Better times coming?

[Boomer]

Can you share the rankings from our conference brethren?

http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&view=2&yr=2015
http://sports.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/teamrank/2015/BIG12/all
http://247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/CompositeTeamRankings?Conference=Big-12
http://espn.go.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/conference/_/class/2015/id/4 * not very helpful

 

[fenton06]

I doubt I go to a game anyway. Personally, the in-home TV experience is highly superior to the stadium experience.

I can't breathe....from laughing so hard.

 

[CyclONEfanisu]

Consistent Quarterback play and a decent running game would help a lot this upcoming season. When Richardson played well he put up pretty good numbers, when he played bad he we all out bad hoisting horrific numbers. If he could just manage the bad times better and not force passes we would compete a lot better. Another key would be a running game, ours was horrible till Wimberly stepped up late in the season. I see the Cyclones starting off 2-2 next year. In theory we should start 3-1 or 4-0 for being a Big 12 BCS school. But in reality the Cyclones will have it tough with UNI and Iowa. I would like to think we can beat Toledo and Kansas. Then again the Cy-Hawk game are usually close and I think UNI will be hurting next year without David Johnson. Great slate for the Cyclones to start the year, I may be dreaming but a 3-1 start could be in the cards with good play from the cyclones and favorable home games. Although I see the Cyclones ending up 5-7 or 4-8 next season.

 

[klamath632]

So you are not going to watch Iowa State Football in the newly expanded stadium next year?

I have been a Cyclone Fan for over 45 years. I am not going to miss it. And yes, I am hopeful for next season. And as a Cyclone fan, I have been kicked in the nuts many, many, many, many times over the years. Which makes the times we are not kicked in the nuts, a very special time.

No, I was actually just having a little fun adapting a Bushism for this thread. I'm very unhappy with the direction of the football program. I'm not any less of a Cyclone for it though.

 

[jbindm]

First of all, Jack Trice is undergoing an expansion. And we play 3 home games in our first 4 games. Against UNI, Iowa, and Kansas. Probably sell out all 3 games. With 2 more home dates after October 3, against TCU and Texas. Beautiful tailgating weather.

That is all positive right there. IMO, and the opinion of most, ISU will be improved next year. Demond Tucker and Leath are huge additions up front on the Defensive Line. And that does not even include all the guys that return from injury.

Stay home if you want. You will miss a great home slate. And the home schedule is half over by October 3. Those wanting to wait will find that the ship will have sailed without them.

I appreciate your optimism and I hope next season is the year that the program starts to trend up, but I think you're wrong about sellouts being automatic. You're correct in saying that the stadium expansion and tailgating weather will draw some fans in, but you also conveniently ignore the 5-19 record compiled over the last two seasons. Not everyone is going to pony up in advance if they haven't seen anything to indicate that a turnaround is on the horizon.
I agree that they'll be better; the question is how much better, and nobody will know the answer to that for sure until we've seen the on field product. Unless you're talking drastic improvement like 6+ wins then it won't be enough to keep filling up JTS.
CPR has lost a portion of the fanbase and the only way to get them back will be to win. Nice weather and some new seating aren't going to fill the seats.

 

[capitalcityguy]

I doubt I go to a game anyway. Personally, the in-home TV experience is highly superior to the stadium experience.

Thanks for your the cliche'd contribution to the forum. It adds so much.

 

[Stormin]

I appreciate your optimism and I hope next season is the year that the program starts to trend up, but I think you're wrong about sellouts being automatic. You're correct in saying that the stadium expansion and tailgating weather will draw some fans in, but you also conveniently ignore the 5-19 record compiled over the last two seasons. Not everyone is going to pony up in advance if they haven't seen anything to indicate that a turnaround is on the horizon.
I agree that they'll be better; the question is how much better, and nobody will know the answer to that for sure until we've seen the on field product. Unless you're talking drastic improvement like 6+ wins then it won't be enough to keep filling up JTS.
CPR has lost a portion of the fanbase and the only way to get them back will be to win. Nice weather and some new seating aren't going to fill the seats.

I did not say sellouts are automatic. I said that the first 3 home games on our schedule next year will probably be sellouts. That is a far cry from the claims you said I made.

