Subich Triumph in Norfolk

Big Brian Subich swallowed his way to a victory in Saturday's Nathan's qualifier in Norfolk Virgina by eating 20.5 HDBs in 12 minutes. It was a close call as competitor Hall Hunt came in only a bite behind Brian placing second with 20 3/8ths HDBs. This is Brian's first qualifier win and we are excited he was able to give us an inside glimpse into the Norfolk contest.

Subich, ranked 29th with the IFOCE, coaches high school football in Pennsylvania and drove all the way to Norfolk for a chance to compete for a place at Nathan's table on July 4th. It took him 3 years to accomplish this feat and we couldn't be happier for him.

Give us the quick lowdown on the qualifier.
The Norfolk contest was huge, in that there were about 25 contestants...Hall Hunt, Larry "The Legend" McNeil, Seaver Miller, Justin Mih and Carson "Collard Green" Hughes all were there. As you may have read by now, I won the event having eaten 20 1/2 hot dogs and buns. In second place was Hall Hunt, who finished literally just a bite behind me with 20 1/4 HDB.

Describe the moment you knew you were going to win.
I truly didn't know that I had won until a few moments after the contest, when I was able to eye up Hall Hunt's remaining hot dogs, next to mine. Hall and I were standing next to each other. When I finally heard the announcement from Rich Shea that I was the winner, it was a feeling of relief and joy. I've been traveling the country now for 3 years trying to qualify, and to finally make it was sort of like throwing a monkey off my back.

Any comments on your training?
My training for this year's Nathan's qualifiers was far more intense than the past 2 years. I started seriously training on May 1st and didn't stop until this Saturday. I started on May 1st actually weighing my food that I would have for dinner...of course every day it was something different. I would typically eat 1-2 pounds of that day's alternating menu...and I would also eat 1 pound of broccoli with each meal. I would then follow that up by downing a gallon of watered-down Gatorade. So I would typically ingest about 11 pounds of food and fluid each night for dinner. I also stuck with the gum chewing which I have always done. I really attribute being able to eat 20 plus hot dogs in both of my qualifiers to my training.

Anything funny or unusual happen?
Quite possibly the funniest thing that happened on the trip was before the contest. The DJ was set up and started playing some elevator type music. Rich Shea goes over to the DJ and says "Ya know, you can kick up the music a little bit." The DJ winks at Rich and says something to the effect of, "OK yeah...check this out," and proceeds to play an instrumental best found in a fine dining establishment where the menu's written in a foreign language. Needless to say, Rich found the whole thing quite amusing and funny...as did I. The DJ really thought he kicked up the music...LOL.

Any controversy before, during, or after?
To my knowledge there was no controversy before, during or after the event.

Any predictions about future qualifiers or who you think might win on July 4th? Anything else you'd like to add?
As for future qualifiers...here are some predictions for you. Shea Stadium will be won by Bob Shoudt. Minnesota will be won by Pat Bertoletti. Molly Pitcher will be won by Pat Philbin, LI Ducks will be won by Allen Goldstein, Atlanta will be won by either Hall Hunt or Chip Simpson. Civil Service will of course be won by Eric Booker. The wild card will most likely go to Hall Hunt...although don't count out Brian Seiken, who is training like a mad man.

Last question:

Wow...quite possibly the most important question....hmm. Well let's see...I'll do my best impression of a male chauvinist here, and say that my ideal mix is a Martha Stewart/Jenna Jameson mix....I'll let you figure out who's kicking dinner...and who's performing the wifely duties. I guess that's why I married my wife :) She'll slap me for that...but oh well.