Please list those that are better. Better is not just defined by the results of athletes that are competing, but those that actually train with the college guys
For all the complainers
- Thread starter Evashevsky58
- Start date
It is evolving.
What is for certain is:
The Rev share piece is not under CSC scrutiny, by definition. This pie is 21.3 million next year. Most goes to football. If a school wants to emphasize wrestling, they would be very competitive with say a 2 million allocation. I don't know that any school is doing this. Then, there are other ways a school can "give" money, or more than 9.9 scholarships to athletes, but they have to do some work (mostly marketing) for that. Then outside NIL, which too requires some work. Then black bags, which yes, has and will happen at the usual places.
I expect more changes since the football portal is open and donors want to attract talent to their big spending schools.
If you want to have high level guys who compete for the National Team, then you gotta pay em. HWC has done a great job of growing their annual revenue, but they do not have the kind of dough that the Nit Wit club has. This is very basic and simple. If you want one of these guys, prepare to pay 400-750K to bring him in and then will he actually train and help the college guys or is he only interested in his own achievements and training that he see fit to get him on the podium. I am not criticizing the latter, merely stating that being in HWC as a world champion does not imply that it in any way helps the team. In any case, more $$$ are required here to do that.
So people should continue to donate money to the HWC, not for actual results in prominent competitions or to compete for world and Olympic titles, but should keep donating so that the college guys have training partners? Isn't that what recruiting competent recruits are for?
I bet prospective donors are drooling at the mouth to donate when they see Dennis, Beatty, Telford, & Morningstar are associated with HWC.
You have twisted my comment and failed to list better clubs
NLWC,Spartan RTC, Cowboy RTC, CKWC...
I think there needs to be some common sense inside the athletic department on how to spend the rev share money. I say this as someone who is as big of Iowa football fan as I am wrestling.
They could fund almost an entire starting lineup in wrestling for the same cost of a proven starting QB in the portal. Give that $2 mil to the wrestling team because the money will go a lot further than it will in football. Even the best QB might only net 1 more win in a season for Iowa. The position just isn’t going to decide the season. Plus there is more legitimate NIL available in football to bridge the gap and make up for the rev share that goes to wrestling.
This is not a good core for a senior level RTC, at least not one with Iowa's potential resources.
We have 1 true world team contender - Spencer. One consistent mid-ladder guy - Desanto. One wildcard to this point in Buchanan. NCAA champ, but zero freestyle experience. I don't think he's competed since graduating (apologies if I missed it).
Of the 'incoming' group, none of them are anywhere near contending to sniff a world team. Caliendo might have some promise, but he's at the deepest weight in the country. Ayala and PK are not serious senior level prospects.
Are these guys cool to have around the program? Sure! But it pales in comparison to having actual senior level athletes who compete at the highest levels of the sport and actively show elite recruits that you can succeed here.
Would also be good if Buchanan can start competing and having success in freestyle. No reason he can’t.
NLWC, Cowboy, Cliff Keen (Michigan) are better. Spartan (Cornell), NYC (Columbia), Cyclone (ISU) are peer programs to the HWC.
The only club better then ours is the kitty club and thats because their fur is bought and paid for!
NLWC, Spartan Combat, Cowboy RTC, Cliff Keen, and I’d argue that NYCRTC, and Ohio State are also better. Possibly Wolfpack
Yes but he is also enabling the current stale product. Bob can do what he wants with his money, but at these alleged amounts I would need Tom to sit down and I would need some answers on what change will look like. They would have to be really good answers to break my pen back out and put it to paper. Its getting to the point we think about starving this product and saving to feed what it looks like after the TNT era is over. Without Bob....how ugly would it really look??
IMO they cant get us there and its past time. Some of you just like watching this and I get it- we are all huge fans but there isnt any energy or life anymore. Its setting in with the fanbase even if you want to admit it or not. Withering away.
I think Iowa was to spoiled with Gable... almost any school would be bricked up to have a wrestling program like Iowa's... over the past few years the only things we can really complain about is
1) losing Real Woods off the rtc
2) losing Bassett and the big one Melivin
3) the thought we had the Rainey brothers locked up
4) not capitalizing on building the soldier salute
I do agree that our staff should probably be trying to keep guys around like Kem and Metcalf... but to think there are so many more guys out there that can come in and just top what Brands has done in their coaching career is ridiculous... Cael and Taylor are the only 2 names right now that you could make that case for and neither are happening... you can think bringing in dake, or Burroughs, or Nolf, or some other big name will some how power up the program from a consistently top 3 program to a penn st level , but thats as good of odds as winning the powerball... we have been landing some nice recruits the last few years, some of the results arent as great for individual finishes as we all hope for but is not just on coaching, theres a **** ton of talent out there these days, and injuries still happen across the entire sport...
