Updates from Cael Sanderson's Tuesday news conference
- Thread starter GregPickel
- Start date
On midseason additions and what it says
I think the name of the game is competing. As a staff, we're competing. We want our kids to compete. That's more important than winning and losing. They know that this isn't the most important thing to us in life. That gives us a good perspective. But, we're going to compete in everything we do. That's the name of the game.
I think the name of the game is competing. As a staff, we're competing. We want our kids to compete. That's more important than winning and losing. They know that this isn't the most important thing to us in life. That gives us a good perspective. But, we're going to compete in everything we do. That's the name of the game.
On the conversations had with guys who might be replaced or lose a starting spot by a transfer
I think it's just a matter of being fair. Everyone has an equal opportunity to make the team and compete for the team. That will never change. When you come to Penn State, we're competing, and our goal is to be the best team in the country and compete for national titles. SOmetimes those conversations, even Hildebrandt, we talked to him and we thought there was a chance he was coming, then we thought he wasn't coming, then when he said he was coming, he was on campus three or four days later. It's not something you prep or prepare for. Berge, same thing. It was a pretty quick decision. It was something he'd probably been considering, even last year, whether he was really ready to step away from the sport. A lot of times assistant coaches are wrestling three times as much as the kids on the team, so they're in good shape and ready to go. You just be fair. If my son or cousins on the team, it's the same thing. We're trying to put the best team we possibly can out there. Everyone's not always happy. We have parents just like every other team, and kids, everyone doesn't leave happy. We do the best we can and try to be fair. I think everybody sees the same things we see. When the program becomes one where you inherit a spot and don't earn it, that's not a good thing. Campbell and Shunk made the effort to make 25 and did a great job and put a great effort in. Same thing at 57 and 65. We're going to compete just like we ask them to do.
I think it's just a matter of being fair. Everyone has an equal opportunity to make the team and compete for the team. That will never change. When you come to Penn State, we're competing, and our goal is to be the best team in the country and compete for national titles. SOmetimes those conversations, even Hildebrandt, we talked to him and we thought there was a chance he was coming, then we thought he wasn't coming, then when he said he was coming, he was on campus three or four days later. It's not something you prep or prepare for. Berge, same thing. It was a pretty quick decision. It was something he'd probably been considering, even last year, whether he was really ready to step away from the sport. A lot of times assistant coaches are wrestling three times as much as the kids on the team, so they're in good shape and ready to go. You just be fair. If my son or cousins on the team, it's the same thing. We're trying to put the best team we possibly can out there. Everyone's not always happy. We have parents just like every other team, and kids, everyone doesn't leave happy. We do the best we can and try to be fair. I think everybody sees the same things we see. When the program becomes one where you inherit a spot and don't earn it, that's not a good thing. Campbell and Shunk made the effort to make 25 and did a great job and put a great effort in. Same thing at 57 and 65. We're going to compete just like we ask them to do.
Plan for Berge
He just got here Sunday. He came in. He's in classes, yesterday, today, obviously, we have practice here and we'll see him, and we'll figure out the plan moving forward, not only with him but other guys moving forward. Is there a wrestle off? Do we need a wrestle off? Those are some things we need to work out. For him it's just a matter of making sure he's feeling good and healthy. When he's ready, he'll go.
He just got here Sunday. He came in. He's in classes, yesterday, today, obviously, we have practice here and we'll see him, and we'll figure out the plan moving forward, not only with him but other guys moving forward. Is there a wrestle off? Do we need a wrestle off? Those are some things we need to work out. For him it's just a matter of making sure he's feeling good and healthy. When he's ready, he'll go.
On idea of possibly having a dual meet national championship
If you look back in time there's been a lot of discussion over this. I'm not against having these big events. I think my concern would just be, we like the way the national tournament is now, and we don't want to change that team format. There's a lot of different points of view, but we're not against having these big events. I think that was a lot of fun. We got to wrestle Cornell, UNI, ASU. Those were some exciting matchups.
