Tenure of Penn State’s Sanderson in Doubt
December 11, 2021
University Park, PA – Penn State wrestling fans were dealt extremely discouraging news Friday night when word broke that head coach Cael Sanderson, the mastermind behind the program’s decade-long dynasty in the sport, may be parting ways with the University. According to sources close to the team, Sanderson has shown signs of growing dissatisfaction over the past 9 months, and he abruptly ceased attending practices and meetings this week. Sanderson is universally considered one of the most successful people in the history of the sport, compiling a flawless 159-0 record as a collegiate wrestler and leading the Penn State Nittany Lions to 8 of the last 10 team championships as a coach. A departure from the program would not only have a devastating impact on Penn State going forward but would also have major implications for the entire NCAA Division I Wrestling landscape as a whole.
What caused Sanderson to disengage this week in particular is not clear, but avid fans of the team have documented a number of concerns since the national championship tournament last March. For example, during that tournament, one of Penn State’s wrestlers did not perform to fans’ expectations, and they noticed an uncharacteristic look of extreme displeasure on Sanderson’s face. To put it simply, they said he "looked pissed".
Over the summer, there was rumor that former University of Wisconsin standout Evan Wick was attempting to transfer to Penn State, and fans observed that Sanderson made it known to university faculty that Wick was “the missing piece” to a team championship in 2022. To Sanderson’s (and fans’) great disappointment, the academic department did not consider that an essential criterion for admission, and they denied the transfer. Again, Sanderson was "pissed".
With that effort thwarted, Sanderson was rumored to turn to free-agent and former national champion wrestler Nick Suriano, who was looking to return to the sport (and to the Nittany Lions, specifically) to realize a substantial payout under terms of the new “Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) rules adopted by the NCAA. Apparently, however, University policies and Pennsylvania state law in general leave Penn State coaches at a competitive disadvantage among their peers, and Suriano instead signed with the University of Michigan.
Fans also claim to have documented a strong discontent with COVID-19 vaccination policies, though no such documentation has been shared with the Press.
A team staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Sanderson has indeed been disgruntled lately. Though unwilling to provide specific details or address the validity of fans’ claims, the staff member did note, “Cael is wicked pissed.”
One of the Nittany Lion wrestlers, also speaking on condition of anonymity, implied that Sanderson is fixated on the recent past. “Normally, he talks to us about preparing for opportunities, feeling gratitude, maximizing the moment, and having fun. But this year, he just seems really pissed. Something is bothering him, and he can’t seem to focus on The Process.”
Consistent with someone who is pissed, Sanderson is not returning calls or accepting interview requests. His only comment on the matter came via text message late Friday night: “Not done for the season at this point.”
While Sanderson contemplates his future, the wrestling world will be watching with bated breath, and Penn State wrestling fans will undoubtedly be glued to the message boards in anticipation of Big News. Hopefully, they do not end up pissed.
December 11, 2021
University Park, PA – Penn State wrestling fans were dealt extremely discouraging news Friday night when word broke that head coach Cael Sanderson, the mastermind behind the program’s decade-long dynasty in the sport, may be parting ways with the University. According to sources close to the team, Sanderson has shown signs of growing dissatisfaction over the past 9 months, and he abruptly ceased attending practices and meetings this week. Sanderson is universally considered one of the most successful people in the history of the sport, compiling a flawless 159-0 record as a collegiate wrestler and leading the Penn State Nittany Lions to 8 of the last 10 team championships as a coach. A departure from the program would not only have a devastating impact on Penn State going forward but would also have major implications for the entire NCAA Division I Wrestling landscape as a whole.
What caused Sanderson to disengage this week in particular is not clear, but avid fans of the team have documented a number of concerns since the national championship tournament last March. For example, during that tournament, one of Penn State’s wrestlers did not perform to fans’ expectations, and they noticed an uncharacteristic look of extreme displeasure on Sanderson’s face. To put it simply, they said he "looked pissed".
Over the summer, there was rumor that former University of Wisconsin standout Evan Wick was attempting to transfer to Penn State, and fans observed that Sanderson made it known to university faculty that Wick was “the missing piece” to a team championship in 2022. To Sanderson’s (and fans’) great disappointment, the academic department did not consider that an essential criterion for admission, and they denied the transfer. Again, Sanderson was "pissed".
With that effort thwarted, Sanderson was rumored to turn to free-agent and former national champion wrestler Nick Suriano, who was looking to return to the sport (and to the Nittany Lions, specifically) to realize a substantial payout under terms of the new “Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) rules adopted by the NCAA. Apparently, however, University policies and Pennsylvania state law in general leave Penn State coaches at a competitive disadvantage among their peers, and Suriano instead signed with the University of Michigan.
Fans also claim to have documented a strong discontent with COVID-19 vaccination policies, though no such documentation has been shared with the Press.
A team staff member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Sanderson has indeed been disgruntled lately. Though unwilling to provide specific details or address the validity of fans’ claims, the staff member did note, “Cael is wicked pissed.”
One of the Nittany Lion wrestlers, also speaking on condition of anonymity, implied that Sanderson is fixated on the recent past. “Normally, he talks to us about preparing for opportunities, feeling gratitude, maximizing the moment, and having fun. But this year, he just seems really pissed. Something is bothering him, and he can’t seem to focus on The Process.”
Consistent with someone who is pissed, Sanderson is not returning calls or accepting interview requests. His only comment on the matter came via text message late Friday night: “Not done for the season at this point.”
While Sanderson contemplates his future, the wrestling world will be watching with bated breath, and Penn State wrestling fans will undoubtedly be glued to the message boards in anticipation of Big News. Hopefully, they do not end up pissed.