Gable set the bar way to high for any coach to come in to Iowa and have success that gonna satisfy some of you... oh yeah, I heard Bob is playing disc golf with Knox and his dad today in Coralville
getting closer to reeling him in!
1) losing Real Woods off the rtc
2) losing Bassett and the big one Melivin
3) the thought we had the Rainey brothers locked up
4) not capitalizing on building the soldier salute
I do agree that our staff should probably be trying to keep guys around like Kem and Metcalf... but to think there are so many more guys out there that can come in and just top what Brands has done in their coaching career is ridiculous... Cael and Taylor are the only 2 names right now that you could make that case for and neither are happening... you can think bringing in dake, or Burroughs, or Nolf, or some other big name will some how power up the program from a consistently top 3 program to a penn st level , but thats as good of odds as winning the powerball... we have been landing some nice recruits the last few years, some of the results arent as great for individual finishes as we all hope for but is not just on coaching, theres a **** ton of talent out there these days, and injuries still happen across the entire sport...
Gable set the bar way to high for any coach to come in to Iowa and have success that gonna satisfy some of you... oh yeah, I heard Bob is playing disc golf with Knox and his dad today in Coralville
getting closer to reeling him in!No one would argue against NLWC. They are so far ahead of everyone else for a slew of reasons. But, the rest?
Cowboy has Valencia and Hendrickson. RBY doesn't even wrestle for the US, neither does Sakamoto or Khayitov. What Bob listed is NOT behind that...
Cliff Keen basically has been sending NO ONE of consequence to US trials but Parris. However, Woods leaving Iowa to go there definitely hurt. Yes, they have had strong stretches Internationally but now that Sergei is gone, I am not sure if you can put them ahead of HWC, either. I do want to give a shout out to Coon, but Greco isn't going to be any kind of selling point to 99.9999999999% of prospective, high end recruits. So, their material guys are Parris, Woods and Cardenas. After that you have Lewan and Pantaleo for the US. Then you have guys going outside of the US like Gomez and McNeil.
After that, I don't see any argument to put the rest at Iowa's level, let alone above it...
To" and "too" are homophones (sound alike) with different meanings: "To" shows direction/purpose or marks an infinitive verb (e.g., go to the store, want to run), while "too" means "also" or "excessively" (e.g., me too, too hot). A helpful tip: "Too" has an extra 'o' because it means "also" (an extra one came along) or signifies an excess (more than enough).I think Iowa was to spoiled with Gable... almost any school would be bricked up to have a wrestling program like Iowa's... over the past few years the only things we can really complain about is
1) losing Real Woods off the rtc
2) losing Bassett and the big one Melivin
3) the thought we had the Rainey brothers locked up
4) not capitalizing on building the soldier salute
I do agree that our staff should probably be trying to keep guys around like Kem and Metcalf... but to think there are so many more guys out there that can come in and just top what Brands has done in their coaching career is ridiculous... Cael and Taylor are the only 2 names right now that you could make that case for and neither are happening... you can think bringing in dake, or Burroughs, or Nolf, or some other big name will some how power up the program from a consistently top 3 program to a penn st level , but thats as good of odds as winning the powerball... we have been landing some nice recruits the last few years, some of the results arent as great for individual finishes as we all hope for but is not just on coaching, theres a **** ton of talent out there these days, and injuries still happen across the entire sport...
Gable set the bar way to high for any coach to come in to Iowa and have success that gonna satisfy some of you... oh yeah, I heard Bob is playing disc golf with Knox and his dad today in Coralville
Spartan Combat has Vito and Yianni. They’re both senior world medalists. That club is above HWC. Wish it wasn’t the case
Bob already said he is gone when they are. How many thousands of your level donations would it take to match his yearly contributions? How much more than that would be necessary to not only help with recruiting, but fund high end guys into HWC that would actually help the college team?
PSU has Ira and OkState had Pickens donate a huge amount of money to the Athletic Department in 2023 and then Richison jumped right in directly to wrestling.
If what has been said on here regarding compliance taking a strict, hard line stance in regards to the RTC is true, competing with those 2 programs is going to be incredibly difficult, even if you get a billionaire willing to step in after the Brands and Bob say good bye...
