Football Optimism Moving Forward

[CloneAlta]

I think we’re all pretty bummed about how the last week played out, but I’m a glass half full guy and there are real reasons for optimism moving forward:

1. We’re on an even playing field with our peers.
   In the past we had to battle Texas, OU, Nebraska, A&M, and Mizzou, all programs with much bigger historical profiles. And during that same run K State, Oklahoma State, and Baylor were all rolling. Today, outside of Texas Tech and maybe BYU, we are recruiting against teams that are truly on our level.
2. Our name carries weight now, especially in the Midwest.
   Kids who are 18 to 22 years old know Iowa State as a consistent top 25ish program. When Campbell took over, today’s high school seniors were about eight years old. All they have ever seen is ISU being solid and nationally relevant.
3. Our facilities are legitimately impressive.
   We have the second largest stadium in the Big 12, an upgraded football complex, and we are far removed from the days of practicing at Lied Rec. By conference standards we are in a really strong spot.
4. $13-15 million dollars in NIL is real firepower.
   No, we are not playing in the Penn State or SEC money tier, but we have never recruited head to head with those schools anyway. We now have enough resources to consistently attract and retain the level of talent needed to compete for Big 12 titles.
5. The defense needed a reset.
   Big 12 offenses adjusted, and the 3-3-5 was not going to be the long term answer. A change was overdue, and I am excited to see what Coach Rodgers does with a fresh defensive vision.

I am all in on Coach Jimmy Rodgers. Hopefully he keeps a few key pieces, builds a tough roster, and brings new energy to the program.

You are either with us or against us. Roll Clones!!

HOLY COW---a positive post about our football situation!!!! I love it and appreciate the positivity. Most refreshing!!

Thank you GoCy444!!

 

[1TwistedCyclone]

95% sure Jimmy takes us to the next level. Because South Dakota State wins. Our new coach knows about winning. And you know what Lombardi says about winning!

 

[INTENSE_CY]

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?

CJR said in his press conference he does not have enough D-lineman on the current roster to run his defense but to your point we do have some bigger LBs.

 

[Nor'MidWester]

I think we’re all pretty bummed about how the last week played out, but I’m a glass half full guy and there are real reasons for optimism moving forward:

1. We’re on an even playing field with our peers.
   In the past we had to battle Texas, OU, Nebraska, A&M, and Mizzou, all programs with much bigger historical profiles. And during that same run K State, Oklahoma State, and Baylor were all rolling. Today, outside of Texas Tech and maybe BYU, we are recruiting against teams that are truly on our level.
2. Our name carries weight now, especially in the Midwest.
   Kids who are 18 to 22 years old know Iowa State as a consistent top 25ish program. When Campbell took over, today’s high school seniors were about eight years old. All they have ever seen is ISU being solid and nationally relevant.
3. Our facilities are legitimately impressive.
   We have the second largest stadium in the Big 12, an upgraded football complex, and we are far removed from the days of practicing at Lied Rec. By conference standards we are in a really strong spot.
4. $13-15 million dollars in NIL is real firepower.
   No, we are not playing in the Penn State or SEC money tier, but we have never recruited head to head with those schools anyway. We now have enough resources to consistently attract and retain the level of talent needed to compete for Big 12 titles.
5. The defense needed a reset.
   Big 12 offenses adjusted, and the 3-3-5 was not going to be the long term answer. A change was overdue, and I am excited to see what Coach Rodgers does with a fresh defensive vision.

I am all in on Coach Jimmy Rodgers. Hopefully he keeps a few key pieces, builds a tough roster, and brings new energy to the program.

You are either with us or against us. Roll Clones!!

Not sure we're exactly on even playing field with our peers, specifically BYU and tech. BYU has an entire religion behind them and tech has oil money, for now at least. The rest yeah we're even.

 

[demoncore1031]

I think we’re all pretty bummed about how the last week played out, but I’m a glass half full guy and there are real reasons for optimism moving forward:

1. We’re on an even playing field with our peers.
   In the past we had to battle Texas, OU, Nebraska, A&M, and Mizzou, all programs with much bigger historical profiles. And during that same run K State, Oklahoma State, and Baylor were all rolling. Today, outside of Texas Tech and maybe BYU, we are recruiting against teams that are truly on our level.
2. Our name carries weight now, especially in the Midwest.
   Kids who are 18 to 22 years old know Iowa State as a consistent top 25ish program. When Campbell took over, today’s high school seniors were about eight years old. All they have ever seen is ISU being solid and nationally relevant.
3. Our facilities are legitimately impressive.
   We have the second largest stadium in the Big 12, an upgraded football complex, and we are far removed from the days of practicing at Lied Rec. By conference standards we are in a really strong spot.
4. $13-15 million dollars in NIL is real firepower.
   No, we are not playing in the Penn State or SEC money tier, but we have never recruited head to head with those schools anyway. We now have enough resources to consistently attract and retain the level of talent needed to compete for Big 12 titles.
5. The defense needed a reset.
   Big 12 offenses adjusted, and the 3-3-5 was not going to be the long term answer. A change was overdue, and I am excited to see what Coach Rodgers does with a fresh defensive vision.

