Football Optimism Moving Forward

[Paz23]

Agreed with all of this. CMC was a great coach for us, but the idea that he is irreplaceable based on his level of success compared to ISU history is flawed. The level of investment in our program and facilities, the national perception of our brand, and our parity to other programs in the conference following realignment, are all at best ever levels in school history. All those factors remain in place today except for the head coach. Make a good hire and all the other tools are in place to continue success. And I believe we did make a good hire.

Agree 100%. Campbell brought the program to new heights, but he was given more resources at each step along the way as well. Compensation, assistant pay, and facilities all contributed to that success as much as Campbell's success contributed to the ability to make those investments and we are well positioned moving forward. I have faith in Rogers. The best thing I have heard through all of this is that he was actively lobbying for this job and has been for a while. I'm sure getting his wife back closer to family was a great motivator, but he targeted Iowa State. Not Minnesota, not Nebraska, not Wisconsin, not EIUWWW - at least I don't think he was copying and pasting text messages to Jamie and sending them to Minneapolis, Lincoln, Madison or Iowa City, all jobs that were more likely to open up sooner prior to the events of this past week. He seems to genuinely want to be here.

I don't know if Iowa State will ever be in a position to win a national championship. I'm not even sure we make a playoff in the current format - the Cyclone nutcup I wear 24/7 influences my brain to think that about the time we won a CGG, we would get Duke'd somehow. But for me, none of that really matters. Keep trying to defy the odds and keep Jack Trice Stadium a great environment on Saturdays.

 

[Rural]

High

 

[MeowingCows]

1. I wonder if the Black/ No gold uniform thing really was a Campbell thing? Maybe we can get black uniforms being used more sparingly.

2. I'm optimistic about a 4-2-5. Depending on how many defensive players we maintain, I wonder if we have the number of DL required to run this. Maybe some of our bigger LB can move to a DE hybrid role?

I'm not even sure 4-2 is necessary anymore with the 'new' Big 12 having trended back towards more balanced/run-oriented offenses instead of a multitude of pseudo-air raid schools. Small-ish 6-man boxes will get ran on, or you have to bring that extra safety down for run support anyway. I wouldn't be surprised to see us coming in towards a 4-3 or 3-4 look next season depending on what the roster depth shakes out like. 3-4 would be interesting if we could get the horses in to run it (but definitely wouldn't expect that in a transition year).

 

[t.m.]

My biggest worry about being optimistic isn't competing with the Big12, it the perception of the Big12 when it comes to being an at-large CFP team. An 11-2 BYU team wasn't even really considered. It's conference title or bust. That get's tough knowing Cyclones could go 10-2, miss out on title game on random tiebreaker, and not even sniff CFP.

 

[ZorkClone]

I'm not even sure 4-2 is necessary anymore with the 'new' Big 12 having trended back towards more balanced/run-oriented offenses instead of a multitude of pseudo-air raid schools. Small-ish 6-man boxes will get ran on, or you have to bring that extra safety down for run support anyway. I wouldn't be surprised to see us coming in towards a 4-3 or 3-4 look next season depending on what the roster depth shakes out like. 3-4 would be interesting if we could get the horses in to run it (but definitely wouldn't expect that in a transition year).

I see I was wrong I thought he ran a 4-2-5 at Washington State he ran a 4-3-4* and at SDSU he ran a 3-4-4*. So, you appear spot on.

Edit: *I can't count apparently.

 

[CycloneVet]

My biggest worry about being optimistic isn't competing with the Big12, it the perception of the Big12 when it comes to being an at-large CFP team. An 11-2 BYU team wasn't even really considered. It's conference title or bust. That get's tough knowing Cyclones could go 10-2, miss out on title game on random tiebreaker, and not even sniff CFP.

I am concerned about this as well. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tech win it. Hopefully increasing perception.

I am of the opinion to remove the G5s and make them their own playoff. Especially if the bowls are going away. I’d watch it probably moreso than a random bowl game

 

[jcf817]

I am concerned about this as well. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Tech win it. Hopefully increasing perception.

I am of the opinion to remove the G5s and make them their own playoff. Especially if the bowls are going away. I’d watch it probably moreso than a random bowl game

I'd prefer to do away with CCGs and expand the playoff, but we need to find a way to rank/rate teams without the idiotic biases that benefit the SEC.

 

[CycloneVet]

I'd prefer to do away with CCGs and expand the playoff, but we need to find a way to rank/rate teams without the idiotic biases that benefit the SEC.

I didn’t say that but I would include that too. Having Notre Dame and BYU with their massive fan bases be left out can only detrimental to this SEC bias. I hope people see it for what it is.

