ST. LOUIS - Even the smallest of errors couldn't be overlooked by the University of Iowa's national championship wrestling team late Saturday night.

Brent Metcalf won a national title, but talked about the two takedowns he gave up in the first period.

Mark Perry won his second consecutive 165-pound NCAA championship, but wasn't happy because a knee injury forced him to turn defensive during the final three minutes of his title match with Michigan's Eric Tannenbaum.

"I may be a stingy kind of wrestler from that point of view," Metcalf said. "There will be time for celebration, but right now … after the match … I'm analyzing it. I'm already trying to see how to improve … I've got to be better."

Another man involved with the Hawkeye program thinks the same way - head coach Tom Brands.

Brands and the Hawkeyes captured the program's 21st national championship at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis but, while smiles were abundant during the trophy presentation, nobody involved with the program was satisfied.

Brands brought nine qualifiers to the national championships, and in his mind he was expecting to leave with nine national champions.

"I'm greedy," Brands said. "We had two national champions. That is only 20 percent. We can be better. We're never satisfied."

There was another Iowa coach who thought that way … Dan Gable. And although the 2007-08 Hawkeyes were rebuilt by Brands, Gable's mark is all over the team.

Brands grew up in Sheldon wanting to be a Hawkeye and wrestle for Gable.

After winning three national titles for his coach, who is now his confidante, Brands became an assistant under the legendary coach. He absorbed everything Gable taught him and incorporated it as his own.

The 15 national titles Iowa won during Gable's tenure were won with intensity, fierceness and a never-stop attitude. Gable wouldn't stand for anything less from one of his comeptitors.

Last week, and throughout the 2007-08 season, that is how the Hawkeyes wrestled under Brands.

It's a style that sometimes isn't popular.

Iowa wrestlers were booed by the majority of the crowd at every available opportunity at the championships.

"I tell you what, when you go hard you don't apoligize, and a lot of people can't handle that," Brands said. "There are some coaches here that embody that themselves - John Smith, J Robinson - and even though they are competitive, they respect that because that is what they are about.

"It's the people who don't understand it or don't handle it well that don't like it."

It is said that the Iowa program has its swagger back.

The Hawkeyes looked the part last weekend.

But it wouldn't be right to say it's at the same level it was when it won nine straight national titles from 1978-1986 or when it won eight of nine from 1991-2000.

With Brands and a world class coaching staff of Wes Hand, Mike Zadick and Doug Schwab, not to mention the occasional tutoring session from Gable, the Hawkeyes definitely have the tools to reach higher levels.

"They have a shot at being very, very competitive for a long time," Gable said.

That is a good endorsement.

But with rising programs at Iowa State under Cael Sanderson, and Ohio State under Tom Ryan, it's going to take more than swagger.

It's going to take more of Brands. It's going to take more of the Gable bible.

It's going to take more guys like Metcalf, Charlie Falck, Joey Slaton and Jay Borschel.

Perry who departs as the 20th Hawkeye to win at least two national titles, said that shouldn't be a problem.

"The intensity. They've got everybody united for the first time since I've been here," Perry said.

Contact Jim Nelson at (319) 291-1521 or jim.nelson@wcfcourier.com