Penn State wrestling: Why does music play during matches now at Rec Hall? Cael Sanderson explains
Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson heard a fan scream for the Rec Hall operations team to turn off the music during the 125-pound bout of last Friday’s 28-9 Nittany Lion win over Ohio State. The spectator did not get his wish, as in-match music continued throughout the 10 bouts at Rec Hall. And, next time, the sound may be even louder. The fact that the longtime Lions coach could even hear the fan’s complaint is part of the reason why the Rec Hall speakers have played music during bouts at the team’s last two home dual meets.
“Rec Hall is like awkwardly quiet,” Sanderson said Friday night. “We need some noise in there. I did hear a couple people this time saying, ‘Turn the music off.’ If people made more noise, we would turn the music off. It’s just so quiet in there. You can hear a 4-year-old kid up in the corner yell, ‘We Are,’ and if that’s the case, it’s too quiet. It’s awkward. This is a sporting event. Let’s make some noise.”
Penn State wrestling fans are notoriously quiet early in matches until points start piling up for the home side. It’s not uncommon for that to be the case across the sport. But, during Friday’s match, it was absolutely quiet enough to chat with your seat neighbor, hear the coaches shouting instructions, and catch any taunt thrown at the Buckeyes more often than not. That’s something Sanderson and his team obviously hope to change moving forward. Until then, the in-match music will continue.
“We’re trying to just make it less awkward, so you can talk and have a conversation with somebody sitting next to you without everybody in the arena hearing it,” Sanderson said. “That music’s not coming off. We like it. We might crank it up a little bit more.”
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Penn State is set to head to Iowa on Friday night. The top five showdown is set for 9 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network. The Nittany Lions are undefeated still, while the Hawkeyes suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of Michigan last Friday night.
“I just know there’s a gap,” Iowa coach Tom Brands said before the Michigan match when asked about preparing to face the Wolverines and Nittany Lions. “Whether we’re two or three or four or whatever were ranked, it doesn’t matter,” Brands said. “There’s a gap between whatever we are and No. 1. Are we looking ahead to our detriment? No, we’re not, but we know what’s coming up.”
Penn State will be a heavy favorite for the Big Ten’s match of the year.
