PENN STATE’S SANDERSON TO TAKE YEAR OFF FOR ‘PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT’
July 23, 2017
University Park, PA – In a surprise move sure to send shockwaves through college wrestling, one of the most successful coaches in any sport during the modern era will be suspending his return to the mat this fall. Cael Sanderson will not be in the coach’s corner this season when the Penn State Nittany Lions shoot for their 7th NCAA Division I wrestling championship in the past 8 years.
Sanderson’s contract with the university expired without a renewal on June 30, and speculation has been growing during the past several weeks that negotiations have hit roadblocks. Explanations from anonymous “insiders” on internet forums have ranged from Sanderson wanting higher salaries for his staff to demanding a private jet for recruiting trips and “first dibs” on university hot tubs for his wrestlers. One claim alleges that Athletic Director Sandy Barbour is a politically correct socialist – how that relates to Sanderson’s contract negotiations is unclear.
Regardless, light was finally shed on the situation late Saturday night when Barbour announced that a deal was in place. The 5-year contract will make Sanderson the highest paid wrestling coach in the country (and include exclusive access to a bus for recruiting trips), but it comes with a catch – Sanderson must take off one of those years for personal development. According to sources with direct knowledge of the contract negotiations, the so-called “redshirt clause” was a requirement demanded by the Penn State Board of Trustees.
“While we know that Coach Sanderson has had a lot of success on the mat, the Board felt that he still has some things to work on regarding his work ethic and character,” said Barbour. “I can’t fault the guy for wanting to have fun, but you can’t just have fun all the time. Wrestling is a tough sport, and recruiting kids with a message of ‘fun-fun-fun’ can be a little bit disingenuous and irresponsible. Coach Sanderson has to prepare these young student athletes to be ready for what the sport of wrestling can throw at them. It really isn’t dodgeball.”
Tell that to Nick Suriano. The disgruntled Nittany Lion found out too late, and he suffered a broken foot in a late-season match last year in what he thought was supposed to be a “fun” tune-up leading into the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships. Suriano was not able to compete in the postseason, and he is now looking to transfer.
“Yes the Board used the Suriano injury as an example of how the ‘fun’ mantra was reckless on Coach Sanderson’s part,” continued Barbour. “But it’s not just that Coach Sanderson needs a year to mature. The Board was very concerned by a number of reports claiming that he is a scumbag and cares only about himself, willing to sell any student athlete down the river that doesn’t help him meet his own needs. One person claimed Coach Sanderson was an actual phallus – I think it was meant as a joke, but the Board is very sensitive to how our coaches are portrayed.”
Sanderson has the option of choosing which year to take off between the 2018 and 2022 seasons, but he has decided to do it now.
“I’ll take it this year and work on some stuff,” stated Sanderson blandly. “I was pretty successful in 2017, but the road doesn’t end there. It’s a process. A year off to train my personality is a good opportunity to improve and reach my goals. I’ll just go out and have f–, I mean, work hard. It’s a brutal sport, and someone’s gotta do it.”
Assistant Coaches Casey Cunningham and Cody Sanderson will also have to sit a year, as they are considered extensions of Cael and his reckless philosophies. Sanderson is not too worried about how the team will do without the coaching staff – or even a coaching staff – in 2018.
“Look, this team doesn’t need a coach,” he said. “Top recruits already know how to win. They’ll be fine, and there is another boatload of top recruits on the way for 2019. I could take off a couple of years before I had to get back to recruiting, but I don’t want to miss out on any more trophies than I absolutely have to . . . Wait, I mean, I’ll miss the guys and will want to teach them how to grind out championships, how to embrace the suffering that must occur first.”
While Sanderson “redshirts”, he will train under the tutelage of staff at wrestling entertainment company BlowRasslin’®. The pairing may not come as much of a surprise to most fans, as the company is known to be fond of Sanderson, even awarding him ‘Coach of the Month’ honors following the U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials in June. Although some do question whether BlowRasslin’® staff will be good role models for Sanderson’s personal development, the embattled coach is confident that he’s making the right choice.
“Gomer Piles has a plan,” said Sanderson, “and I’m 97% sure he knows what he’s talking about.”
