Gable Steveson Backed Amidst Backlash as NCAA Coach Gives Reality Check Over Return

College wrestling fans throughout the US awaited the current NCAA season. It did feature a ton of new talents, but also Gable Steveson, who has made his return to the sport after his endeavors in WWE and the NFL. However, this comeback was very controversial for the Olympic champion, as many fans questioned the integrity of the league, especially which should only permit junior-level wrestlers to compete.

Apart from all the controversy, the 24-year-old’s comeback to the sport has been successful with the Gophers, as it showcased that he hasn’t lost his touch in wrestling. Minnesota’s head coach was also observant about Steveson’s performances, and recently he expressed his candid thoughts on the Olympic champion.

A most awaited return for the head coach

Gable Steveson has multiple wrestling accolades to his name, as he is already a two-time NCAA champion and an Olympic gold medalist. With all his success, he only made the decision to try out for different sports but wasn’t making any progress in those areas. So, eventually, he ended up returning to college wrestling, which became a huge controversy. 

While the community raised plenty of questions, Minnesota’s head coach, Brandon Eggum, who had a favorable relationship with the wrestler, didn’t hesitate to welcome him to the team. The Gophers were once Steveson’s home, and it has become his place to aim for that third NCAA title. Eggum was also the person who had his chat with the Olympic champion about returning to the squad, which he revealed in an interview with FloWrestling, stating, “We’ve always known that he could come back and wrestle. We were just kind of waiting to see what was best for him. We had the discussion if he wanted to apply for the Olympic waiver, and if he wanted to come back and compete, we’d love to have him.”

Eggum knows about the potential that Steveson carries with him. Undoubtedly, diversifying into other sports diverted him from wrestling, but he maintained his skills. The Gophers’ head coach also revealed the reason behind him taking the Olympic champion to his team, stating, “He’s just an interesting individual to be around… just very competitive and obviously an extraordinary beast out there, but I think he thought this would be a really good fit for him. He just kind of increased the temperature in our room, and you could see guys were excited to have him come on and anchor the program, and he does a really good job of raising the bar and getting guys to believe in themselves.”

According to Eggum, Steveson’s return to the Gophers was vital to the team. Not only does his presence improve the team’s standings, but his experience also serves as a mentor to the younger wrestlers in the squad, providing them with valuable insights from the Olympic champion himself. Despite the community’s continued lack of support for Steveson, Eggum continues to stand by his decision to retain the wrestler on his team. Many were taken aback by Steveson’s decision to return to collegiate wrestling, for understandable reasons, and this decision also caught a certain legend off guard, who shared his own perspective on this comeback journey.

Another expert’s opinion on Gable Steveson’s return

Gable Steveson’s return to the NCAA made headlines out there, and the moment it was noticed by WWE legend Kurt Angle, he was taken aback by it. “I know he’s been training MMA; he tried out for the Bills; he was Final Cut; he could have made the team, but that’s how good of an athlete he is, and, uh, I hear now he wants to go back to college to wrestle,” the 1996 Olympic champion stated in an interview with Casey Salengo on eWrestlingNews’ official YouTube channel. 

Angle was the person who was present with Steveson when he signed his contract with WWE. The legend was aware that the Olympic wrestler’s endeavors in other sports didn’t work out, ultimately bringing him back to wrestling. However, college wrestling was something that was out of his prediction radar, as he stated, “He’s the Olympic gold medalist. But you know what? I think it’s because of the NIL. I don’t know what other reason to be honest with you unless he wants to win another NCAA title, but I mean, he’s an Olympic gold medalist. This is worlds apart.”

The WWE legend agreed that the Olympic champion must have his reasons for this comeback. The NCAA has undergone significant changes in recent years, potentially attracting Steveson to compete once again and pursue his third title with Minnesota. However, most of his pointers lean towards the NIL deals that have completely reformed the sport, giving these athletes major financial backing during their collegiate years. Angle still didn’t confirm any specific reason for Steveson’s return to the NCAA, but he’s confident that the wrestler could establish himself in the scene once again.