Brands SS interview

sdvike

All-Conference
Feb 23, 2016
803
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That can all be true - and as always, it's Iowa's responsibility/prerogative to do what is best for its team in any given moment/scenario.

However, I can also tell you with direct knowledge that tournament organizers were completely blindsided by Iowa's meager entry list - and received little-to-no advanced warning of the development.

Iowa publicly announced the dates for its Big Ten dual schedule back on September 29th.

This is me editorializing now...but wasn't there plenty of time between then and last week to alert tournament organizers, other teams, and fans that they shouldn't expect the robust Hawkeye turnout that we'd seen each of the three previous years at this event?
Makes me wonder what Mizzou, N Carolina, Wyoming will commit next year (if they were expecting Hawk starters).
 

Nashville_Hawk

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2015
621
1,624
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So only the starters were sick and nobody else? Not buying it - at all. Frankly for him to tell the reporter "none of your business" seems like a defensive posture. At the end of the day I was more disappointed than irritated. Just want to see our boys wrestle
I’m with you; I was just agreeing that the crud is going around.
 

Hawkapottomos Rex

All-Conference
Jul 2, 2025
697
1,195
93
That can all be true - and as always, it's Iowa's responsibility/prerogative to do what is best for its team in any given moment/scenario.

However, I can also tell you with direct knowledge that tournament organizers were completely blindsided by Iowa's meager entry list - and received little-to-no advanced warning of the development.

Iowa publicly announced the dates for its Big Ten dual schedule back on September 29th.

This is me editorializing now...but wasn't there plenty of time between then and last week to alert tournament organizers, other teams, and fans that they shouldn't expect the robust Hawkeye turnout that we'd seen each of the three previous years at this event?
Can you share your special ability to know the condition of every athlete at any given time in the future?
 
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Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
3,015
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That can all be true - and as always, it's Iowa's responsibility/prerogative to do what is best for its team in any given moment/scenario.

However, I can also tell you with direct knowledge that tournament organizers were completely blindsided by Iowa's meager entry list - and received little-to-no advanced warning of the development.

Iowa publicly announced the dates for its Big Ten dual schedule back on September 29th.

This is me editorializing now...but wasn't there plenty of time between then and last week to alert tournament organizers, other teams, and fans that they shouldn't expect the robust Hawkeye turnout that we'd seen each of the three previous years at this event?
Teams typically enter guys the week before the tournament. I have never heard of NW or Chattanooga or Michigan telling Midlands, Scuffle or Cliff Keen who they're bringing farther then one week out. Also I believe the wrestling community thinks the Salute is an Iowa run tournament and it's not . The sports commission is gonna do what works best for them and obviously moving the date was something they thought was best. Iowa obviously didn't like the date change as far as starters go. You say Iowa had plenty of time to tell the organizers about the line up decisions my opinion is this could have been avoided with communication prior to changing to date. Hopefully in the future they find a date to works for both
 

BrianLafevre

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
217
758
93
Teams typically enter guys the week before the tournament. I have never heard of NW or Chattanooga or Michigan telling Midlands, Scuffle or Cliff Keen who they're bringing farther then one week out. Also I believe the wrestling community thinks the Salute is an Iowa run tournament and it's not . The sports commission is gonna do what works best for them and obviously moving the date was something they thought was best. Iowa obviously didn't like the date change as far as starters go. You say Iowa had plenty of time to tell the organizers about the line up decisions my opinion is this could have been avoided with communication prior to changing to date. Hopefully in the future they find a date to works for both
So this was about resting 8/10 starters for powerhouse Wisconsin? After their last competition was powerhouse Utah Valley a month earlier?

This was done on purpose to screw with the organizers of Soldier Salute for moving the date. Make no mistake about it. That’s why “insiders” knew it was going to happen.
 

dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,212
30,468
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So only the starters were sick and nobody else? Not buying it - at all. Frankly for him to tell the reporter "none of your business" seems like a defensive posture. At the end of the day I was more disappointed than irritated. Just want to see our boys wrestle
BAU for Tom
 
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dtripp26

Heisman
Oct 29, 2003
10,212
30,468
113
That can all be true - and as always, it's Iowa's responsibility/prerogative to do what is best for its team in any given moment/scenario.

However, I can also tell you with direct knowledge that tournament organizers were completely blindsided by Iowa's meager entry list - and received little-to-no advanced warning of the development.

Iowa publicly announced the dates for its Big Ten dual schedule back on September 29th.

This is me editorializing now...but wasn't there plenty of time between then and last week to alert tournament organizers, other teams, and fans that they shouldn't expect the robust Hawkeye turnout that we'd seen each of the three previous years at this event?
The organizers need to visit this board. This was one of the worst kept secrets around.

Of course maybe Tom wasn't entirely truthful with them. I hope that isn't the case but it wouldn't surprise me.
 
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Corby2

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Jul 14, 2025
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So this was about resting 8/10 starters for powerhouse Wisconsin? After their last competition was powerhouse Utah Valley a month earlier?

