Tough Telford has thrived for Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Bobby Telford exudes toughness.

The University of Iowa senior's 6-foot-4, 285-pound frame can be menacing. At times Telford displays a gruff demeanor accompanied by honest and acerbic words.

Wrestling seemed like a perfect fit, beginning the sport in fourth grade.

'I played football and got into a couple scruffs,” said Telford, a two-time state Delaware state champion from Hockessin, Del. 'My defensive football coach asked me to come out for wrestling.”

The top-ranked Hawkeyes have relied on that bruiser to anchor the upper end of their lineup. Telford has produced again, recording one of his strongest starts with pins in each of his seven contested matches this season. He will attempt to continue his success when Iowa hosts Michigan State tonight, beginning at 7.

The basic principles of wrestling have always attracted Telford. Winners are determined by one-on-one competition, there's no inflated stock based on 40-yard dash times and bench press reps.

'There's nothing to hide behind here,” Telford said. 'You're not going to get away with going against a is probably the good kid in the practices and feeling good about walking away if you're not doing the right things in your life.

'The accountability and responsibility is probably the most satisfying.”

Telford recalled how people warned him about his life would be overwhelmed by the demands of being an Iowa wrestler.

'It's really not, because this is my life,” Telford said. 'These are my friends. Terry and Tom Brands are my best friends. They are my mentors. They're the people I look up to most.”

Telford's aggressiveness and dominance has led to his most falls in a seasons since nine as a freshman. The most recent capped Iowa's 28-8 win over rival Iowa State last Saturday.

'It's just like any other year,” said Telford, who is 8-0 this season with 83 career college wins. 'You start fast, you score fast, keep scoring and putting guys away when you get the opportunity.”

The third-ranked heavyweight just wanted to get on the mat to train and compete as much as possible after two straight seasons that have included injury. Imposing his will on opponents remains a necessity.

'You're always looking to be more aggressive,” Telford said. 'That's your edge, especially being around the coaching staff and the guys I'm around.

'If you're not being more aggressive and bringing something different to the table every time then you lose a step.”

Telford was quick to change the conversation to his teammates. He has done that more often this season. Iowa Coach Tom Brands said Telford has slid into the more traditional role model mold.

'I think he's more of a put your arms around the younger guys guy than he's ever been,” Brands said. 'He's always been vocal. He's pretty opinionated. I don't think you guess too much on how he's thinking. He wears his emotion on his sleeve.”

Telford said he doesn't consider himself a leader, calling all the Hawkeyes motivated athletes gunning for the ultimate goal.

'I think the natural gravitation toward leadership is to the guys doing the job,” Brands said about the two-time All-American and three-time NCAA qualifier. 'You get a guy who is a team player and wants the team to do well, along with himself, I think people feel that and pick up on it. There is a natural gravitation to that individual”

Telford is focused on having fun, but that occurs from dominating wins.

'I want to party,” said Telford, noting that it doesn't apply to social behavior. 'I want to party in the (practice) room, partying at tournaments. Everybody on the team and the coaches talk about a three-day celebration on March. The biggest celebration of the year.”

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