Thadd, this is a well-written letter with several good points. However, the people you are directing it to rarely, if ever, come on to coacht and read anything. If you want it seen and your points considered, you should email it to Mark Reeves at mreeves@tssaa.org, or call TSSAA's offices and ask to speak to him about this.
I've read many things over the past few weeks on here and I'm wondering why more people don't just pick up a phone and call Mr. Reeves, or email him and voice their ideas and concerns. Or, better yet, actually come up with a plan and the means in which to carry it out and do the work involved to make it happen. That's what we as Williamson County coaches did when we first approached TSSAA about possibly bringing the State Duals to the Ag Center. We showed them our idea and plan and that we were willing to put in the work to pull it off. They liked what they saw and asked if we would be willing to handle the Traditional tournament also. What an honor to be asked to host the state championships of the sport you love. We agreed and then we put in the work to make it happen. You should know. You've been working on that floor before and your help has been very appreciated.
If you want changes made to the state tournaments, then do what we did. Get on the phone and call Bridgestone Arena or Municipal or the Music City Center. Find out what it would take, how much it would cost. Call the Nashville Sports Council, and Nashville City and Davidson County commissioners. Get some community support to help iron out any kinks. Put in the work to make the changes that you want to see happen. I've learned that when it comes to the TSSAA, the best way to get things done is to do as much of the working and thinking for them on the front end. That's how we got double elimination finally passed. We showed them how it could work.
Putting on the Duals and the Traditional tournaments takes more than just words on a message board. It takes a lot of good people, like yourself, doing a lot of hard work. The venue is just one small part of the big picture.
I'm looking forward to a great weekend of awesome wrestling and I wish everyone involved the best of luck!
Coach Blair