If you look back in time there's been a lot of discussion over this. I'm not against having these big events. I think my concern would just be, we like the way the national tournament is now, and we don't want to change that team format. There's a lot of different points of view, but we're not against having these big events. I think that was a lot of fun. We got to wrestle Cornell, UNI, ASU. Those were some exciting matchups.
On health issues
We werre hoping we'd be through that in November. Everything you're seeing is consistent across the nation, it's consistent across each university and town. The flu has been the nastiest batch that I ever remember. It's just the way it is. Nobody's safe. Vaccinated, not vaccinated, had COVID, don't have COVID, everyone's just kind of getting it again. We just have to do the best we can and be grateful that we're wrestling.
We werre hoping we'd be through that in November. Everything you're seeing is consistent across the nation, it's consistent across each university and town. The flu has been the nastiest batch that I ever remember. It's just the way it is. Nobody's safe. Vaccinated, not vaccinated, had COVID, don't have COVID, everyone's just kind of getting it again. We just have to do the best we can and be grateful that we're wrestling.
On where team is at
We want to compete with enthusiasm and just be consistent, whether it's the lowest rated team or highest rated team. We want to be the same team every time we compete and wrestle the same way. This team is one that seems to step up the biggest the match. I think we saw that in the finals of the Collegiate Duals. That's the fun part as a coach. This is their team. What are they going to do with this opportunity? That's their call. We're going to support these guys and see how they choose to compete.
We want to compete with enthusiasm and just be consistent, whether it's the lowest rated team or highest rated team. We want to be the same team every time we compete and wrestle the same way. This team is one that seems to step up the biggest the match. I think we saw that in the finals of the Collegiate Duals. That's the fun part as a coach. This is their team. What are they going to do with this opportunity? That's their call. We're going to support these guys and see how they choose to compete.
On Bartlett's futute
I think Beau's getting better every match. He's just such a great athlete and we want to create action. We'd rather see a 10-9 match, even if he loses, at this point because he's going to get better faster that way. He's improving. Where he'll be next year, I don't know. That's something we'll have to look at once this season ends. I think he's getting better every match, and he's a threat. He can compete with anybody. He needs to be able to go out there and compete and let it rip. We're starting to see more of that.
I think Beau's getting better every match. He's just such a great athlete and we want to create action. We'd rather see a 10-9 match, even if he loses, at this point because he's going to get better faster that way. He's improving. Where he'll be next year, I don't know. That's something we'll have to look at once this season ends. I think he's getting better every match, and he's a threat. He can compete with anybody. He needs to be able to go out there and compete and let it rip. We're starting to see more of that.
On keeping the team fresh during a busy January
I think this is the most, the nations are obviously the most fun, but we do what we do because we like to compete. When you're a high-level athlete or you've been coaching as long as we have as a staff, it's those big matches that are really exciting. Sometimes, being in the Big Ten, being in State College, it can be a long trip. Traveling to the midwest and back and competing in the same weekend, those kind of trips and that travel makes it more difficult. For the most part we're flying commercial or bussing, so it takes a lot of discipline on our guys' part. Couple years ago we had three trips to the midwest three weekends in a row. Those kinds of challenges take some thinking. I think we're good to go. We need to compete and have fun.
I think this is the most, the nations are obviously the most fun, but we do what we do because we like to compete. When you're a high-level athlete or you've been coaching as long as we have as a staff, it's those big matches that are really exciting. Sometimes, being in the Big Ten, being in State College, it can be a long trip. Traveling to the midwest and back and competing in the same weekend, those kind of trips and that travel makes it more difficult. For the most part we're flying commercial or bussing, so it takes a lot of discipline on our guys' part. Couple years ago we had three trips to the midwest three weekends in a row. Those kinds of challenges take some thinking. I think we're good to go. We need to compete and have fun.
On Cerom Francisco in the NLWC
He is an awesome guy. I didn't really know him until we brought him in here. You just want to meet all the needs of the student athletes. We needed a big guy who's a good partner for Greg. He reached out to me earlier and expressed some interest. We lost Eric Thompson who went to ASU. We needed a big guy. Kyle's a 97, and Varner was a 97, and I'm not going to tell ya what weight I am, but you want to have a bigger body.