UNI and Iowa. Sellouts. Kansas, first conference game at home and a good chance to win it on October 3. Good chance for sellout.

The Iowa State home schedule is very favorable from a fan perspective. The early games will sell out even if season ticket sales are down a bit.

CPR has his critics within the fanbase. And plenty of fans like me will go to the games next year with optimism that our team will improve. If there is no improvement then Pollard will do what needs to be done so that improvement is made. And I will go to the games in the future with optimism then also.

IMO, we will have decent attendance numbers next year at least for the first 3 games. And Pollard. the businessman, will get creative to make sure tickets get sold.

 

[jbindm]

I did not say sellouts are automatic. I said that the first 3 home games on our schedule next year will probably be sellouts. That is a far cry from the claims you said I made.

UNI and Iowa. Sellouts. Kansas, first conference game at home and a good chance to win it on October 3. Good chance for sellout.

The Iowa State home schedule is very favorable from a fan perspective. The early games will sell out even if season ticket sales are down a bit.

CPR has his critics within the fanbase. And plenty of fans like me will go to the games next year with optimism that our team will improve. If there is no improvement then Pollard will do what needs to be done so that improvement is made. And I will go to the games in the future with optimism then also.

IMO, we will have decent attendance numbers next year at least for the first 3 games. And Pollard. the businessman, will get creative to make sure tickets get sold.

You're right; in your post I quoted you said the first three home games are probably sellouts; not automatic. Sorry for not quoting you correctly. We won't worry about the bolded parts here.
But I stand by my point that the recent track record is sufficient enough to put a dent in attendance until Rhoads and Co. start putting up some Ws on a consistent basis. And I hope they do. Most ISU fans just want a winner, and I still think most of us want Rhoads to be the guy leading the charge. But they've gone backwards enough where some people are going to stay away until some real progress is made on the field.

 

[CyCy]

According to Rivals, they rank our recruiting classes as 9th in the league in 2013, 10th in 2014 and 10th so far in 2015. Doesn't look like much relative improvement

I'm wondering if there is star ranking inflation (similar to GPA inflation) with the ranking services. Give more players more stars, then everybody is happy because it looks like they are recruiting better.

 

[Yellow Snow]

You're right; in your post I quoted you said the first three home games are probably sellouts; not automatic. Sorry for not quoting you correctly. We won't worry about the bolded parts here.
But I stand by my point that the recent track record is sufficient enough to put a dent in attendance until Rhoads and Co. start putting up some Ws on a consistent basis. And I hope they do. Most ISU fans just want a winner, and I still think most of us want Rhoads to be the guy leading the charge. But they've gone backwards enough where some people are going to stay away until some real progress is made on the field.

I feel pretty much the same way you do. The best thing to happen that would help attendance would be to come out and put the boots to UNI like an English soccer hooligan. That might restore some confidence in the team.

 

[clonedude]

According to Rivals, they rank our recruiting classes as 9th in the league in 2013, 10th in 2014 and 10th so far in 2015. Doesn't look like much relative improvement

I'm wondering if there is star ranking inflation (similar to GPA inflation) with the ranking services. Give more players more stars, then everybody is happy because it looks like they are recruiting better.

I think this is what is happening for the most part. Stars are being inflated. Our recruiting has not gotten that much better IMO.

I do think it has improved slightly, but is not keeping up with the rest of the conference, so in fact, we are kind of getting worse.

Also, I think some of the coaching has gotten worse at certain positions, namely defensive backs. IMO, it won't matter too much how good the talent is there with the way they are coached. If you NEVER turn your head, you can never make a play on the ball.

And offensively, we will never be good again until we play physical again on the OL. This finesse game doesn't cut it. It is why we can't run the ball, and without being able to run the ball, you're toast. So sick and tired of our QB being our leading rusher on just QB scrambles. That is flat out pathetic and Mangino should be ashamed of it.

 

[Wesley]

First of all, Jack Trice is undergoing an expansion. And we play 3 home games in our first 4 games. Against UNI, Iowa, and Kansas. Probably sell out all 3 games. With 2 more home dates after October 3, against TCU and Texas. Beautiful tailgating weather.