 

[qwerty]

I see I was wrong I thought he ran a 4-2-5 at Washington State he ran a 4-3-5 and at SDSU he ran a 3-4-5. So, you appear spot on.

Well, who can't be successful with 12 defenders against 11 offensive players.

I know next to nothing about football schemes. Are those legit schemes, just don't add up to 11 players?

 

[ZorkClone]

I'd prefer to do away with CCGs and expand the playoff, but we need to find a way to rank/rate teams without the idiotic biases that benefit the SEC.

This is why I am in favor of more AQ but give at least 1 to each conference. Then the conferences can determine how they want to give that bid out like for March Madness. Then At large what is left.

I also think they should come up with a Quad system like in MBB to determine at larges.

 

[jcf817]

This is why I am in favor of more AQ but give at least 1 to each conference. Then the conferences can determine how they want to give that bid out like for March Madness. Then At large what is left.

I also think they should come up with a Quad system like in MBB to determine at larges.

Agreed. I don't know how big the committee is, but it should be bigger and broader, as well.

 

[ZorkClone]

Well, who can't be successful with 12 defenders against 11 offensive players.

I know next to nothing about football schemes. Are those legit schemes, just don't add up to 11 players?

Nope, I can't count apparently. 3-4-4 and 4-3-4 are real base defenses.

 

[MeowingCows]

I see I was wrong I thought he ran a 4-2-5 at Washington State he ran a 4-3-4* and at SDSU he ran a 3-4-4*. So, you appear spot on.

Edit: *I can't count apparently.

My armchair know-nothing-about-football coaching says I'd love to see 3-4 out there against the offenses we see now and to allow a lot of exotic and unpredictable pressures, but you need a lot of dudes for that. Multiple very good DL guys and a whole stable of good, versatile LBs. That's asking a lot for a roster rebuild...would be more like a few seasons of recruiting to get to that scheme and run it well.

DB-heavy schemes are easier to recruit for...lots and lots of good DBs out there to bring in. Front 7 guys, much harder to find in volume. Particularly that many solid LBs.

 

[atlantacyclone]

Agreed with all of this. CMC was a great coach for us, but the idea that he is irreplaceable based on his level of success compared to ISU history is flawed. The level of investment in our program and facilities, the national perception of our brand, and our parity to other programs in the conference following realignment, are all at best ever levels in school history. All those factors remain in place today except for the head coach. Make a good hire and all the other tools are in place to continue success. And I believe we did make a good hire.

We will see. The good thing about CMC is that he was always competitive even in losses. Any older fan remembers multiple blowout losses… even in good seasons. Let’s just say that my Dad played basketball and football back in the old days but couldn’t get past the blowout losses to OU where they could compete with #1 KU in basketball.

 

[FerShizzle]

By now you generally knew what you were getting with CMC, which overall was great at 7-8 wins and last year's exception.

Maybe it's time for something new though and we'll see where it goes.

Yep. I for one cant wait for some new life to be interjected into ISU football.

 

[ZorkClone]

We will see. The good think about CMC is that he was always competitive even in losses. Any older fan remembers multiple blowout losses… even in good seasons. Let’s just say that my Dad played basketball and football back in the old days but couldn’t get past the blowout losses to OU where they could compete with #1 KU in basketball.

This is my concern as well. The only game I remember in the Campbell era post 2016 is that the team just got their butts totally and soundly whooped was that TCU game where they went to the CFP.

 

[awd4cy]

This is my concern as well. The only game I remember in the Campbell era post 2016 is that the team just got their butts totally and soundly whooped was that TCU game where they went to the CFP.

Not often, but It still happened some. Here are a few we got whooped in.
Arizona State Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma 2023
Memphis bowl game
Louisiana 2020
Notre Dame 2019

 

[Koala]

I'd like to think Campbell showed that you can succeed at Iowa State if you just put some effort, and some time of course, into doing it and don't just write off losing because winning at Iowa State is hard. He wasn't a uniquely talented tactical mind or gameday guru but he still had a really consistent level of success, and that's also with some missed opportunities over the years.

 

[danvillecyclone]

Not often, but It still happened some. Here are a few we got whooped in.
Arizona State Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma 2023
Memphis bowl game
Louisiana 2020
Notre Dame 2019

Golly Jeez, I was at all of these games.

Gross.

 

[cycat7]

Not often, but It still happened some. Here are a few we got whooped in.
Arizona State Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma 2023
Memphis bowl game
Louisiana 2020
Notre Dame 2019

Kansas in KC last year was bad. Not the final score but we got whipped.