Even with all that, what guy is out there that you are that sure can handle all the necessary aspects to not only match Brands, but significantly exceed him? Short of another billionaire coming out of the woodwork to spend huge money on the program, the fix many on here want, simply isn't out there....
2 guys? Mind you, they are 2 guys that are trending downward, with both losing to high schoolers(granted the high schoolers are incredibly special)...and they are still just holdovers from the Cornell squad. Kemerer is there and Gwiz is still involved, so I guess you could put them above Iowa, but its close...
He'll have two events in short order over the next two weeks.
SB is one helluva guy to have in HWC. We are very blessed.
Sadly this is very accurate and likely means the best years are behind us. I never thought big donors and money would have this big of an impact of college wrestling but alas here we are.
Team USA Athlete Bios
www.themat.com
That's the current US National team. HWC has 1 wrestler. NLWC has the most but Spartan, Minnesota, CKWC, Missouri, Cowboy have more. Cyclone and Wolfpack are equal with one each including the top of the ladder. It's entirely possible that HWC isn't in the top 10 in 2026
Its sad if that is the case with Bob. If so then he isnt one of us. And I wont be held hostage by his checkbook and the Bushwacker twins.
But being an AD and a coach is constantly selling yourself and the program to potential donors. Thats what a lot of it is. Barta was really good at asking for money. Iowa has a few billionaires and many many millionaires. When one Bob decides to leave another will enter. Iowa wrestling didnt pack up and stop existing after Carver passed away in the early 80's.
Nobody is bigger than the program. PERIOD
Next coach needs to call up Stines, Albaugh and on and on down the list. Guys that sheet out the Bob's of the world. And who knows...the next coach might just more likeable and land a bigger fish or more.
Bob “isn’t one of us” because he’s not going to keep writing checks forever? He’s done more for the program than anyone else on this board.
You actually don't know that. You have no idea who all posts here. If Bob wants to stop writing checks the day Iowa moves on from Brands. Then thank you for all you have done. If your loyalty to the program is tied to only to a coach then like I said- Thank you and NEXT
That, in no way, has anything to do with the general topic. The point is the quality of the entire RTC along with its direct impact to the college wrestling program. When it comes to PSU, they are so far ahead in just about every category that matters. However, AFTER THEM, there is NO cogent argument that puts any other RTC ahead of the HWC in that regard.Team USA Athlete Bios
That's the current US National team. HWC has 1 wrestler. NLWC has the most but Spartan, Minnesota, CKWC, Missouri, Cowboy have more. Cyclone and Wolfpack are equal with one each including the top of the ladder. It's entirely possible that HWC isn't in the top 10 in 2026
Now, with the money DT has at his disposal, Cowboy RTC will likely pass HWC quickly if something doesn't change for the HWC. But, it isn't remotely accurate to act like a bunch of RTC's are running past the HWC...
the relationship was cultivated between the coach and the donor in this case. Why wouldn't his loyalty be to the coach? Billionaire donors don't just grow on trees. This is especially true when you are talking about fringe sports that LOSE money for the school, regardless of how good they are.
If the job is as easy as you say it is, you should go talk to Beth. Maybe she will give you a job where you just court donors all day. Good luck with that...
Who said it was easy? Who said I could do it? You do realize every major university has donor lists and potential donor lists. And they have the real good lists that yo call to cough up a huge check to move on from some like Fran. Its called Networking. There are so many ways to raise money. If you dont understand that world I wont waste anymore time explaining it to you.
If Beth wants to call me for input on list of replacements and sit in the interviews I will. I doubt that will happen. Im pretty sure she's got this when the time comes.
As for fringe sport. Wrestling is not a fringe sport at Iowa, PSU or OK state. Everywhere else sure. Brands is on the end of the path much like John Smith was.
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You can't run past something you are already ahead of. If you want to discount the current National team and discount wrestlers who represent other countries, you could narrow it further and discount wrestlers over 58kg. The HWC wouldn't be an embarrassment then
Iowa has recruiting problems because the top kids are looking for Olympic glory. How many from Iowa's team even tried to qualify for U20 or U23?
You complainers are spoiled and your bitching is detrimental to your team. Yesterday I spent the afternoon with 4,800 other fans watching Ohio State dismantle Oregon State. Oregon State has been very competitive in the past, but I fear those days are over. We don’t have a booster like Bob, so the future looks bleak. You should appreciate what you have before it disappears!!!!