While the news came as a welcome surprise to many in the wrestling community (he had two years left on his contract), the announcement that associate head coach Roger Chandler would be taking over left many nonplussed. The question many readers asked this week was simple: How can an 18-year veteran of the Sparty program be expected to make improvements?
I'll agree that from 10k feet up the hire doesn't get me excited. Chandler is a very well-respected coach and his work with the lightweights at Michigan State has produced results. Still, we are used to coaching changeovers that are much more dramatic, and ones that include a national search. Without that search many are left to think that the officials in East Lansing don't care.
Maybe.
But there is an argument to be made for Chandler. First and foremost he knows the administration, the alumni and the local recruits leaving the ramp-up time to success to be very minimal. Second, he's also seen where the program may have drifted from and what has made others successful and in seeing that up close (and knowing institutional shortcomings) could be best positioned to get them fixed. Finally, he's a proven coach with a lot of experience who would be in the running for other head coaching positions.
No, this is not the type of hire that gets the wrestling community in a tizzy of excitement, or speculating when Michigan State will challenge Iowa or Ohio State or Minnesota. However, it does provide a pulse and a chance at growth. Chandler has done nothing wrong, of course. If anything he's shown passion for the sport and loyalty to a friend and school. That's a wrestler quality and one that should earn the initial support of wrestling fans who wish to see Michigan State be a successful program for years to come.
To your questions …
Q: Where does David Taylor go from here with his training? Seems that gap is growing, not shrinking. Seems like something needs to change.
-- @Eagle_Fan
David Taylor battles Kyle Dake in the 2015 U.S. World Team Trials (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)Think I'm kidding? I'm not. There is another world out there for him to dominate on the mat and from which he can bring a multitude of new fans. Winning a World title probably won't happen, and though it would be devastating for him to shift focus he will be inspired by a world filled with new techniques and new problems.
Face it, Taylor is a chess player in a sport still dominated by those who play checkers. His ability to learn, background in wrestling and body type could make him one of the greatest American grapplers to ever live.
Let me know if he's looking for a gym and I'll find him the right spot.
Q: For a Fourth of July BBQ, who on the current World Team (men or women, freestyle or Greco) would you pick for your 6-on-6 volleyball matchup?
-- Josh C.
Foley: Jordan Burroughs and Adeline Gray are my first two choices since they're both incredibly gifted World champion athletes. Next, I'm going with Andy Bisek because the mustache plays. I'd add in Brent Metcalf for intensity and the sneaking suspicion that he'd play in jeans and put athletic tape around his wrists. To round it off I'd add Helen Maroulis for emotional support and I think she'd be talented at digging out spikes. I'm playing the sixth man and I feel confident that group is winning a yellow medal.
Q: Any chance they start letting two guys per county per weight class go to Worlds (not Olympics, just Worlds)?
-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: No. That system is used in judo, and though I think wrestling will take on the judo ranking system in years to come, I don't think it benefits the growth of the sport to add another wrestler from each country. Wrestling earns about a quarter of what judo does from participation in the Olympics, which means we have to be very strategic about our worldwide development. Things are looking up with that office now humming along on four continents, but with limited funds you can't risk giving up a huge portion of national representation at the Olympics and World Championships.
Q: What do you think of the idea to change the name of beach wrestling to sand wrestling and hosting some competitions along with "mat wrestling" at indoor venues? Think U.S. Open with three to four mats, and a side competition with sand wrestling also going on. If it's logistically challenging to bring the sand indoors, then do it outside the venue (in Vegas, baby!). Basically bring this fringe sport within a fringe sport to the wrestling people who might be interested in seeing it live but don't plan a special trip to the East Coast to watch it. Any chance UWW is planning an exhibit of sand wrestling in Rio?
-- Tony R.
Foley: I agree that beach wrestling should have a higher profile and think that over the next several years it is a sport that might find its way into more international competitions. The naming is more in line with that of volleyball and because it's part of the World Beach Games the name also appeals to those organizers.
There is no exhibition planned, but with the Olympics only 13 months away there might be time to set something up on Copacabana!
Q: Any chance Kyle Dake, Nick Marable or anyone else is wrestling for another country in Worlds?
-- @Eagle_Fan
Foley: No. They wouldn't be eligible until after the World Championships and they would still need to go through a process of repatriation and application through United World Wrestling.
It will be interesting to see if any Americans make that leap.
Q: It's camp season, give me a list of 10 to 15 guest coaches/clinicians that would make a camp a "can't miss" event.
-- Josh C.
Foley: In no particular order …
1. Jordan Burroughs
2. Cael Sanderson
3. J Rob
4. Steve Garland
5. David Taylor
6. Sean Bormet
7. John Smith
8. Dan Henderson
9. Zeke Jones
10. Bruce Brunett
Q: Are you taking the odds on Chad Mendes? I'm sure it will be something like 2/1 favoring McGregor.
-- @coach133
Foley: Mendes is a 'dog anywhere between +115 and +130. How someone would justify taking Conor McGregor is beyond me. This is free money. No, I'm not TELLING you to bet, but I do think that an Irishman with no history of wrestling and a terrible ground game is going to be humped up and down the octagon for 25 minutes ... if he lasts that long without being submitted.
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