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By Andy Stine
astine@altoonamirror.com
There is no other way around it. The loss of David Taylor to the Pennsylvania wrestling community is a big one.
It also might be the most shocking hire since Cael Sanderson was pulled away from his alma mater at Iowa State to come to Penn State in 2009.
Can you really blame Taylor for taking the job as the head man at Oklahoma State? He is taking over one of the most storied programs in the history of college wrestling. The Cowboys have the most national championships (34) in college wrestling, including five won by John Smith, who retired last month.
It's very possible that his dream job is at Penn State, and Taylor would be a tremendous choice as the guy who takes over for Sanderson, whenever that will be. The next sign of the Nittany Lion program slowing down will be the first, and Sanderson is only 44 years old. Taylor could have been waiting a while if he was holding out for Penn State.
Spare me the argument that Taylor, 33, has never been a coach before. He's never been a college coach before, but he's coached plenty of world-class athletes at the M2 Training Center in State College. Levi Haines has turned out pretty well for himself after getting his first national title as a sophomore at PSU, and he came straight from Taylor's factory.
PSU wrestling phenom Carter Starocci, who just announced his intention to return to the program next season in search of an unprecedented five Division I titles, had a few words for Taylor on X on Wednesday.
Starocci questioned Taylor's loyalty to Penn State, and said he was offered a big payday, too.
Chalk this one up as just another of Starocci's antics. The guy really has a future in UFC or WWE after his college career. It is probable that everyone in State College feels it's a great opportunity for Taylor, even if the Nittany Lion Wrestling Club suffers for it.
Starocci revealed he would like to wrestle Oklahoma State in Beaver Stadium in November this season. Who wouldn't be all for it?
Is Oklahoma State going to challenge Penn State's dominance any time soon? It's possible, but it probably won't be for a couple years.
Remember that PSU's first national title under Sanderson came in his second season, but the Nittany Lions finished in ninth place at nationals his first year.
The rebuild of a program doesn't happen overnight, although the cupboard certainly isn't bare for Taylor in Stillwater.
Will this hurt Penn State in recruiting when it comes to Pennsylvania? We'll find out how good of a recruiter Taylor is soon, but it wouldn't be surprising.
The next prized recruit in our area will be Bishop McCort's Jax Forrest, who even participated at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials in State College last month as a rising junior in high school. That will be a good litmus test to the future of recruiting.
No matter how you feel about Taylor jumping to Oklahoma State, there is no doubt that it can only be good for the sport.
Andy Stine can be reached at astine@altoonamirror.com.