If he wrestled for Iowa he was a top of the food chain wrestler and athlete.
He was. Apparently he won the state championships at age 19 [I guess in high school]. I think he may have been 190-lb there, and I'm not sure what weight class that would be.
Apparently, he went on to an even higher level in university. He was definitely a top level wrestler. And being so incredibly strong, I can't imagine how good he was. It wouldn't surprise me if even deep into his forties, that in 2011, at 44- to 45-year-old Andy Haman could have tossed around a 30-year-old GSP.
I'm basing that on his 70-lb weight advantage, and the fact that Haman would have had literally twice the upper body strength.
I'm not claiming that Haman would be able to have beaten a prime 2011 GSP in an MMA cage fight. I'm saying that in a strict wrestling match, even into this forties, being bigger/taller, much heavier, and MUCH stronger...as long as he had any level of stamina, I don't exactly think a former national top level wrestler would ever exactly "forget" how to wrestler.
Andy Haman was the real deal as a top wrestler. Probably among the best in the country when he competed for the University of Iowa in the 1980s. I think this can be confirmed online with a web search. If I'm not mistaken, I read an 1980s news article that did indeed confirm this.
As for Andy Haman bench pressing 600-lb wearing only a tank-top, and then bench pressing 675-lb, 45 minutes later in the same workout - I find that hard to believe.
Do I think he could have bench pressed 450+? Yes. As for 500-600+...I would need proof of that.
WalterWhite's suggestion of Andy Haman having a real maximum bench press of 520-lb is somewhat believable to me - still INSANELY strong...but believable.
But if he bench pressed 675-lb raw...I don't understand why he would only be able to bench press 315x20 in that Bros vs. Pros contest, even if he was 44 or 45 when that contest took place.
My max bench press was 315x8, and I never bench pressed 350-lb or more, so...I just find 675-lb hard to believe. I have no doubt that Andy Haman could have bench pressed 450+, as said, but claims much beyond that are harder for me to believe. I could accept 520-lb...but 675-lb is just...I mean, that would have been close to the raw record at the time. Even 600-lb is INSANELY strong, and basically a Stan Efferding level bench press. So I am skeptical about that.
Strong guy though - to be that strong in the upper body, and that good at wrestling...I have no doubt that Andy was super tough.
Really a shame about him dying before his 55th birthday coming up later this year [for some reason, November comes to mind, but I could be remembering that wrong]. Just to have a wife of 38 years to mourn him, and four children who he loved deeply, and who deeply loved him...it's just sad all around.