He is an awesome guy. I didn't really know him until we brought him in here. You just want to meet all the needs of the student athletes. We needed a big guy who's a good partner for Greg. He reached out to me earlier and expressed some interest. We lost Eric Thompson who went to ASU. We needed a big guy. Kyle's a 97, and Varner was a 97, and I'm not going to tell ya what weight I am, but you want to have a bigger body.
Looking ahead to Rutgers
There's a lot of great matches. They have a strong lineup and have been crushing it this year. Rutgers is getting better and better. We need everybody's best effort, and a great team effort. Just looking forward to competing again. When we start competing, that's when we can really start making progress with our guys. You can train in a non-competitve game in your room for years and kids probably arne't going to make the same jump as when they styarrt competing.
There's a lot of great matches. They have a strong lineup and have been crushing it this year. Rutgers is getting better and better. We need everybody's best effort, and a great team effort. Just looking forward to competing again. When we start competing, that's when we can really start making progress with our guys. You can train in a non-competitve game in your room for years and kids probably arne't going to make the same jump as when they styarrt competing.
On Beard
I don't really have an update on Mike. I think he's feeling good and I think he'll be good to go here shortly.
I don't really have an update on Mike. I think he's feeling good and I think he'll be good to go here shortly.
Thank you Greg. As always great job. Yes they better be ready on Sunday. Rutgers has a very good team this year. Hopefully rec hall is much louder this Sunday then the last couple weeks. I’m definitely going to be there. Rutgers believes they can beat us this year. Hopefully we have Berge this week. Should be a great dual meet.
If Berge really just arrived two days ago, it’d be hard to imagine him being ready this Saturday, but who knows? Definitely some good matchups vs Rutgers. Looking forward to it!
Byers suggested on the radio over the weekend that he could be ready to wrestle a week from last Sunday, which of course would put him in position to be on the mat against the Scarlet Knights potentially, but we'll see.
If it is 165 I am not sure Berge will be a better option than CE. CE was at 174 last year and BB was at 157. My gut tells my CE might be a tough out for BB
We didn't attempt the drive from Danville last Sunday, but we are certainly planning on it this Sunday!! Let's beat New Jersey State!!
I always find this interesting. Cael loves aggressive wrestling, even if mistakes are made or it doesn't translate to a win, particularly earlier in the season so mistakes can be fixed. He always says that he can't fix something if you just stand there on the mat. Cael also often looks like he's the most bored guy in the gym during a boring match.
But I think there's something in most people's DNA that won't allow them to take risks. I'm sure Beau trusts Cael, but there's something in his DNA that prevents him from taking "bad" shots or being unnecessarily aggressive. No one likes to get scored upon, ridden out, or lose, particularly someone like Beau who is a top talent, but still somewhat unproven. Cael knows a 10-9 loss or win is better for him than a 3-2 win, but there's less risk for Beau in that 3-2 win.
It's similar to when I and others wonder why a wrestler who is down a point or two in the last 30 seconds doesn't do anything in his power to score, as wild and crazy as it may be. Shoot, for G*d's sake, we scream at the TV. But there's something that prevents the wrestler from taking that hail mary. Pride? Losing by one is better than losing by 3? What if I got pinned?
What do you think?
As Cael said Assistant coaches like Berge is wrestles 3 times more in different practices then the regular wrestlers. So I’m going to assume he has a wrestle off today with Edsell and the winner will wrestle on Sunday. There’s a reason why Cael said that…..Cael is a man of few words so you must listen closely.
“He just got here Sunday. He came in. He's in classes, yesterday, today, obviously, we have practice here and we'll see him, and we'll figure out the plan moving forward, not only with him but other guys moving forward. Is there a wrestle off? Do we need a wrestle off? Those are some things we need to work out.”
You, as a Cael-whisperer, interpret these to mean there’s a wrestle-off today? If true, you’ve got an amazing talent that you should monetize. No one else in the world can read Cael.
Get unlimited access today.