BLUM: Hold your calendars for Dec. 2nd?

[stateofmind]

You sonofa...Blum. I try to keep even-keeled, but now you've done it. Here is the best stat of the year and gives me some hope that we are conditioned well enough to handle the 85 degree temps Saturday.
ISU is averaging 21.0 points after intermission, outscoring its opponents,126-54 in the second half.

 

[Tre4ISU]

Great article, and I love the thinking! Instead of settling for six wins, why not envision a season for the ages? I always love it when a team goes for a touchdown on 3rd and 1, instead of just trying to get the first down. I agree with you; with the level of football this team has played this year (and last!), they are much better than many realize. They were in position to have more wins last year, but couldn't hold on to substantial late-game leads, against very good teams. (OSU and Baylor are the two I remember off the top of my head?)

Also, I hate being a nazi, but noticed a typo: in the 8th paragraph, it says "tenants" when the word should be tenets. Just wanted to mention it, in case you felt like editing the article.

IMO, the past two teams should have won 7-8 games from a talent standpoint. This team is vastly superior in one area and that's DL which, I would say, if someone did these types of analytics, accounts for as many win shares as any position group out there. A good (not great yet) DL is probably worth at least two games. So, winning 10 games shouldn't have been out of the question theoretically but we gave 2 away so that's not likely to happen. Still, if you can get to 8 or 9, that sets you up really well for next year when you're replacing 8 starters and almost all of them have someone right behind them who could be even better. I'm just not seeing any drop off for 2018 in really any position although having young safeties worries me a little.

 

[CyArob]

@brentblum

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

How I currently feel about our football program.

 

[CTTB78]

A little too much "bring on Bama" hype for me. Six wins is still my goal for showing improvement with the program. It's still way too early to start talking in 'hok mode'.

 

[runbikeswim]

Amazing what playing sound fundamental football can do I really am impressed with how exceptional our tackling has been

 

[SCarolinaCy]

Some kool-aid for your Thursday.

https://cyclonefanatic.com/2017/10/blum-hold-your-calendars-for-december-2nd/

".......has six games left to get two wins to get to bowl eligibility..." What? What fan base talks about winning two the next six games as a measure of some type of success?

 

[cyhiphopp]

@brentblum

Hey @CyArob!

 

[brentblum]

".......has six games left to get two wins to get to bowl eligibility..." What? What fan base talks about winning two the next six games as a measure of some type of success?

More Iowa State fans than you'd think, thus the reason for writing.

 

[CyGuy5]

As much as I love to see this, I don't think this will happen.

 

[Chitowncy]

I believe, Blum. Pass me whatever you're having.

It would be just amazing to see this team put together a year similar to that 9 - 3 year that team in the early 2000s (might have been 2000) put together.

Regardless, I hope people take a step back at the end of the year and assess their expectations based on what they felt (and what was reasonable) at the beginning of the year. Reading some posts, I get the impression some posters will be disappointed with 6 wins. That's nuts in my book. Campbell just remade a roster in a tough conference with a historically below average Power 5 program and took them to a bowl. People shouldn't reset their expectations just because we've had a week or two with unbelievable success. You need to take a "totality of the circumstances" viewpoint and recognize getting to 6 wins is a serious accomplishment in year 2!

 

[CloniesForLife]

Thanks for the heads up Blum. Submitted my PTO for that Friday and got a flight and hotel booked.

 

[NickTheGreat]

But but but I read on CF we can't win any games with Kempt at QB. (Besides the 2 he already won)

 

[CycloneErik]

Bring on Bama!

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

This is exactly how I feel Blum. I'm not looking at our schedule saying how many wins might we get? I'm looking at it going, how many loses might we get? There are no auto loses. We can win this season out, and I truly believe that.

 

[FinalFourCy]

Should have/could be 6-0 right now. This team has some talent, and outside of the OL can compete with anyone.

 

[CTTB78]

Jim Mora alert-- "Win out????!!!"

Maybe if we had a Big10 West schedule.....

 

[Cycsk]

Some of the Negative Nancy's in the bowl prediction thread need to read Blum's article.

 

[harimad]

Some of the Negative Nancy's in the bowl prediction thread need to read Blum's article.

Or Blum needs to read the negative Nancys. I guess we'll all know in a few weeks, just who was right and who was wrong.

 

[Cycsk]

Or Blum needs to read the negative Nancys. I guess we'll all know in a few weeks, just who was right and who was wrong.

No doubt. I'll go with Blum.