If my memory is correct, Tom Brands met with Iowa AD officials multiple times, starting at least when (or before) he first signed that wrestling class. I think Iowa signed a much less impressive class that year, and their coach was in hot water. Weaver, and many of us, believed that Brand got word that he was going to receive an offer to coach Iowa the following year. With that in mind, Brands decided to redshirt the stars in this recruiting class with the intentions of bringing them to Iowa with four years of eligibility remaining. (Not many thought Tom was surprised he received the Iowa offer the following year.)

Jim Weaver was on the fence whether to keep a wrestling team or just shut it down and try another sport. It was a very close decision. When he finally decided to keep the program (and hired our current phenomenal coach), he knew it was in a deep hole, and the only way to field a team the next year was to offer the wrestlers an offer to wrestle one more year at VT (use 1 year of eligibility) while we recruited their replacements. If they took this offer, they would be granted a full release to go anywhere (Iowa) the following year. Their only other option would be to transfer and sit a year. Wrestle or sit...their choice.

They chose to sit, and bitch...once again, their choice.