Cael is going to make changes

**LukePlansky** · 01-13-2009, 12:05 AM

I'm not going to get into to much commentary here, because it compromises my positions as a journalist to some degree. But here are a few points to consider:
-He is 29 years old and has been a head coach for three years. As an assistant coach, his role was deferential to his college coach and mentor, coach Douglas
-This team has an inordinate amount of talent, which makes a different challenge to deal with
-This quote, which I used in my story:
“I think when you’re kind of thrown in here — and I want to win every time — you kind of let things go by because some things are sensitive — but those days are over,” Sanderson said. “We’ve got to make some changes, and we’ve got to do it now.”
-His philosophy from day one, which he has repeated time and again, "Give your best effort at all times, and results will take care of themselves." That works, if everyone does what they're supposed to.
-He owned up to this problem, put it on his shoulders in the press conference.

**LukePlansky** · 01-13-2009, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by johnpkelly81

I think it might be because ISU can't afford Gable version 2.0
A great ISU wrestler that would leave to coach another college and be extremely successful there.

This is a common misnomer: Cyler was coming to wrestle here, and Cael had absolutely no intention of leaving. I've heard him say that - I'm not sure the setting.

Coach Douglas was planning on retiring by the end of last year at least - according to Jamie Pollard, anyway. Regardless, he was mentoring Cael for the spot.

**Tornado man** · 01-13-2009, 12:33 AM

Originally Posted by LukePlansky

-This quote, which I used in my story:
“I think when you’re kind of thrown in here — and I want to win every time — you kind of let things go by because some things are sensitive — but those days are over,” Sanderson said. “We’ve got to make some changes, and we’ve got to do it now.”

Except that up until Saturday, Cael was saying that the team was progressing right on schedule, and that he wasn't concerned. Huh???

**LukePlansky** · 01-13-2009, 12:52 AM

You're right: he doesn't go negative to the media usually.

But they really hadn't looked bad until last weekend. He said he thought the team wrestled "fairly well" at Midlands, but that they weren't turning six-point decisions into eight-point majors.

Before the season started he told me that one of his biggest disappointments last year was that the team didn't score bonus points in the NCAA Tournament.

The reason I'm posting: once you admit something, then you are accountable for it. He's being accountable here, and I am trying to be too, since I'm circulating the story this way.

But this is mid-season. Watch the upcoming home duals. I'm pretty sure we'll see a difference.

**iowaboy** · 01-13-2009, 06:18 AM

A blind man could see the problem a mile away. ISU is not "mean" enough. They are not as intense and passionate as they should be. Morningstar beats our guy twice in two weeks the same way..... He wanted it more.

Cael was so good as a wrestler that he could basically "coast" against all but the toughest of wrestlers. He could eat a ham sandwich and play video games while riding out most of the guys he wrestled. His wrestlers while talented are getting beat when going up against wrestlers of equal talent. The difference lies in ISU doesn't have a street-wise mindset. They unlike IOWA are not as mean. You gotta want it bad, you gotta put that chip on your shoulder and go out there and go down fighting. ISU has what I call a prevent offense. They are NOT offensive to anyone let alone offensive enough to score. Wrestling today is all about takedowns and then hold-on. Very seldom do I see someone on top take control, bar someone up and turn their butts to the mat and STICK their sorry *****! Its all about trying to out-think and out-smart the other guy. No Killer instinct!

Nobody can really "Ride" anymore and nobody goes for the "KILL" except maybe Metcalf at Iowa. Cael needs to instill some pride and espirit de corps into these "gentlemen" and they need to wrestle like someone is trying to molest their sister. You do that by pounding the living crap out of them and keep pounding until they get tired of it,get better, or go wrestle elsewhere.

ISU teams of the past would eat these guys up. Mark Manning, Carr, Gable, and a long list of guys that would rather kick your butt than win a lottery. They would get out of bed and drive 90 miles to whip up on some loudmouth that was flexing his muscles that they normally wouldn't wrestle in regular competition. They LOVED the combat> Todays wrestlers especially at ISU are not combative.... They are finesse wrestlers, light on their feet and wait for YOU to make a mistake instead of imposing their WILL on you. The sooner Cael starts turning up the heat and make these "gentlemen" aware of that the better he'll be. He MUST turn these "Gentlemen" into raving lunatics out there. Thanks for allowing me a snapshot of what once was.

**Bubbahotep** · 01-13-2009, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

He expects kids to have his same level of motivation and ability and becomes frustrated when they don't.

I'm not saying that he can't learn to be a great coach, just that statements like, "...that's kind of what I'm learning as a head coach is that people think differently..." means that he wasn't fully prepared for what he was getting himself into.

Performing as a coach is a very different task than performing as an athlete. One requires the ability to motivate, while the other requires the ability to be motivated.

I'd rather have him learn how to be a fantastic coach at Iowa State than Iowa. He has the program on the verge of being at the top. Sometimes it takes a few tweaks here or there to make the difference. At least he isn't to stubborn to admit his methods aren't the right way for everybody. I see this as the turning point that will take us to the peak of wrestling.

**mj4cy** · 01-13-2009, 06:59 AM

I love it. We're top 3 in the country and Cael isn't satisfied. Let's hope the team responds. Cael has every right in the world to say what he wants because he's walked the walk.

