A Goodman For The Jobs
10/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Oct. 26, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - Like most college kids, Ryan Goodman has dreams. While the two-sport standout from New Jersey set multiple high school records in wrestling, his dreams were huddled elsewhere.
That's because Goodman, who started at quarterback for his high school, aspires to play under center in the NFL.
Goodman thought he had the dream within his grasp when he signed with Nebraska out of high school. The Cornhuskers agreed to let Ryan continue his wrestling career while also giving him the opportunity to play football.
Goodman quickly made his presence known in both sports. As a redshirt freshman at Nebraska, Goodman posted a 6-0 record in unattached matches in wrestling, while working himself up to the No. 2 quarterback on the gridiron.
Just when everything seemed to be falling into place for Goodman, the Nebraska coaches told him that he would be moving to safety. Goodman, was hurt by the decision, and said the decision to transfer first formulated when he heard the word safety.
"I just couldn't accept it in my mind how a No. 2 quarterback could be moved to safety," Goodman said.
Wanting to continue playing quarterback as well as continue wrestling, Goodman decided to reopen his recruitment. After taking a second look at schools like Iowa, Virginia, and Maryland, Goodman was told to take a look at NC State by an assistant wrestling coach from his high school.
When NC State wrestling coach Carter Jordan first got wind of Goodman's interest in his wrestling program, he knew he had an advantage on most other schools vying for Goodman's talents -- Chuck Amato. The Wolfpack's head football coach had wrestled two undefeated seasons for the Pack in 1966 and 1968, and frequently attended the Pack's home meets. Knowing Goodman's desire to play both sports, Jordan said the Amato factor helped out "big time" in landing Goodman's services.
"The fact that Chuck wrestled was what got us in the ball game [with Ryan]," Jordan said. "Chuck is a big fan of the sport and there's a good synergy there -- we love him; he's great for our sport."
After two recruiting trips to Raleigh, Goodman signed with NC State. Although Goodman is on scholarship for wrestling this year, Jordan said he realized Ryan's dream was to play football.
"The biggest thing we tried to impart to Ryan was that we were going to honor his desire to play football, whether that would be detrimental to us or not," Jordan said. "I think, sometimes, it sounds corny, but we all have dreams. Ryan's dream is to be an NFL quarterback, and I don't think there are many people that have their chance to have their cake and eat it too."
Goodman, who must sit out the 2005 football season because of NCAA transfer rules, is on a wrestling scholarship for the 2005-06 school year, and has been working out part-time with the wrestling team since practice began in mid-October. Jordan hopes to have Goodman, who will be on football scholarship once he becomes eligible to play a year from now, full-time with the wrestling team when football season concludes. Goodman figures to be the Wolfpack's starter at 197, which became vacant when Zach Garren transferred to Rowan University, ironically, to play football.
Jordan said that although Goodman would have to make the transition from football shape to wrestling shape, that Amato's wrestling background causes him to train and condition players with wrestling techniques. Goodman agreed that being a wrestler has helped him on the football field.
"I think wrestling helps with any sport," Goodman said. "You've got to be smart, you've got to strategize, and you've got to stay on your toes."
Though Goodman may joke with Jordan about his commitment to wrestling, his determination on the mat is no laughing matter. Goodman was a two-time New Jersey state champion at 189 pounds and compiled a 72-match win streak - good enough to earn him All-America honors.
When asked what his goals were as a Wolfpack wrestler, Goodman immediately responded "a national championship" without blinking an eye.
"That's not shooting high, that's shooting where everyone should be shooting," Goodman said. "I'm not just shooting for a win, because I want to win everything."
Goodman, who rooms with fellow Wolfpack grapplers Jeremy Colbert and Jalil Dozier, also has high aspirations for his new team. He said the team has their sites set on an ACC championship.
"We're a young team, and the younger you are, the more imaginative you are," Goodman said. "We have a great group of kids, and their dreams are just as big as mine."
Jordan is thrilled to have Goodman suiting up for the Pack this year -- not just because of his talent, but because of the attitude he's instilling in the wrestlers around him.
"[Goodman] has already changed, and will continue to change the mentality of everyone around him," Jordan said. "Enthusiasm will saturate everywhere around you."
Jordan said that in order to be the best, you have to first believe it to be possible. In Goodman, he has a wrestler who's making others believe in themselves.
"We've got very talented kids," Jordan said. "They've just got to give themselves permission to competitive with the other guys. It's one thing for the coaches to try and do that, but when your peers adopt that mentality, and buy into to what the coaches are saying, and then work as hard as you possibly can, then you really do have a chance to compete with anybody."