That is all positive right there. IMO, and the opinion of most, ISU will be improved next year. Demond Tucker and Leath are huge additions up front on the Defensive Line. And that does not even include all the guys that return from injury.

Stay home if you want. You will miss a great home slate. And the home schedule is half over by October 3. Those wanting to wait will find that the ship will have sailed without them.

Might know the verdict by first half of UNI game.

 

[CyCloned]

The real key to success for ISU is retention. Yes, better recruiting will help, but you are never going to win with 3/4s of your two deep is first year JUCOs and lower classmen. ISU needs to have 8-10 5th year seniors as starters, just like every other decent team. This is particularly true in both lines.

 

[nhclone]

And offensively, we will never be good again until we play physical again on the OL. This finesse game doesn't cut it. It is why we can't run the ball, and without being able to run the ball, you're toast. So sick and tired of our QB being our leading rusher on just QB scrambles. That is flat out pathetic and Mangino should be ashamed of it.

So, the problem with our running game is the Oline and the guy on staff who has been here one year and did none of the recruiting on that line should be ashamed? I guess I don't follow. I agree on the OL being this issue, but I don't see the correlation you made here.

 

[clonedude]

So, the problem with our running game is the Oline and the guy on staff who has been here one year and did none of the recruiting on that line should be ashamed? I guess I don't follow. I agree on the OL being this issue, but I don't see the correlation you made here.

Obviously it isn't all Mangino's fault, he's only been here a year, but that doesn't mean he still can't be ashamed at how pathetic his running game was this year. It was as bad as I've ever seen. Even back when I went to ISU, we didn't win many games, but we could run the ball at least somewhat.

When your best rushing attack comes from your QB running for his life on PASSING plays, that is not good.

 

[SpokaneCY]

According to Rivals, they rank our recruiting classes as 9th in the league in 2013, 10th in 2014 and 10th so far in 2015. Doesn't look like much relative improvement

I'm wondering if there is star ranking inflation (similar to GPA inflation) with the ranking services. Give more players more stars, then everybody is happy because it looks like they are recruiting better.

All that ranking showed was we have consistently been ranked in the mid 70s for FBS schools. Occasionally ahead of Kansas and KState but KState has proven coaching matters and Kansas has proven coaching matters.

I look forward to next year. I highly doubt we become an average program (not even talking about a good program) but I still love cyclone football.

 

[istater7]

Might know the verdict by first half of UNI game.

Thats what I thought vs NDSU this year (in a good way, then the 2nd half happened).

 

[clonedude]

Might know the verdict by first half of UNI game.

If we lose to UNI, then watch out. The doors will come off, and JP might have to get rid of Rhoads mid season.

After losing to FCS schools 2 years in a row, nobody will see a loss to UNI as just a blip on the screen and something we can overcome. It will indicate that another 2 win season is on the way.

UNI is the most important game in Paul Rhoads' career probably. If he doesn't win that game, I don't see how he recovers? But hey, no pressure Paul.

 

[Tre4ISU]

I think this is what is happening for the most part. Stars are being inflated. Our recruiting has not gotten that much better IMO.

I do think it has improved slightly, but is not keeping up with the rest of the conference, so in fact, we are kind of getting worse.

Also, I think some of the coaching has gotten worse at certain positions, namely defensive backs. IMO, it won't matter too much how good the talent is there with the way they are coached. If you NEVER turn your head, you can never make a play on the ball.

And offensively, we will never be good again until we play physical again on the OL. This finesse game doesn't cut it. It is why we can't run the ball, and without being able to run the ball, you're toast. So sick and tired of our QB being our leading rusher on just QB scrambles. That is flat out pathetic and Mangino should be ashamed of it.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[CTTB78]

So you are not going to watch Iowa State Football in the newly expanded stadium next year?
I have been a Cyclone Fan for over 45 years. I am not going to miss it....





The excitement, for some, is a mini version of moving into the new stadium back in '75. The big difference is that the new building was welcoming in the best team we have ever had. I was hooked, and thought good times were ahead for ISU football. We've had a few, but after 40 years I've realized the gap is getting bigger. Even with our building improvements, we're hardly keeping pace with the guys we play against.
New Year's wish is just for a .500 season, and the joy that an occasional good year brings with it.