that his presence would help the wrestler.
Hilliard has tangled with several top-notch defensive linemen in his college football career and held his own. He thought working out with Mocco would be no problem.
Wrong.
"The first day was trying. Real trying," Hilliard said. "I remember waking up the next morning and my neck was sore. Wrestling is such a hard deal, especially when going against Mocco. He was slamming all of us, throwing us all on the ground. It was like 'Wow!' "
Hilliard, Denning and fellow offensive linemen David Koenig, Noah Franklin and David Washington were among those who got worked over by Mocco.
Denning went into the workouts trying to treat Mocco like he would a defensive lineman.
"I did mostly offensive line stuff, try to drop block him and get my hands inside. But that didn't work, and he got me with a headlock," Denning said. "That's tough stuff. As soon as you get tired, or as soon as you let down, he will take you down."
Added Hilliard: "He never got tired. One of us would come off on our knees just gassed and breathing hard, and the next one was ready to get their beating from him."
After losing this spring in the finals of the U.S. World Team Trials, Mocco decided to step back from wrestling and give football a try. Gundy was receptive but had no illusions.
Gundy knew he was getting an athlete with no football experience. In wrestling, all Mocco had to face was his opponent. In football, Mocco has to handle his assignment and adapt to the team scheme.
But after conversations with Smith and his own personal observations, Gundy knew there would be no questions about Mocco's work ethic.
"The guys are very impressed with him," Gundy said. "I think that they enjoy his toughness and who he is. He's a very physical and tremendous athlete in his own world. But football is different.
"I do know that if you can wrestle, it means you are tough. Which he is. Now, he just has to learn all of the things that go on with football. There is no doubt that we'd like to get him in the first game and let him play."