I think you guys will love this video
- Thread starter Tom McAndrew
- Start date
Cael is the “GOAT”. Greatest wrestler and Coach of all time. He’s also an unbelievable human being. Thanks Tom
Wow-I never knew the whole story! Amazing tranformation of a program. I remember seeing PSU wrestle at Cornell the year before Cael came to PSU. Outside of 2 wrestlers, the team was not aggressive, seemed to tire easily, and did not seem inspired at all. The team was the opposite of what it has become. It has to be one of the most amazing coaching jobs ever by Cael and his staff. Thanks for this story and thanks for the PSU supporters who helped make this happen.
That video is most of the story.
Stalemates did not explore that PSU had interviewed and offered Koll when Cael called.
Great piece! I'm shocked that Tim Curley could have had reservations about Cael bringing his coaching staff. How could any AD think that acquiring a "blue blood", aka greatest of all time, would be happy to piecemeal a staff together. Especially when the PSU Wrestling program needed a total make-over. Thx Tom.
IMO...At that time, everyone running Penn Stare, Spanier, Curley, many search committee members, trustees, etc. thought that only Penn State people should be brought in. It was thought that only Penn State people could do things the "Penn State way". Penn State athletes who left and became coaches at other institutions then wanted to "come home" were what was thought to be the only way to continue the "Penn State way". Also, then Cael was only considered the GOAT as a wrestler, not as a coach.
PSU definitely prioritized PSU lifers. Candidates didn't necessarily have to have a PSU background, but generally had to be someone who would never leave that job before retirement.
Also -- and the video hinted at this, with the comment about not wanting to pay for Cael's assistants: PSU was cheap. Plus much of the faculty has long felt, and channeled via Faculty Senate to the BOT and administration, that athletics is too important (with some faculty feeling any importance is too important).
I'm not convinced the cheapness was Curley's doing, or at least entirely so. It started at the top. Spanier once said that the next football coach (meaning Joe's replacement) should be paid less than market rate "for the privilege of coaching at Penn State." IMO this public stance was largely posturing for the faculty, though PSU certainly would hope to get discounts where possible, and not always be disappointed at losing candidates over money or control.
Thanks Tom. This video is enlightening. I'd imagine Curley would have been expediting in all manner possible the recruitment and interview process when a G.O.A.T. candidate offers himself for the job. Yes, his head coaching experience was a small sample yet his excellence up to that point is undeniable. Any hesitation by our AD is surprising at the least. I won't repeat the points made above. This is an interesting story at a minimum and a possible misstep by the AD that was glossed over in the process, likely by "inquiring minds" who steered the AD to deeper waters.
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