Paul Clark on KXNO
- Thread starter cycloneworld
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I don't have a problem with him, his delivery is not always the best but he tells it like he sees it pretty much, not just a total mouthpiece for the A.D. I appreciate that aspect. As was stated earlier, he clarified some things that were not true as well. You have to understand what issues ISU faces in order to improve
I guess what's particularly sad is most of these issues have been discussed at length on this site. For instance:
1. When a great number of fans place a greater importance on their right to leave at halftime so they can tailgate and down a few beers, which causes them to show up midway into the third quarter, if they show up at all, rather than sticking around and supporting the team as they come out of the locker room for the second half, you kind of have to question just how "die hard" this fan base is.
2. "Piece of junk" might be strong, but it's clearly not a strong point in our recruiting effort. Every other day we have threads about how the stadium needs to be refurbished, the south end zone needs to be bowled in, the sound system and scoreboard sucks, blase blase blase. But yet somehow fans get upset when JTS isn't treated as one of the best stadiums in the nation.
3. There is not a single person here that can argue that concessions are even "satisfactory" at ISU. Concessions might be good at JTS, but service is absolutely horrible.
4. Short of tailgating, which is one of the best in the nation, the gameday experience itself is one of the things that is complained about the most. Fans hate that we have few appreciable gameday traditions. Fans hate that (blanking on his name) leads pre-game cheers, and they're corny cheers at that. Fans hate the intro song. Fans hate that "Sweet Caroline" is played between the 3rd and 4th Quarters, or that it's played at all. Fans hate that tornado sirens aren't incorporated into the gameday experience. Fans hate that other fans place more importance on their tailgating than they do on the game, and as a result leave at halftime to go back to their tailgate, and are late coming back, if they come back at all. But yet we have this great gameday experience....
5. Paul Clark is a member of the media and has a job to do. Unlike most of us fans, gameday for us is workday for him. What he experiences during gameday directly applies to what he does the rest of the week. In other words, he can't afford to be a fan on Saturdays.
I guess I find it highly ironic that most of the points that Paul Clark brought up on the radio are brought up every other day on CF, and most of us tend to take Paul's side when we're arguing it amongst ourselves. However, Paul, a member of the media (with Cyclone allegiance) publicly brings up everything we know to be a problem, and suddenly he's out to bury ISU? Hypocritical much?
I would love to have Jack Trice bowled in like everyone else but right now all I care about is supporting the team on the field (which is probably one of the best fields in the country). Doesn't really matter where and what I sit in as long as I can see the game.
As far as concessions, I have had to wait in line for a lengthy time but it is because I brought my son who is eleven to the game. If I were by myself I would never hit the concessions as I take care of my food and drink while out tailgating. Those with kids probably hit concessions more than those that don't. If you have kids you know what I mean.
The game day experience is light years ahead of what it was when I went to school in Ames (1982-87). Yes there are issues with the sound system/video but that will change soon. Bowling in the south end zone will happen although not as quickly as we all want it but I cannot let what lies ahead take away from what we have now. I love ISU Football and everything that centers around the game day experience.
As far as concessions, I have had to wait in line for a lengthy time but it is because I brought my son who is eleven to the game. If I were by myself I would never hit the concessions as I take care of my food and drink while out tailgating. Those with kids probably hit concessions more than those that don't. If you have kids you know what I mean.
The game day experience is light years ahead of what it was when I went to school in Ames (1982-87). Yes there are issues with the sound system/video but that will change soon. Bowling in the south end zone will happen although not as quickly as we all want it but I cannot let what lies ahead take away from what we have now. I love ISU Football and everything that centers around the game day experience.
I see no problem with what he said. You have to take your cardinal and gold glasses off and look at things. As far as I am concerned I'm happy about it, put some heat on JP. There is no reason why we should be spending a couple million (probably more but I don't have the exact number) to build a soccer, track, and softball complex? When did they start bringing in money? You take care of the biggest money maker (football) first. When they get where they need to be then you start to take care of everyone else but not until that point.
I know we don't have the donor support for bowling in the end zone at this time but I think that will come in the next 10 years or so. Players and recruits don't care all that much about a nice new scoreboard, now if you give them the facilities and stadium that compare to the big name programs now your actually competing. Everyone should be e-mailing pollard complaining about how we spend our money on sports other than football.
I know we don't have the donor support for bowling in the end zone at this time but I think that will come in the next 10 years or so. Players and recruits don't care all that much about a nice new scoreboard, now if you give them the facilities and stadium that compare to the big name programs now your actually competing. Everyone should be e-mailing pollard complaining about how we spend our money on sports other than football.
Or, instead of whining about how money sent to support the ISU Athletic Department is spent on improving the Athletic Department, you could donate your money to the Gridiron Club, which is spent exclusively on football.
By the way, the new soccer complex is definitely a need - better to spend money up front to build a new complex outside of a flood plain than to have to waste money repairing it every other year due to flooding.
I more than likely will once I graduate.
From what I have heard the soccer coaches have the facility they want (they feel is one of best in the conference) and are being forced to move since the new facilities will be built on current intramural fields and they have to give something back to them so the current soccer complex will become an intramural field.
