Pres. Leath Comments on Rhoads

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isuforlife

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Sep 6, 2007
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in all the years being a Cyclone, first time a President speacks out on what he wants, I like it we need a commitment and support to bring this program up
 

Die4Cy

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So, the university president acknowledges the dissent prevalent in open forums like CF when asked a question about it, and that hurts recruiting? Sorry, but any potential recruit can look at this site for five minutes and realize that Rhoads needs to turn things around next year or else they'll be playing for somebody else. Glib comments by Leath are more likely to be quickly forgotten than they are to have any demonstrable negative impact whatsoever.

Everyone complains about the contract, but that is one of the few things he has to sell on the campaign trail after a 2-10 year. If they improve, he'll be around. If they don't, he won't.
 

iowa_wildcat

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Jan 25, 2008
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I am not a Cyclone and all of you already know that. I can give you a view of this situation as an outsider. Recruits are not stupid. They also need a good strong bit of guidance. They should never attend a particular school because of the coach. Coaches are hired guns and come and go. A great recruiter sells the school and not any one individual. After all, why did any of you choose to attend ISU?
 

Scott34

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Its pretty obvious that the only people in this thread that are ok with Leaths comments are the ones that want him canned. I normally wouldn't mind that but obviously aren't looking at the bigger picture here
 

Scott34

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might be afraid Pollard won't have the balls to make a move next year if PR wins 2-3 games again. Pretty strong statement against both of them, not just the coach.

Not even close to a Leath fan, but there's still a reason he made these comments. If Pollard gets too attached to his hires he might be walking too.

So why address that at this point? Doing it now does nothing but cause conflict. You address that when the time comes. And if Leath fires Pollard, Leath himself needs to go. Pollard has done way more for this university right now than Leath can even think about at this point. I've never really been a huge fan of Pollard himself but I have never once said he isn't good at his job. Leath hasn't been here long and he is already showing he may not be the right guy for ISU.
 
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UNIGuy4Cy

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Its pretty obvious that the only people in this thread that are ok with Leaths comments are the ones that want him canned. I normally wouldn't mind that but obviously aren't looking at the bigger picture here
Leath knows the bigger picture he is meeting with the other college presidents in the Big 12. We need to start winning in this current state of college athletics.
 

IcSyU

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Nov 27, 2007
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The comment needs to be made if for no other reason than keeping the donors and such happy and letting them know if next year isn't improvement they're ready to make a move.

"Don't drop your season tickets yet. It's one year and either good things happen or you get a new coach."

It isn't Leath's job to dig Rhoads out of the mess Rhoads created.
 

jbhtexas

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Oct 20, 2006
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Why should this matter at all from a presidents standpoint?

You don't see why it should matter to the university president whether or not ISU is in a Power 5 conference? Are you being serious? During the last realignment malaise, did you not notice Geoffrey's very-public involvement? You do realize that the university presidents/chancellors make all major policy decisions for entities like the Big 12 and NCAA.
 

Stormin

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Apr 11, 2006
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I bet 99.9% of Iowans did not even know who Steven Leath is. To be honest, President Geoffrey was a far better President of ISU than Leath has been. I think we should can Leath and get a really good President like we had in Dr. Geoffrey.
 

CyFan61

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Oct 25, 2010
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Yes. I think Leath wants to distance himself from the "all is well, buckle up your seatbelts" crap that he has had to listen to JP and CPR say during the Tailgate Tour stops the last two years. Our president is saying to fans, "I know you're not stupid - the current product is crap." It's refreshing, and to me, serves as a jump-start to a more urgent off-season for the football program.

I agree. I am 100% sure that Leath is getting a lot of comments from alumni and big-money donors about the football team and the coach. These comments are necessary to let them know that he isn't just pulling a "Nothing to see here, all is well, move along" type move and to keep them interested for at least another year before either (1) Rhoads gets it together, or (2) ISU moves on without Rhoads.
 

CyFan61

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If we lose to UNI, Rhoads is gone and Pollard or Leath will follow.

If Leath loses his job because of the football team's performance, I'll seriously consider changing all of my attention to the NFL or NBA and away from college athletics. What an entirely stupid decision that would be.
 

KnappShack

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You don't see why it should matter to the university president whether or not ISU is in a Power 5 conference? Are you being serious? During the last realignment malaise, did you not notice Geoffrey's very-public involvement? You do realize that the university presidents/chancellors make all major policy decisions for entities like the Big 12 and NCAA.

We still have people on here saying they wished the Big 12 imploded and we moved to that Big East of a plan B. Better yet we still see the occasional ISU to the Mountain West comment.

It's obvious some people just don't get it
 

Mtowncyclone13

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You all take stuff way too seriously.

If this wasn't posted on CF no one would even know he made comments. I doubt our competition spends time listening to iowa public radio for football recruiting gossip.

Sometimes it is this site that takes a passing comment and blows it into a huge deal.

