The obvious answer is yes. We won 9 games in 2000. But when I think about trying to W-L our season this year, I cannot help but reflect upon the last 7 years. Mac has done great things at ISU. Who would have thought we would ever go to 5 bowl games in the last 6 years? But, again when I look back at the last 7years, I see a lot of missed opportunities. I think the 99 team had enough talent to go to a bowl game. The KSU and CU games stick out as games we let get away. In 2001, it was A-M and Alabama. In 2002, it was Uconn which sent us to Boise. 2003 was a disaster. In 2004, it was CU and MU and last year was the worse. We should have been at least 9-2.
We certainly have won games over that period of time that we should have lost but it very easy to see us having won at least one more game per year over the last 7 years except for 2000. I think the 2 biggest factors in why we lost most of those games is Mac being overly conservative and poor special teams especially field goal kicking. I would think a conservative coach would make sure he had a good field goal kicker.
As for this year, I think our defense will be okay. I see us as talented but inexperienced and undersized. My concern is that could lead to giving up big plays and wearing down in the 4th quarter. I am still not sold on Barney Cotton and our offense line. This group has been bad the last several years. I think the key to success on the offense is can we get our running backs to average 4.5-5 yards per carry. Ennis Haywood over his career averaged 5 yards per carry. That would really help a young defense. Culbertson can make the kicks until the game is on the line. Hopefully, that can change. I look at our schedule and I do see 8-9 possible wins but it is hard for me to predict us winning more than 7 games not really because of our talent or schedule but more so because of past history.
I think the biggest games this year are the Big 12 North games. They are the key to us getting to the next level. We are 5-5 the last 2 years against a mediocre North. If we can run the table on the North, everything else will fall into line.
I like Mac and what he has done for ISU. This is not meant to be an anti-Mac post. I really hope he learned a lot from last year. His comments about losing 3 OT games that we led give me hope that he will make changes to take us to the next level. I see from the poll that half of the posters think we will win 8-9 games. I am sure once the season starts I will go into every game thinking we can and will win. That is what it means to be a fan and why I get so disappointed in our losses. But when the season is over and all the dust has settled, I think past history will show that we are 7-5 before going bowling. I do hope I am wrong.
We certainly have won games over that period of time that we should have lost but it very easy to see us having won at least one more game per year over the last 7 years except for 2000. I think the 2 biggest factors in why we lost most of those games is Mac being overly conservative and poor special teams especially field goal kicking. I would think a conservative coach would make sure he had a good field goal kicker.
As for this year, I think our defense will be okay. I see us as talented but inexperienced and undersized. My concern is that could lead to giving up big plays and wearing down in the 4th quarter. I am still not sold on Barney Cotton and our offense line. This group has been bad the last several years. I think the key to success on the offense is can we get our running backs to average 4.5-5 yards per carry. Ennis Haywood over his career averaged 5 yards per carry. That would really help a young defense. Culbertson can make the kicks until the game is on the line. Hopefully, that can change. I look at our schedule and I do see 8-9 possible wins but it is hard for me to predict us winning more than 7 games not really because of our talent or schedule but more so because of past history.
I think the biggest games this year are the Big 12 North games. They are the key to us getting to the next level. We are 5-5 the last 2 years against a mediocre North. If we can run the table on the North, everything else will fall into line.
I like Mac and what he has done for ISU. This is not meant to be an anti-Mac post. I really hope he learned a lot from last year. His comments about losing 3 OT games that we led give me hope that he will make changes to take us to the next level. I see from the poll that half of the posters think we will win 8-9 games. I am sure once the season starts I will go into every game thinking we can and will win. That is what it means to be a fan and why I get so disappointed in our losses. But when the season is over and all the dust has settled, I think past history will show that we are 7-5 before going bowling. I do hope I am wrong.
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