PSU has arguably the best wrestling coach ever in Cael Sanderson, not best now which is not in doubt, but maybe the best ever, You can argue a few others but I put Cael at the top due to the staff and support structure he assembled. Watch some of the guys talk about their training, nutrition, and rest and recovery. Listen to them talk about their Sports Psychologist. Cael covers all the bases.
But Cael picked PSU, he approached them once and PSU did not get back to him, they did of course get together and the rest is history. But why did he pick PSU? Location, location, location. He believed the school had untapped potential since we are right in the best wrestling state in the country, smack dap in the best over all area in the country.
And since then PSU became the wrestling equivalent of the SEC, the conference, not Bama or Georgia winning 10/13 of the last contested titles and something like 30% of the last ten individual titles. It's easier to build a run in wrestling for multiple reason once being the size of the team , but the principal is the same. recruiting is great right in the back yard.
I checked on the electoral college votes Pa. had 1968 to now, Coach Paterno's ( arguably one of the best coaches ever)first undefeated season and back then we had 29, now it's 19. The north has lost population which we all know, while the South has gained population. So in his hey day we had a stronger recruit base up north and pretty good inroads into Ohio which ended with Jim Tressel in the early 2000s. Ironically he won a title in 2002 which was one of only 2 titles won by a northern team since 2000. Obviously Meyer won one in 2014, nine years ago. And from what I've seen I think the state overall has better recruits than Pa.
9 years ago since a Northern team won the title, maybe Michigan has a shot this year but it'll be tough. Every team has that tough game they lose or almost lose and I'd love to spoil their playoff bid, if possible. My best case scenario is OSU winning out and winning the title and PSU wins out. then a road loss to the champ by a score doesn't sting as much.
So my whole point is we just have a tougher road than Southern teams due to the reality of demographics, let alone NIL deals and the transfer portal. The same situation that makes the wrestling team almost impossible to beat keeps us in that around top 10-12 range. I hope it changes but don't see it happening any time soon under any coach. So you keep working, try to improve and enjoy the good times.
But Cael picked PSU, he approached them once and PSU did not get back to him, they did of course get together and the rest is history. But why did he pick PSU? Location, location, location. He believed the school had untapped potential since we are right in the best wrestling state in the country, smack dap in the best over all area in the country.
And since then PSU became the wrestling equivalent of the SEC, the conference, not Bama or Georgia winning 10/13 of the last contested titles and something like 30% of the last ten individual titles. It's easier to build a run in wrestling for multiple reason once being the size of the team , but the principal is the same. recruiting is great right in the back yard.
I checked on the electoral college votes Pa. had 1968 to now, Coach Paterno's ( arguably one of the best coaches ever)first undefeated season and back then we had 29, now it's 19. The north has lost population which we all know, while the South has gained population. So in his hey day we had a stronger recruit base up north and pretty good inroads into Ohio which ended with Jim Tressel in the early 2000s. Ironically he won a title in 2002 which was one of only 2 titles won by a northern team since 2000. Obviously Meyer won one in 2014, nine years ago. And from what I've seen I think the state overall has better recruits than Pa.
9 years ago since a Northern team won the title, maybe Michigan has a shot this year but it'll be tough. Every team has that tough game they lose or almost lose and I'd love to spoil their playoff bid, if possible. My best case scenario is OSU winning out and winning the title and PSU wins out. then a road loss to the champ by a score doesn't sting as much.
So my whole point is we just have a tougher road than Southern teams due to the reality of demographics, let alone NIL deals and the transfer portal. The same situation that makes the wrestling team almost impossible to beat keeps us in that around top 10-12 range. I hope it changes but don't see it happening any time soon under any coach. So you keep working, try to improve and enjoy the good times.