To the Hawkeye fan who said athletes don't go to school for a coach- that's about the only reason they go to a school. You think o-lineman want to play for Iowa or for KF? How about the #1 transfer for basketball each year? They are lining up for Hoi berg not for ISU. Totally different than a normal student who chooses a school.
 

isucy86

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Apr 13, 2006
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Everyone Knows the Score....

ISU fans, prospective recruits and opposing coaches. CPR has the 2015 season to turn things around or ISU will be looking for a new coach. If President Leath's statement seamed damaging- then I thing you are living in a fantasy land. Like it or not, college:football is a huge money maker for universities and the towns they are located. So President Leath has a vested interest in having a strong FB program.

IMO this was a message to Cyclone fans that we should have high expectations for our FB program. Just like we do for MBB. For those who might be questioning whether to buy seaon tickets for 2015- keep the faith because losing games is not OK. His statements also say the $5M buyout will not be an issue.
 

BoxsterCy

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So, the university president acknowledges the dissent prevalent in open forums like CF when asked a question about it, and that hurts recruiting? Sorry, but any potential recruit can look at this site for five minutes and realize that Rhoads needs to turn things around next year or else they'll be playing for somebody else. Glib comments by Leath are more likely to be quickly forgotten than they are to have any demonstrable negative impact whatsoever.

Everyone complains about the contract, but that is one of the few things he has to sell on the campaign trail after a 2-10 year. If they improve, he'll be around. If they don't, he won't.

Really true. Some of the posts here read like it's some underground secret that the program is in trouble and that CPR's job will likely be on the line next year. For crying out loud, it's like the Geico commercial, everyone knows that.
 

00clone

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Apr 12, 2011
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Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

I agree. I am 100% sure that Leath is getting a lot of comments from alumni and big-money donors about the football team and the coach. These comments are necessary to let them know that he isn't just pulling a "Nothing to see here, all is well, move along" type move and to keep them interested for at least another year before either (1) Rhoads gets it together, or (2) ISU moves on without Rhoads.

ISU fans, prospective recruits and opposing coaches. CPR has the 2015 season to turn things around or ISU will be looking for a new coach. If President Leath's statement seamed damaging- then I thing you are living in a fantasy land. Like it or not, college:football is a huge money maker for universities and the towns they are located. So President Leath has a vested interest in having a strong FB program.

IMO this was a message to Cyclone fans that we should have high expectations for our FB program. Just like we do for MBB. For those who might be questioning whether to buy seaon tickets for 2015- keep the faith because losing games is not OK. His statements also say the $5M buyout will not be an issue.


Yeah, pretty much these. To those wailing and gnashing teeth over this and recruits....this wasn't about recruits...it's about keeping the checkbooks of donors handy. JP went out and supported Rhoads, and while that will help with recruits, I'm sure that wasn't sitting well with some donors. Leath put this out in a less covered forum to keep the big donors happy. If Leath has to pick donors or recruits...he's picking donors first.
 

clonedude

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Apr 16, 2006
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Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

Leath is very unprofessional. He's proven it many times over already while at ISU. Not good leadership skills at all.

The university president should NEVER come out and make a statement like this. What good does it do anyone? Nothing.

I'm sure Rhoads knows the situation he's in right now. All this does is makes it nearly impossible for him to succeed next year. It basically is throwing Rhoads under the bus.

Leath is basically saying "yeah Paul Rhoads has one year to turn this thing around, and I'm announcing this to the world so that it will make it even that much tougher for him to go out and get any recruits."

I lost a TON of respect for Leath after the Bubu thing, and this is just another example that he's clueless IMO.
 

LindenCy

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Mar 19, 2006
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Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

Leath is very unprofessional. He's proven it many times over already while at ISU. Not good leadership skills at all.

The university president should NEVER come out and make a statement like this. What good does it do anyone? Nothing.

I'm sure Rhoads knows the situation he's in right now. All this does is makes it nearly impossible for him to succeed next year. It basically is throwing Rhoads under the bus.


Leath is basically saying "yeah Paul Rhoads has one year to turn this thing around, and I'm announcing this to the world so that it will make it even that much tougher for him to go out and get any recruits."

I lost a TON of respect for Leath after the Bubu thing, and this is just another example that he's clueless IMO.

Perhaps this is the intent. I am guessing that it is about donors as others have mentioned, although I wouldn't have handled it this way.

To those who previously said he didn't care about athletics, apparently that isn't the case. That doesn't make the statement better or worse, but obviously he cares.
 

DuckDynastyCy

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Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

Perhaps this is the intent. I am guessing that it is about donors as others have mentioned, although I wouldn't have handled it this way.

To those who previously said he didn't care about athletics, apparently that isn't the case. That doesn't make the statement better or worse, but obviously he cares.

Hello? If that is the case then fire CPR now. Leath is incompetent.
 

LindenCy

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Re: Everyone Knows the Score....

Hello? If that is the case then fire CPR now. Leath is incompetent.

Yeah, I'd agree. If you are going to put him in an impossible situation, it is better to let him go now, especially since it has been shown that this year to next year really isn't a lot of savings, due to the bonus. (not saying I agree with the incompetence, but some of these public statements do seem curious)
 
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