A must-read piece for any ISU fan from the Athletic...
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Between the forum and some W&B podcasts there’s been a healthy debate about who belongs on ISU’s ‘Mount Rushmore.’
As time continues to go by, and reading things like this, we’re at the point where I’m not sure how you can leave Pollard off the ‘mountain.’
As time continues to go by, and reading things like this, we’re at the point where I’m not sure how you can leave Pollard off the ‘mountain.’
This was on my Athletic feed this morning. An absolutely great story about the ISU athletic department.
Naturally, unless you're a subscriber it will be behind a paywall, but in case they're doing any sort of specials, like a week or even a few days free, it's worth the read.
Simply a terrific piece that will fill you with pride to be a Cyclone fan.
‘Grow our own fans’: How Iowa State found a golden era after college athletics’ longest climb
Forever a college sports have-not, the Iowa State athletic department’s financial and competitive forecast has never looked better.www.nytimes.com
That is a fantastic article. Not only is it filled with facts and touching perspectives, but it lacks entirely the snarkiness or innuendos that often come when Eastern Iowa people write or talk about Iowa State. In fact, if you didn't know who wrote it, you might think it was written by Brent Blum!
Also loved this quote:
“It’s funny because I tell my girls all the time, this is the golden era of Iowa State athletics, and you don’t even know it,” said Stephanie Copley.
Very true. The next generation will know Iowa State primarily for its success in football and basketball!
“It’s funny because I tell my girls all the time, this is the golden era of Iowa State athletics, and you don’t even know it,” said Stephanie Copley.
Very true. The next generation will know Iowa State primarily for its success in football and basketball!
There shouldn’t be a day that goes by that we don’t thank our lucky stars that we’ve had Campbell for 10 years.
We like to talk about how unlucky we are. But the stroke of luck that got us him and that has kept him here is worth a hell of a lot.
Our basketball program has had frequent success over the last 40 years. But the success over the last 4 is even more impressive.
Our football success is on a whole other level. The list is long but the most simple is conference record.
Don't think it was a stroke of luck. CMC has said the fans impressed him so much when Toledo played here in 2014. The administration's capabilities must have had a ton to do with it, too.
I think it was a people decision, fans and Pollard. Just a thought, no more.
(Maybe I'm being too literal; yeah, luck always has something to do with it. Sorry.)
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The football buildup has been pretty remarkable. To get to the title game in 2020 with our roster felt a bit like catching lightning in a bottle. To be there last year, it really feels like we’ve arrived and that we can stay near this level.
For basketball, it’s now time to take the next step. 4 years in the NCAA tournament and 2 Sweet 16s is nice but the program is ready for a deeper run.
True. But there’s plenty of luck. We’re lucky he paid attention that day. We’re lucky that he wasn’t swayed by the Missouri job the year he came here. We’re lucky his family likes it here. We’re lucky that the one year when he really may have been open to moving on, he didn’t get the chance.
Basketball is just weird. I bet few programs have as many sweet 16s as we have in the last 10-15 years with no going further
The author is 100% right in ranking ISU with the have-nots, especially regarding football. We were considered a football coaching graveyard. There was serious discussion whether we could ever compete as a P5 conference member. In the '90s, our facilities were an embarrassment. We were widely considered a school likely to be left out in the musical chairs of conference realignment. And that 15-year losing streak to Iowa. Not all the recovery was Pollard, but he was responsible more than any other individual.
These are the same words I share with my sons and they just don’t get it……..They don’t grasp why dad doesn’t get as amped up as he once did about Cyclones sporting events. While part of it is maturity and perspective, a good portion of it is just wanting to enjoy the ride that has been long overdue……
OR, maybe it only seems like 'luck'. I've always held Iowa State dear to my heart. What's quite evident is the sheer number of people who do the same. That's not luck. Yet, that's what prompted CMC to come here. And, that's what continues to shine in the face of comparison with other universities. My only hope is that when the chips are down, we don't revert to becoming like every other fan base. I just hope we've got enough in the tank to survive the next round of realignment.
I feel like he should be the first one up there!
Afterward, Pollard received a text from Campbell, who let the athletic director know if he needed to withhold more, he could. The athletic director choked up five years later recalling that moment: “Who does that?”
“It was critical for me to make sure that we kept our great people,” Campbell said. “It’s always been about that, the people that are working with us here. It did end up taking a lot more than whatever the 10 percent was, but I would rather take it than lose some of our good people that it was going to affect.”
i love this man
also someone explain to me how copley gets an interview for that? lol
“It was critical for me to make sure that we kept our great people,” Campbell said. “It’s always been about that, the people that are working with us here. It did end up taking a lot more than whatever the 10 percent was, but I would rather take it than lose some of our good people that it was going to affect.”
i love this man
also someone explain to me how copley gets an interview for that? lol
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