An honest, hypothetical question

[Cyclone42]

Let's just say, hypothetically, that at the time Pollard was hired, we didn't hire him and instead hired someone who was totally, completely inept. How would the situation in the ISU athletic department in this hypothetical world be any worse than they are today, in our real world?

 

[1100011CS]

We'd probably still have DMac, BD and WM and be better off than we are now BUT that is easy to say now. There's no way JP could have known his quality hires would hit the road and I haven't given up on GMac, yet.

 

[HiltonMagic]

Let's just say, hypothetically, that at the time Pollard was hired, we didn't hire him and instead hired someone who was totally, completely inept.

Are we sure he's not totally, completely inept?

How would the situation in the ISU athletic department in this hypothetical world be any worse than they are today, in our real world?

None, hell, we'd probably be better...

 

[cmhawks99]

Let's just say, hypothetically, that at the time Pollard was hired, we didn't hire him and instead hired someone who was totally, completely inept. How would the situation in the ISU athletic department in this hypothetical world be any worse than they are today, in our real world?

This is either an honest question with a rather intriguing story line, or a thinly veiled attempt to say JP sucks. All the same I’ll lend an outside perspective.

JP polarized ISU athletics and gave Clone fans an identity in this state like no other before Johnny Orr in my opinion. He did a fantastic job of irritating Iowa fans and giving people notice that ISU was no ones patsy. IMO the thing that has irritated ISU fans the most about Iowa fans is their failure to acknowledge them or even be really threatened by them. Even AFTER you beat us in football we still failed to take you seriously. JP came in and put up Billboards in IC of all places (or there about). He has raised the awareness for the need of facility improvements and increased the cash flow to do so.

I honestly don't see how one can't see him to be at least marginally successful considering he has helped give ISU an identity and oh by the way I don't care for him.

Now on the other hand one must confess he is having a gawd awful time hiring a coach who will stay. Now is this Iowa State athletics being the problem or him. Furthermore if he is an "egomaniac" as some like to claim did he really hire a good coach in PR or someone he could finally push around. Or worse yet someone who would just stay.

Just my thoughts and by the way PR seems like a solid dude to me.

Chad

 

[Angie]

We could still be having mediocre-at-best attendance at MBB and (more importantly for the health of the athletic department) football games, instead of record-breaking season ticket sales. We could still have crap football facilities and be nowhere near having basketball practice facilities that will impress recruits. We could have coaches continuing to bring in mediocre talent, instead of some of the best recruits in the nation. Yeah, that would all be awesome.

 

[zach]

We could still be having mediocre-at-best attendance at MBB and (more importantly for the health of the athletic department) football games, instead of record-breaking season ticket sales. We could still have crap football facilities and be nowhere near having basketball practice facilities that will impress recruits. We could have coaches continuing to bring in mediocre talent, instead of some of the best recruits in the nation. Yeah, that would all be awesome.

I'd give you a + rep, but you know the story!



Z

 

[Angie]

I'd give you a + rep, but you know the story!



Z

I'll just rep you back instead. :wink:

 

[Dave19642006]

Are we sure he's not totally, completely inept?



None, hell, we'd probably be better...

I did see him wear a cardinal baseball hat

 

[Cyrocks]

JP came in and put up Billboards in IC of all places (or there about).
Chad

Okay. This has been discussed so much people throw up over it, but...

Why did that billboard cause such a stir with Iowa fans? I mean, Randy Peterson of the Register thought it was a story. Iowa puts up billboards like that in Des Moines -- which is just as close to Ames as where Pollard put up the ISU billboard.

I have to hear it from a reasonable person, cmhawks

 

[GoShow97]

This thread is funny

 

[ricochet]

Why did that billboard cause such a stir with Iowa fans? I mean, Randy Peterson of the Register thought it was a story. Iowa puts up billboards like that in Des Moines -- which is just as close to Ames as where Pollard put up the ISU billboard.

I agree, I never understood why this was such a big deal. I think it really speaks to the Iowa fans mentality that ISU should just know their role and not get "uppity". I like that Pollard isn't afraid to stir things up.

 

[cmhawks99]

Okay. This has been discussed so much people throw up over it, but...

Why did that billboard cause such a stir with Iowa fans? I mean, Randy Peterson of the Register thought it was a story. Iowa puts up billboards like that in Des Moines -- which is just as close to Ames as where Pollard put up the ISU billboard.

I have to hear it from a reasonable person, cmhawks

Honestly I forgot about this thread.....................Ricochet nailed it as much as anyone. ISU, pre JP, for all intents and purposes did "know their place" so-to-speak (Ricochet's words not mine). The Billboard shouldn't have been a big deal, but they pretty much knew Eastern Iowa was ours and as far as that goes so is lots of Des Moines. He, rightful knew, ISU needs more fans and they need to be recruited and cultivated.

On a corollary note, many an ISU fans throws a fit about the Iowa fans that didn't go to school there. Couldn't be a dumber thing said from an "Athletic" perspective. Iowa has mostly been more successful for one reason and one reason alone. More fans, more support, more money. It's that simple. JP rather than accept that Iowa would always have more fans and more support set about trying to change that. It's an up hill battle and based on what I read on here, he is now losing his audience.

Good for us, bad for you.

Chad

 

[Cyclonepride]

Short term, we may not be better off, but I think Jamie has had the courage to do what is best for ISU in the long term, and I'm looking forward to the future.

 

[jaretac]

Here is a hypothetical for you. If we had hired someone completely inept instead of JP, how would we be ten years from now?

JP may not have had much success on the field, but in improving the department budget and facilities, he has given us a better chance for success in years to come.

 

[dosry5]

I'll just rep you back instead. :wink:

You two need to get a room. :yes:

 

[jaretac]

Beyond facilities and budget improvements, I think the best thing Pollard has done is improve fan interaction, particularly with kids. If we can get kids growing up as Cyclones, then it will improve our fan base in the future. Of course, winning is also important in growing our fan base, but that will come.

 

[BryceC]

He did a fantastic job of irritating Iowa fans and giving people notice that ISU was no ones patsy.

Unfortunately we've been just about everybody's patsy on the field.

He's done a good job growing the budget. I'm not sure if someone who is totally inept could have done that.

I do think we would have seen better teams the last few years though.