Byers has an intimate knowledge of wrestling, and he’s over-the-moon thrilled by Penn State’s historic achievements under Coach Cael Sanderson. Although he’s careful to compliment opposing wrestlers, the man known as “Ironhead” emanates an unforgettable roar whenever a Nittany Lion executes a winning move. With the NCAA Wrestling Championships about to take place in Philadelphia—and the Lions expected to win their 12th team title out of the last 14 competitions—I expect to hear that roar frequently.
Each year, I enjoy the chance to interview Ironhead between the Big Ten and NCAA championships. His predictions are spot-on, and his perspective about the character-building aspects of the sport are insightful. The following are highlights of our hour-long conversation, including introductory comments about Byers’ work with Sports Radio 98.7 – The Fox. Did you know that the station will be carrying Pirates baseball this season?
Before we talk wrestling, how would you assess the status of Fox Sports Radio 98.7, now a year and a half old?
Byers: I think we’ve built a pretty good foundation, and I think this next year will bring strong growth for us. We have the Pittsburgh Pirates coming on this year for the first time in a while for our area, so I’m excited about that. I am a huge Pirates-Steelers-Penguins fan, and it is neat that we have the opportunity to bring the Pirates back to the area. I’ve always expected to be able to turn on the radio and listen to baseball over the summer, and I’m thrilled that we’re going to be the ones providing that service. March 27 will be the season opener with the Pirates playing away at the Marlins.
I’m not sure how to transition from the struggling Pirates to the triumphant Nittany Lion wrestlers, but I’ll just ask you how it feels to be associated with Penn State’s wrestling team.
Byers: It’s just fun. It is amazing to have a front row seat to history; this program is history in the making, and I’m just along for the ride. I’ve told many people over the years—and it’s the truth—if Penn State had never won a national title and if Cael never came here, I would still be loving the job. I love the sport, I love the program, and I’ve loved all of the coaches I’ve worked with. But it’s really remarkable to see these coaches bring a different approach to a sport that’s been around as long as wrestling has.
