By JIM SULLIVAN, Courier Sports Writer
WATERLOO — Cael Sanderson rarely wrestles with the public side of his job anymore.
It was easy to reach that conclusion while watching Sanderson work the crowd at the Cyclone Tailgate Tour’s stop at the National Cattle Congress, even when a fan handed Iowa State’s head coach a football.
A football? Cael Sanderson, one of the world’s greatest wrestlers with a football? What’s next, Shaq on figure skates? Jeff Gordon posterizing Tim Duncan?
Sanderson, though, proved that he can play more than one game at a time, especially when working on the court of public opinion. He spun the football, signed it and gave it back to the owner. Already, he’s better than Daunte Culpepper at ballhandling.
Chuckling, Sanderson said, “I’ve signed a few footballs on this Tailgate Tour. Outside of that, not too many. I thought he was going to go out for a pass, but it’s cool. I mean, you get all sorts of crazy things signed, so it’s not that big a deal.”
Maybe not, but Sanderson is a big deal, and not just because he’s the Cyclone who never lost a match while winning four consecutive NCAA wrestling championships, and not just because he claimed an Olympic gold medal in freestyle competition three years ago. No, he is a very important man because he returned to his roots. He became the head coach at his alma mater, charged with the task of adding to ISU’s eight national wrestling championships. He came close in his rookie season, guiding the Cyclones to second place behind Minnesota.
Football may be the financial heavyweight at Iowa State, and there’s plenty of passion for men’s basketball and second-year head coach Greg McDermott. When it comes to prestige, bragging rights and tradition, Cael Sanderson means everything to his school.
“I think he’s just huge, “said John Walters, the play-by-play voice of Iowa State football and men’s basketball. “Wrestling is such an important cog in the Iowa State machine, if you will. I mean it’s got the greatest tradition of any sport we have. Cael’s a huge part of that tradition, and the nice thing about Cael is, he’s not unlike Greg McDermott or (women’s basketball coach) Bill Fennelly. For him, this is a destination job. This is where he wants to be.”
Being where he wants to be entails meeting and greeting the public. So Sanderson made his second trip around ISU’s summer circuit as a head coach this spring. He shook hands, talked to old friends and familiar faces. And yes, he signed footballs.
This hasn’t always been the best part of Sanderson’s game, according to people like Walters. A modest man, he didn’t feel comfortable talking about himself. Now, though, he knows it must be done.
“Now, instead of just representing myself, you represent Iowa State’s wrestling team, “said Sanderson. “But it’s pretty much the same thing — trying to be the best you can be.”
Added Walters, “Cael wants to talk about the athletes, and as a coach, that’s easy. You can just talk about them. So it’s been a good transition for him. He’s got a great sense of humor. At our outings, he’s been really well-received. He’s surprised me with his public speaking ability and his personality and sense of humor. He really has all the elements you’re looking for.”
But public relations only carries a coach so far. Sanderson knows there must be success on the mat, success against the Iowas and Oklahoma States of the wrestling world.
So, with all the tailgating and footballs and the hoopla, he remains a man of purpose.
“I think the wrestling program is very important to the university, “said Sanderson. “Historically, if you look at it, we’re going to win national championships, we’re going to win conference championships and we’re gong to have national (individual) champions about every year. That’s really important to the athletic department.”
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