Foley's Friday Mailbag for 3/8/19

[Tom McAndrew]

a Q & A that includes Shak, an A that includes Cael Sanderson, a Q & A that includes DT

For those keeping track, this is week 127, and despite promises he tweeted, no response to Flo's article about Olympic reffing corruption from Foley.

Mike C is back in Foley's good graces, as he got 5 of the 11 questions.

You can access this week's Mailbag at THIS LINK

 

[Marylovesthelions]

Why does Cael have a problem signing the best kids at the lowest weight? Seems we have always struggled there compared to the rest of the bouts.

 

[dunkej01]

Mike C is a potty mouth.

 

[tikk10]

Why does Cael have a problem signing the best kids at the lowest weight? Seems we have always struggled there compared to the rest of the bouts.

Why isn't this free caviar imported?

 

[RoarLions1]

Why does Cael have a problem signing the best kids at the lowest weight? Seems we have always struggled there compared to the rest of the bouts.

Not a problem signing. A couple unforeseen personal matters caused several guys to leave. Remember Nico and Jordan? They were pretty good.

 

[Cletus11]

Not a problem signing. A couple unforeseen personal matters caused several guys to leave. Remember Nico and Jordan? They were pretty good.

Nico was an elite prospect, jordan was not, he just turned into a baller when he got to PSU. The comment is legit. Cael has ruled the middle weights and upper weight class when it comes to recruiting "5 star" high school talent. Nico and Suriano and RBY and maybe the smaller Alton were the main lightweight elite kids out of high school. IN comparision, Cael's middle and upper weight recruiting is untouchable by a long way to everybody else.

 

[Dogwelder]

Why does Cael have a problem signing the best kids at the lowest weight? ...

Most experts subscribe to the hypothesis that lower-weight people have lower-weight brains and have trouble choosing what’s best for themselves. #truther

 

[NittanyLion84]

Most experts subscribe to the hypothesis that lower-weight people have lower-weight brains and have trouble choosing what’s best for themselves. #truther

.....and are more susceptible to fake news, like best light weight room in the country.

 

[Marylovesthelions]

Most experts subscribe to the hypothesis that lower-weight people have lower-weight brains and have trouble choosing what’s best for themselves. #truther

Oh golly. I better not lose weight then.

 

[El-Jefe]

Why does Cael have a problem signing the best kids at the lowest weight? Seems we have always struggled there compared to the rest of the bouts.

125 is the hardest weight to recruit for. So few guys can hold that weight. Of those who do, many are so undersized (HS 113 or lighter) that they need extra time to develop and are hard to project how well they'll do in college.

Even so, Cael has signed at 125 lb:
- a 3x PA champ with 1 career HS loss who was ranked #1 nationally (NCAA champ/3x finalist)
- an undefeated 4x NJ champ who was ranked #1 nationally (NCAA finalist)
- a 4x PA champ with 2 career losses (HS 2018)
- an Iowa 4x champ with 1 career loss (HS 2018)

Two of them left after enrolling at PSU.

The Suriano departure after 1 year left PSU high and dry. He was the clear 4-yr starter. No recruit would've sat for 3 years behind him. He left in the summer, too late to backfill him for another year.

There were others Cael recruited but would've had to sit behind Nico (Schram, Lizak among others).

BTW, Cael has plenty of misses at other weights -- but above 125 there are so many more recruits to be had. Miss on Bo Jordan, wait and get Mark Hall. Etc.

 

[aalion]

125 is the hardest weight to recruit for. So few guys can hold that weight. Of those who do, many are so undersized (HS 113 or lighter) that they need extra time to develop and are hard to project how well they'll do in college.

Even so, Cael has signed at 125 lb:
- a 3x PA champ with 1 career HS loss who was ranked #1 nationally (NCAA champ/3x finalist)
- an undefeated 4x NJ champ who was ranked #1 nationally (NCAA finalist)
- a 4x PA champ with 2 career losses (HS 2018)
- an Iowa 4x champ with 1 career loss (HS 2018)

Two of them left after enrolling at PSU.

The Suriano departure after 1 year left PSU high and dry. He was the clear 4-yr starter. No recruit would've sat for 3 years behind him. He left in the summer, too late to backfill him for another year.

There were others Cael recruited but would've had to sit behind Nico (Schram, Lizak among others).

BTW, Cael has plenty of misses at other weights -- but above 125 there are so many more recruits to be had. Miss on Bo Jordan, wait and get Mark Hall. Etc.

Last part is the real key... not only are there more guys, but the weights are more fungible. Shak filled in a range of 4 weights. Bo and Ruth and Q moved up multiple weight classes. You can fill in / mix and match a bit in the middle to higher weight classes. At 125, if something unexpected happens, you are alot less likely to have much flex.

 

[El-Jefe]

Last part is the real key... not only are there more guys, but the weights are more fungible. Shak filled in a range of 4 weights. Bo and Ruth and Q moved up multiple weight classes. You can fill in / mix and match a bit in the middle to higher weight classes. At 125, if something unexpected happens, you are alot less likely to have much flex.

Just on the 2018 and 2019 rosters:
Zain went up from 141 to 149.
Berge will go up next year from 149 to 157.
Cenzo went up from 149 to 165.
Hall should've been 165 just ask his mom, wrestling 174.
Bo went 174 to 184 to 197.
Shak went 165 to 174 to 197 to 184.
Cassar went 197 to HWT.

 

[GogglesPaizano]

And this guy used to wrestle 133 until he went on the Cassar 6000+ calorie a day diet



For 15 years

 

[Cowbell Man]

Nico was an elite prospect, jordan was not, he just turned into a baller when he got to PSU. The comment is legit. Cael has ruled the middle weights and upper weight class when it comes to recruiting "5 star" high school talent. Nico and Suriano and RBY and maybe the smaller Alton were the main lightweight elite kids out of high school. IN comparision, Cael's middle and upper weight recruiting is untouchable by a long way to everybody else.

Nick Lee. Zain was a 141. Suriano pretty much was a top and if he didn’t come then Spencer Lee likely would have. Teske, Teasdale and RBY not elite? That GT and NS left aren’t an example of not being able to recruit at low weights...just the oppose.

 

[Callthestall]

I think Nolf would beat Pat Smith. Smith was great but he won a lot of close matches by beating guys on the mat. I don't think he would of been able to keep match low scoring against Nolf.
Smith gets credited for being a 4 timer but was very lucky to get a year of eligibility by NCAA/court ruling.

 

[El-Jefe]

Foley picks Hayes and then this happens: