from the know your enemy file....
http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...ecruiting-spencer-lee-jacob-warner/710291001/
http://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sp...ecruiting-spencer-lee-jacob-warner/710291001/
Brands thinks Iowa "Slipped"
- Thread starter dunkej01
- Start date
Good to see Tom drinking the HR kool-aid about money being the prime issue. 
Otoh, do you know how good it felt to mute Tom on the imbedded video?
Otoh, do you know how good it felt to mute Tom on the imbedded video?
"The club has added two prominent lightweights with explosive styles: Mexico’s Jesse Delgado"
lolololol on explosive style. Good grief.
Also, I didn't know that Delgado was gonna rep Mexico internationally.
because they actually follow through on commitments, or?
The whole canard about money at the NLWC being the issue is ridiculous. The reason kids are picking Penn State is that it has separated itself from the pack as the preeminent NCAA D1 wrestling program and has been developing team champions, individual champs and AA's at a blistering rate - not to mention being able to wrestle in a great atmosphere with the greatest college wrestler of all time at the helm. It's a really effective recruiting tool.
The quixotic excuse-creating pattern of other programs is wearing thin and may, ultimately, hurt recruiting efforts for them. Do you really want to wrestle at a program that is trying so hard to find excuses for its lack of competitiveness? Is that the kind of culture you want to join?
The quixotic excuse-creating pattern of other programs is wearing thin and may, ultimately, hurt recruiting efforts for them. Do you really want to wrestle at a program that is trying so hard to find excuses for its lack of competitiveness? Is that the kind of culture you want to join?
Good grief, most of your posts are so anti Iowa its silly. you need therapy because hating on Iowa is consuming your life.
1. Money and facilities absolutely come into play in recruiting top talent. I don't get why you hate on Brands for saying this other than well its you.
2. Just stop at the Iowa making excuses. The fan base sure because we are fans but Tom Brands the man. lol. You have no idea what the Iowa culture is in the room. Spencer Lee even said that so many schools recruited negatively towards other schools but that PSU and Iowa never once went down that road and he appreciated that. Both of our fan bases should take Spencer at his word and be happy both our staffs are above that.
Tom Brands is not an excuse maker. Never has been. You ever see him blame losses on injuries or sickness? Torn labrums, knees ect? Matter has an unhealthy hate for Tom Brands. My guess is Tom destroyed him in a match years ago and matter hasnt got over it.
I hear there is a dodgeball tournament with a $50K 1st place prize. I've seen it on the Ocho!
Tom may not be an excuse maker, but he sure was mum on PD3. Honestly, if you're so embarrassed by having someone on the team that you refuse to discuss it, then that speaks volumes wouldn't you say? Maybe I misunderstood that part, but I don't believe so.
Tom “One leg, two legs, no legs—that’s not an excuse to me” Brands is the man! The ultimate warrior.
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Enjoyable listen. Much of what TB said is similar, in intent, to what I've heard Cael say. The idea of a student-athlete managing the social, academic, and athletic sides of college life, for example.
And as far as avoiding much mention of PD3 (see PS85's post above), I didn't see it as a big deal. The guy (PD3) has to prove he belongs and is committed before I'd give him much of my airtime too. Too early to say anything, imo.
And as far as avoiding much mention of PD3 (see PS85's post above), I didn't see it as a big deal. The guy (PD3) has to prove he belongs and is committed before I'd give him much of my airtime too. Too early to say anything, imo.
I agree with your assessment about why kids would come to PSU. However, to be fair, I don't think the "excuses" of other programs come from the coaches (in general). THAT is who I would be looking at. I agree PSU has a great recruiting tool in Cael.
On the other hand, if it were me the same could be said for Tom Brands. Great wrestler, coach, and person. I would be happy to have my son be trained by a man like him (if Brands were at PSU that is).
Personally I wouldn't be worried about what all of us say on social media, but would be looking at the coach and room dynamics and if they fit me, my personality, and my goals. THEN I would go to PSU....but I would no matter what so I don't count. 
I don't think Brands can comment on PD3 since he is still enrolled at ISU.
Good thing you ignore it when he does. This is Tom Brands from the referenced article:
“That’s not the end-all. But … you’ve got to realize that they’ve got 10 times more money,” Brands says. “So the decisions we spend time making, they can make in the snap of a finger.”
I guess that's not an excuse to you.
I'll tell you why I dislike Tom Brands. One, his childish, petulant behavior when things don't go his way. Two, what he did to Virginia Tech. Tanking and leaving the program for dead. Plus, he's never won anything outright since Gable left the Iowa staff. One share of a B1G title. That's it. After taking over the top program in the country and having his hand held by Gable for a few years, he's not been able to cut it on his own. Yet he gets universal passes. Boggles my mind.
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He claims that they "keep stock-piling the right kind of character".
At best a questionable assertion with PDIII on the way. No wonder he didn't want to discuss him.
At best a questionable assertion with PDIII on the way. No wonder he didn't want to discuss him.
I've become more of a Brands fan as the years have gone on. I don't always care for Brands' mat-side antics (it's more Terry), but I respect him as a person and coach. There's lots of bashing of other teams and coaches that goes on, on partisan boards--HR has taken quite a few shots on Cael as well. Personally, I enjoy friendly partisan jesting and rivalry, but also like mutual respect for quality opponents. I respect the Iowa program as a quality program; I respect the Brands for what they do for the sport. I'm a die-hard Lion fan, but I don't think you have to knock another program to appreciate your own!
Good post Tom. My thought on the mat-side antics though, is that the stuff that crosses the line is on the refs, not just the Brands'. As for the mutual respect...amen!
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I have learned to appreciate what the Brands brothers offer wrestling. I have read more than just a couple pieces authored by each, watched more than one or two interviews and have come to realize they simply love wrestling and have an immense desire to not just succeed, but to really dominate in their success. Nothing wrong with that at all.
The article that really smacked me up alongside my head was a piece Terry authored in response to wrestling being dropped as an Olympic sport. In his article he pointed out that to get our sport reentered into the Olympics we must not feel it necessary to hold wrestling up as superior to other sports by cutting those other sports down. No matter the sport, those other sports' competitors, coaches and supporters loved their respective sports as we love wrestling and nothing is ever gained by ridiculing and making look small the other side. The best approach was to answer the problems associated with wrestling and proudly let the sport stand tall. I thought it was brilliant and showed a true ability of thinking deeply and expressing himself thoughtfully.
As much as I have learned to appreciate the brothers, their matside behavior used to be more than just a hair past annoying. I believe the best thing that ever happened to dampen their over the top behavior was Tom's bug meet the windshield moment with Cael. Ever since, there has been a bit of a less intense need to dominate the mat from the coaches corner.
The article that really smacked me up alongside my head was a piece Terry authored in response to wrestling being dropped as an Olympic sport. In his article he pointed out that to get our sport reentered into the Olympics we must not feel it necessary to hold wrestling up as superior to other sports by cutting those other sports down. No matter the sport, those other sports' competitors, coaches and supporters loved their respective sports as we love wrestling and nothing is ever gained by ridiculing and making look small the other side. The best approach was to answer the problems associated with wrestling and proudly let the sport stand tall. I thought it was brilliant and showed a true ability of thinking deeply and expressing himself thoughtfully.
As much as I have learned to appreciate the brothers, their matside behavior used to be more than just a hair past annoying. I believe the best thing that ever happened to dampen their over the top behavior was Tom's bug meet the windshield moment with Cael. Ever since, there has been a bit of a less intense need to dominate the mat from the coaches corner.
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