**cloneaholic** · 01-13-2009, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by iowaboy

A blind man could see the problem a mile away. ISU is not "mean" enough. They are not as intense and passionate as they should be. Morningstar beats our guy twice in two weeks the same way..... He wanted it more.

Cael was so good as a wrestler that he could basically "coast" against all but the toughest of wrestlers. He could eat a ham sandwich and play video games while riding out most of the guys he wrestled. His wrestlers while talented are getting beat when going up against wrestlers of equal talent. The difference lies in ISU doesn't have a street-wise mindset. They unlike IOWA are not as mean. You gotta want it bad, you gotta put that chip on your shoulder and go out there and go down fighting. ISU has what I call a prevent offense. They are NOT offensive to anyone let alone offensive enough to score. Wrestling today is all about takedowns and then hold-on. Very seldom do I see someone on top take control, bar someone up and turn their butts to the mat and STICK their sorry *****! Its all about trying to out-think and out-smart the other guy. No Killer instinct!

Nobody can really "Ride" anymore and nobody goes for the "KILL" except maybe Metcalf at Iowa. Cael needs to instill some pride and espirit de corps into these "gentlemen" and they need to wrestle like someone is trying to molest their sister. You do that by pounding the living crap out of them and keep pounding until they get tired of it,get better, or go wrestle elsewhere.

ISU teams of the past would eat these guys up. Mark Manning, Carr, Gable, and a long list of guys that would rather kick your butt than win a lottery. They would get out of bed and drive 90 miles to whip up on some loudmouth that was flexing his muscles that they normally wouldn't wrestle in regular competition. They LOVED the combat> Todays wrestlers especially at ISU are not combative.... They are finesse wrestlers, light on their feet and wait for YOU to make a mistake instead of imposing their WILL on you. The sooner Cael starts turning up the heat and make these "gentlemen" aware of that the better he'll be. He MUST turn these "Gentlemen" into raving lunatics out there. Thanks for allowing me a snapshot of what once was.

I don't like to read what Iowaboy is saying, but I'm afraid there's a lot of truth to it. Many of us have mocked Iowa for their rabid dog approach to wrestling - not just their athletes, but their coach as well - while we say how much we appreciate Cael's calm and cool style. I'm afraid wrestling is a sport that is best performed when you're in an angry and nasty mood (Cael was an anomaly). It's about being tough and never never never backing down. I'm optimistic that we'll get there.

**SouthJerseyCy** · 01-13-2009, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

Agreed.

All the hero worship over what he achieved as an athlete taints our perception of him as a coach, though, IMO. He's a lot of things, but so far, he's not any better than the guy he replaced (though he's not much worse, and the guy he replaced was pretty good).

Disagree. BD did not have very many 2/3 finishes in his tenure. Even though Cael is very green, I believe he is already better than what we had.

**ISU2007** · 01-13-2009, 07:15 AM

I think some of this frustration is coming from watching his brother give up two last second takedowns to give up the major decision in consecutive matches. I like the way RFr Andrew Sorenson looked at 174. Still not sure why Sorenson was pulled out of the lineup for the Cornell dual after he beat #12 Trevor Perry of Indiana on Saturday morning. Sorenson was back in against Nebraska after Pursel gave up and got pinned against Cornell.

**sclotz** · 01-13-2009, 07:43 AM

I also like the fact that we are in the top 3 and Cael is not satisfied. He recognizes the things that need to change and he has the fire...I believe that he'll find a way to create that fire in his wrestlers.

**JonDMiller** · 01-13-2009, 08:19 AM

I think that press conference is good news for ISU.

Perhaps Cael needs to be more hands on, everywhere, and not just think that other people will be the same incredible self motivator and have the same desire that he had. And I think you can read that coming through in this press conference.

Perhaps Cael can't understand why other people don't view wrestling and the opportunities the way the he did...and he is probably realizing that he was a pretty unique individual.

He will learn how to extrapolate his own will and desire as a wrestler, over into coaching, to let that spill into his wrestlers.

**jbhtexas** · 01-13-2009, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

All the hero worship over what he achieved as an athlete taints our perception of him as a coach, though, IMO. He's a lot of things, but so far, he's not any better than the guy he replaced (though he's not much worse, and the guy he replaced was pretty good).

ISU has won back-to-back Big 12 titles. Prior to Cael, when was the last time ISU won a conference wrestling title? Not only was ISU not winning conference titles, many times they weren't even close. Not quite sure how you make him out to be "not much worse" than BD...

**IsUaClone2** · 01-13-2009, 08:31 AM

[quote=iowaboy;837701]A blind man could see the problem a mile away. ISU is not "mean" enough. They are not as intense and passionate as they should be.

The difference lies in ISU doesn't have a street-wise mindset.

Unfortunately I have to agree. Back in my day (pre-Gable) we had the Buzzard brothers, Tom Peckham, and a few others that were just outright mean.

Another point is that sometimes it is harder for a talented athlete to become a successful coach because they didn't often didn't need as much coaching themselves during their career. Consequently it is hard for them to identify what is needed for an athlete that doesn't have the same talents. It's good to see Cael grow. I think he will make it because I think his primary talent was self-motivation.

**CyBobby** · 01-13-2009, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

A classic example of why great players don't always make great coaches...

It doesnt make any difference who coaches the isu wrestling team, we will always play 2nd fiddle to the u of i...That was decided when isu let dan gable go to iowa city!!!!