July 23, 2017
University Park, PA – In a surprise move sure to send shockwaves through college wrestling, one of the most successful coaches in any sport during the modern era will be suspending his return to the mat this fall. Cael Sanderson will not be in the coach’s corner this season when the Penn State Nittany Lions shoot for their 7th NCAA Division I wrestling championship in the past 8 years.
Sanderson’s contract with the university expired without a renewal on June 30, and speculation has been growing during the past several weeks that negotiations have hit roadblocks. Explanations from anonymous “insiders” on internet forums have ranged from Sanderson wanting higher salaries for his staff to demanding a private jet for recruiting trips and “first dibs” on university hot tubs for his wrestlers. One claim alleges that Athletic Director Sandy Barbour is a politically correct socialist – how that relates to Sanderson’s contract negotiations is unclear.
Regardless, light was finally shed on the situation late Saturday night when Barbour announced that a deal was in place. The 5-year contract will make Sanderson the highest paid wrestling coach in the country (and include exclusive access to a bus for recruiting trips), but it comes with a catch – Sanderson must take off one of those years for personal development. According to sources with direct knowledge of the contract negotiations, the so-called “redshirt clause” was a requirement demanded by the Penn State Board of Trustees.
“While we know that Coach Sanderson has had a lot of success on the mat, the Board felt that he still has some things to work on regarding his work ethic and character,” said Barbour. “I can’t fault the guy for wanting to have fun, but you can’t just have fun all the time. Wrestling is a tough sport, and recruiting kids with a message of ‘fun-fun-fun’ can be a little bit disingenuous and irresponsible. Coach Sanderson has to prepare these young student athletes to be ready for what the sport of wrestling can throw at them. It really isn’t dodgeball.”
Tell that to Nick Suriano. The disgruntled Nittany Lion found out too late, and he suffered a broken foot in a late-season match last year in what he thought was supposed to be a “fun” tune-up leading into the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships. Suriano was not able to compete in the postseason, and he is now looking to transfer.
“Yes the Board used the Suriano injury as an example of how the ‘fun’ mantra was reckless on Coach Sanderson’s part,” continued Barbour. “But it’s not just that Coach Sanderson needs a year to mature. The Board was very concerned by a number of reports claiming that he is a scumbag and cares only about himself, willing to sell any student athlete down the river that doesn’t help him meet his own needs. One person claimed Coach Sanderson was an actual phallus – I think it was meant as a joke, but the Board is very sensitive to how our coaches are portrayed.”
Sanderson has the option of choosing which year to take off between the 2018 and 2022 seasons, but he has decided to do it now.
“I’ll take it this year and work on some stuff,” stated Sanderson blandly. “I was pretty successful in 2017, but the road doesn’t end there. It’s a process. A year off to train my personality is a good opportunity to improve and reach my goals. I’ll just go out and have f–, I mean, work hard. It’s a brutal sport, and someone’s gotta do it.”
Assistant Coaches Casey Cunningham and Cody Sanderson will also have to sit a year, as they are considered extensions of Cael and his reckless philosophies. Sanderson is not too worried about how the team will do without the coaching staff – or even a coaching staff – in 2018.
“Look, this team doesn’t need a coach,” he said. “Top recruits already know how to win. They’ll be fine, and there is another boatload of top recruits on the way for 2019. I could take off a couple of years before I had to get back to recruiting, but I don’t want to miss out on any more trophies than I absolutely have to . . . Wait, I mean, I’ll miss the guys and will want to teach them how to grind out championships, how to embrace the suffering that must occur first.”
While Sanderson “redshirts”, he will train under the tutelage of staff at wrestling entertainment company BlowRasslin’®. The pairing may not come as much of a surprise to most fans, as the company is known to be fond of Sanderson, even awarding him ‘Coach of the Month’ honors following the U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials in June. Although some do question whether BlowRasslin’® staff will be good role models for Sanderson’s personal development, the embattled coach is confident that he’s making the right choice.
“Gomer Piles has a plan,” said Sanderson, “and I’m 97% sure he knows what he’s talking about.”
