John Smith launched a simple equation that he recently noticed in college wrestling.

Less stalemates or potentially dangerous stoppages result in more action and possibly more points.

Smith said he wants to see more of that.

“People want to see points on the board,” Smith said last week. “So, our rules committee needs to really focus about creating the rules where we can put more points on the board.”

College wrestling now isn’t the same as Smith’s days. Guys leap over opponents, flip, roll and do anything possible to avoid a takedown. That doesn’t always happen.

Like what OSU fans saw Sunday, Luke Surber hopped over Iowa’s Jacob Warner, snatched a left ankle and was whistled for potentially dangerous. No takedown.

“More points on the board is more fun,” @JCass3 said on Twitter.

Stalemates happen, too.

The NCAA rulebook defines a stalemate as “when the wrestlers are interlocked in a position other than a pinning situation in which neither wrestler is improving position, the referee may stop the match as soon as possible, wrestling will be resumed as for out of bounds.”

The rule allows an official to determine when the call may or may not be made. Some officials can be quick to call while others remain patient for action.

A wrestler’s baseline defense isn’t the same. In some coaching philosophies, scrambling techniques can be taught before basics like body position and basic defense.

Former OSU wrestler Davey Dolan noted that on Twitter.

“Delays the overall development of wrestlers,” he wrote.

Scrambling positions become tricky, and Smith doesn’t think the rules align with wrestling’s progress.

A stalemate call can cause Smith to hop, raise his hands and shout at officials.

Fans noticed offensive shots dwindled. Why? Scrambles. Less shooting can create less penetration and ultimately, less points.

Scrambling unlocks a new level of offense, one once called unconventional. Funky. Not anymore.

“I think that those who understand scramble wrestling have a huge leg up on the competition with these new rules,” Twitter user @K_lub wrote. “Guys like Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell three-time national champion) and Keegan O’Toole (Missouri’s national champion) are using quick finishes on their takedowns and scrambles to avoid danger situations themselves.”

“People want to see points on the board,” Smith said last week. “So, our rules committee needs to really focus about creating the rules where we can put more points on the board.”