This was done on purpose to screw with the organizers of Soldier Salute for moving the date. Make no mistake about it. That’s why “insiders” knew it was going to happen.
I posted about it months ago and how the date change will mess it up for many big 10 teams because of the training phase prior to the conference schedule. If that was the plan to screw the event organizer even Ray Charles would see that one coming
 
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BrianLafevre

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
217
758
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I posted about it months ago and how the date change will mess it up for many big 10 teams because of the training phase prior to the conference schedule. If that was the plan to screw the event organizer even Ray Charles would see that one coming
I just checked the 25/26 schedule updates thread that started in July and ended in late October. No mention of resting 8/10 starters or any starters for that matter.


I also checked the soldier salute thread announcement from November 21st and there’s no mention…

 
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Anon1751917054

Sophomore
Jul 7, 2025
69
164
33
<<Teams typically enter guys the week before the tournament. I have never heard of NW or Chattanooga or Michigan telling Midlands, Scuffle or Cliff Keen who they're bringing farther then one week out. Also I believe the wrestling community thinks the Salute is an Iowa run tournament and it's not . The sports commission is gonna do what works best for them and obviously moving the date was something they thought was best. Iowa obviously didn't like the date change as far as starters go. You say Iowa had plenty of time to tell the organizers about the line up decisions my opinion is this could have been avoided with communication prior to changing to date. Hopefully in the future they find a date to works for both>>

Fair point, but when Josh tells Tom they started this tournament at his request, the schedule has been set for a long time, and have a great time running your OWN tournament at Carver with the University --Tom shouldnt be upset.
 

Corby2

All-American
Jul 14, 2025
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I just checked the 25/26 schedule updates thread that started in July and ended in late October. No mention of resting 8/10 starters or any starters for that matter.


I also checked the soldier salute thread announcement from November 21st and there’s no mention…

Don't remember the thread it was definitely before the season started. I said something about if I'm Iowa I send guys to Midlands because Salute Jan 3 messes up that heavy training phase for conference duals.
 
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BrianLafevre

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
217
758
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Don't remember the thread it was definitely before the season started. I said something about if I'm Iowa I send guys to Midlands because Salute Jan 3 messes up that heavy training phase for conference duals.
That’s odd, in a weird attempt to disparage the organizers of an event created at the request of Iowa wrestling to supposedly celebrate the military you said Ray Charles could find out something you said, which you cannot yourself find. What are you, blind?
 
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MSU158

All-Conference
Nov 20, 2014
964
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That’s odd, in a weird attempt to disparage the organizers of an event created at the request of Iowa wrestling to supposedly celebrate the military you said Ray Charles could find out something you said, which you cannot yourself find. What are you, blind?
Did the organizers consult with the Iowa coaches before changing the date? Pretty sure that is the most relevant question when you are hinging your entire argument on it being “Iowa’s” tournament…if not, changes like that show a serious disconnect and a TON of misplaced blame on your end…
 

BrianLafevre

Senior
Jun 30, 2025
217
758
93
Did the organizers consult with the Iowa coaches before changing the date? Pretty sure that is the most relevant question when you are hinging your entire argument on it being “Iowa’s” tournament…if not, changes like that show a serious disconnect and a TON of misplaced blame on your end…
I have never once said the soldier salute was “Iowa’s event” but I see you are perpetually confused with reality.

Feel free to view the official article about the inaugural event in which Eustice said he collaborated for a few years with Iowa to create this event.

 

Anon1751917054

Sophomore
Jul 7, 2025
69
164
33
Let's just say this..it can be spun a lot of ways, but Tom is free to run his own tournament in Carver Hawkeye with his own staff,pick any dates that don't conflict with mens/woman's basketball -- and Josh would be 1000 percent fine with it it.

Tom can pick the perfect dates,he can decide what schools are allowed to enter ( especially if it's none of our business)

Sounds like that potential is there.

Or he can go back to Midlands.
 
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Tanner Lafever

All-American
Jan 4, 2024
1,984
7,937
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None of your business is a weak response, something seems to be wrong with the program...
The "none of your business" comment was said in jest - at least I took it that way as someone who stood there and heard it in person.

Basically, just Tom getting out ahead of a potential follow up question to his allusion to various behind-the-scenes stuff the team was working through (which we obviously knew he wouldn't divulge even if we had asked).

Not a big deal, IMO.
 

Roncuba65

All-Conference
Aug 15, 2022
856
1,365
93
The "none of your business" comment was said in jest - at least I took it that way as someone who stood there and heard it in person.

Basically, just Tom getting out ahead of a potential follow up question to his allusion to various behind-the-scenes stuff the team was working through (which we obviously knew he wouldn't divulge even if we had asked).

Not a big deal, IMO.
Thanks for the response. I am happy to hear that is your takeaway. I think Tom is a good dude and know sometimes he can be aloof especially at times with the media. I was hoping Tom hadn't turned into our former basketball coach and start trying to bully members of the press for asking fair questions he didn't like...
 

Johnyt9

Junior
Dec 6, 2020
66
227
33
That’s odd, in a weird attempt to disparage the organizers of an event created at the request of Iowa wrestling to supposedly celebrate the military you said Ray Charles could find out something you said, which you cannot yourself find. What are you, blind?
Corby did burn his retinas off with a starilaser at the covid "midlands" if i remember right - full circle