Then you don't think we deserve to be a BCS school, because we wouldn't. Breaking news: women's bb loses $800k+ a year, wrestling loses tons, VB the same. Those are all nationally-competitive programs, and their costs go up every year. You want to cut or freeeze their funding? Great, just great...:sad:
I would say Pollard has his priorities perfectly in line. A football complex next to the indoor facility will immediately have an effect on players/recruits as well as coach retention for football and other sports I am assuming it will contain training facilities or an upgrade in training facilities as Pollard said it would be similar to Sukkup. And if it doesn't, it creates space in the Jacosen building for expansion. Rhoads has said time and time agains our S&C/training facilities are poor and int immediate need of an upgrade. The football complex would directly affect players/recruits and affect them daily versus 7 times a year. It would also lead to retention of current staff. A new scoreboard will have an effect of closing off the north endzone adding a more big time/enclosed feel.
Like you said, the $$$ is not there for the south endzone so building a track and soccer complex is not preventing anything of need from happening. We are required to have X number of sports to retain D1 status so ultimately you will have to support those sports with some funding. Considering the current state of the track and soccer complexes, I would say ISU has gotten by on the cheap for many, many years.
I think the track has a major donor. It is too bad that person does not donate to a sport that will help this department remain viable long-term.
Some place value on current Director's Cup standings. Imo we should put priority on insuring we can compete in 10-20 years.
Some place value on current Director's Cup standings. Imo we should put priority on insuring we can compete in 10-20 years.
:swoon: GASP!
- I have never waited 20 minutes in line
- I never go at halftime
- 20 minutes isn't all that uncommon at halftime in a lot of stadiums
- This isn't the biggest reason people aren't back in their seats.
The concessions ARE AWFUL. BEYOND AWFUL. The people working can't count back change if you bought a $5 coke and paid with a $20. Its embarrassing. With that said, it has absolutely nothing to do with whether people fill the Jack or not. But holy crap, I don't know how you can bag on anyone for saying otherwise. Am I not allowed to be an ISU fan if I was on that show and expressed that opinion if it was the topic, b/c I certainly would say that. I've emailed JP about it. It's embarassing as hell.
The sports I was thinking was more along the lines of swimming, golf, and tennis.
I'm thinking there are some people on here who are way too oversensitive. Most of the stuff he said was true.
Paul is a realistic cyclone supporter, he ceased being a fan (as most think of it) when it became his job. He still supports the cyclones and I appreciate his realistic view off the current state of ISU athletics. Contrary to what some may believe it is ok to say not everything is perfect with your team or school as long as you are trying to honestly access the situation and not just react to whatever just happened.
The stadium and atmosphere could use improvement, although the biggest improvement that could happen to the atmosphere is to win more often. When the game is exciting or anticipated the crowd is very into the game, to make every game anticipated you just need to get a winning streak going.
The less important things being talked about do contribute, but alot less than winning can. Bowling in the endzone would make a marked difference I believe because even if you did not add a second level you would still increase the number of seats in the stadium, I know from people that I have invited to the games (causal fans) that they are not nearly as interested in going if they cannot sit in a seat. The hillsides are popular with some and it is unique to ISU, but we will still have the north hillsides for those fans. I do believe a game like Utah would have better attendance if there were more lower level endzone seating available, you only have to look at the current endzone seats to see that they could be filled.
The stadium and atmosphere could use improvement, although the biggest improvement that could happen to the atmosphere is to win more often. When the game is exciting or anticipated the crowd is very into the game, to make every game anticipated you just need to get a winning streak going.
The less important things being talked about do contribute, but alot less than winning can. Bowling in the endzone would make a marked difference I believe because even if you did not add a second level you would still increase the number of seats in the stadium, I know from people that I have invited to the games (causal fans) that they are not nearly as interested in going if they cannot sit in a seat. The hillsides are popular with some and it is unique to ISU, but we will still have the north hillsides for those fans. I do believe a game like Utah would have better attendance if there were more lower level endzone seating available, you only have to look at the current endzone seats to see that they could be filled.
He's not representing Iowa State any more than you or I are you idiot. Holy crap. He doesn't work for Iowa State. What is your major malfunction. Am I not an ISU fan if I speak the truth and not just say whatever lie makes ISU sound better. What kind of society do you live in? When your kids come home with C's, do you just lie and tell people they got A's so everyone feels better? Is that the type of person you are?
I know I have never waited 20 minutes in line at JTS. Probably not even 10.
The peope who complain about that wait should go to the concession stand at any pro stadium or most all other college stadiums. Getting in, out, around, and to the concessions stand at JTS takes less time than any other major venue I've never been to. People who are complaning have apparently not attended games elsewhere and are just looking for something to complain about.
The peope who complain about that wait should go to the concession stand at any pro stadium or most all other college stadiums. Getting in, out, around, and to the concessions stand at JTS takes less time than any other major venue I've never been to. People who are complaning have apparently not attended games elsewhere and are just looking for something to complain about.
I listened to the same segment that you did and I just didn't get the same "feel" you did. I thought Paul did a great job defending and attempting to explain some of the attendance issues and overall represented Iowa State and Iowa State's fanbase interest in a very professional and complimentary manner.
I get the sense that you have your mind made up that you don't like Paul therefore no matter what he said you would find a way to find fault with it. Sorry if I'm wrong but that is the "feel" I get from your post.
Once again, we can have discussions without calling each other idiots. Respectfully disagree if you want, but save the namecalling.