I am all in on Coach Jimmy Rodgers. Hopefully he keeps a few key pieces, builds a tough roster, and brings new energy to the program.

You are either with us or against us. Roll Clones!!

Perfect post, and I agree with everything you said. I love Coach Campbell, but I am really excited about Coach Rogers. I have a good feeling about the guy.

 

[Die4Cy]

Perfect post, and I agree with everything you said. I love Coach Campbell, but I am really excited about Coach Rogers. I have a good feeling about the guy.

You can see the plan, like I could with Campbell bringing his staff over. Never felt that with Rhoads, he was figuring it out as he went along. Chizik definitely had a feel of hiring his buds.

 

[demoncore1031]

You can see the plan, like I could with Campbell bringing his staff over. Never felt that with Rhoads, he was figuring it out as he went along. Chizik definitely had a feel of hiring his buds.

Campbell brought in some really good recruits right away too, right after getting the job at ISU.

 

[Cyclonepride]

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.

We can absolutely make the playoff in the current format. Just win the Big 12 (or come really, really close), and that is hard but doable.

 

[Stormin]

Rogers is assembling an impressive staff. OC and DC are excellent. Whatever attrition we have, we will overcome. Players will be added to fill the void. Have always been impressed by the line play of the Dakota schools. I see Rogers as a TJ type coach. He will be good. Those that stay will be glad they did. We still remember the early star players that first played for Campbell. Lanning. Lazard. At Penn State you are a nobody.

 

[MartyFine]

 

[Cyclonick182]

Crazy how disconnected the UCF fan base is. I get the 3rd degree regularly from these Hawkeye wannabes about how ISU stinks and UCF has a natty (Lol) and yet they don't show up for their games or watch them at all apparently. Is it too late yet to replace them?

 

[HFCS]

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.

Some of the good reasons why ISU had big success under 4 of the 6 last basketball coaches have transferred over to football very slowly from Mac on. It just takes longer with so many more components. (Didn’t exclude JO because he didn’t succeed, just beginning of his era really is a different era in college sports)

 

[Die4Cy]

I'm just excited for the opportunities in a new start, after last weekend's death watch it feels good to be moving in a direction even if I don't know that much about it.

 

[MTCyclone43]

Tracker: WSU players entering transfer portal and decommitting

Transfer portal opens Jan. 2 and runs until Jan. 16

247sports.com

From what I understand WSU's defense was really stout last season- so there may be some pieces that will fit in Ames.

 

[Dillydallop86]

This thread is exactly what was needed and how I’ve been feeling. All of the sky is falling back to the big 12 cellar posting was pretty cringe. Iowa state is in a completely different position than it was when CMC first got here and it isn’t completely his doing either. Excited for the future of Iowa state football.

 

[Erik4Cy]

Crazy how disconnected the UCF fan base is... they don't show up for their games or watch them at all apparently. Is it too late yet to replace them?

I remember when that round of realignment went down. It was rumored/then announced 3 schools would join. Houston & Cincy were coming, I was sure the 3rd was going to be Memphis. They got left however and UCF was the 3rd. I know the Big XII wanted to get into Florida but it was weird at the time.

 

[Cyclonick182]

I remember when that round of realignment went down. It was rumored/then announced 3 schools would join. Houston & Cincy were coming, I was sure the 3rd was going to be Memphis. They got left however and UCF was the 3rd. I know the Big XII wanted to get into Florida but it was weird at the time.

We basically got the Florida equivalent of UNI. For every true fan they have they have 10 that went there but cheer for FSU, UF or Miami. Their support and attendance even in their home town of Orlando is embarrassing for a P4 school.

 

[Cyclad]

I think we’re all pretty bummed about how the last week played out, but I’m a glass half full guy and there are real reasons for optimism moving forward:

1. We’re on an even playing field with our peers.
   In the past we had to battle Texas, OU, Nebraska, A&M, and Mizzou, all programs with much bigger historical profiles. And during that same run K State, Oklahoma State, and Baylor were all rolling. Today, outside of Texas Tech and maybe BYU, we are recruiting against teams that are truly on our level.
2. Our name carries weight now, especially in the Midwest.
   Kids who are 18 to 22 years old know Iowa State as a consistent top 25ish program. When Campbell took over, today’s high school seniors were about eight years old. All they have ever seen is ISU being solid and nationally relevant.
3. Our facilities are legitimately impressive.
   We have the second largest stadium in the Big 12, an upgraded football complex, and we are far removed from the days of practicing at Lied Rec. By conference standards we are in a really strong spot.
4. $13-15 million dollars in NIL is real firepower.
   No, we are not playing in the Penn State or SEC money tier, but we have never recruited head to head with those schools anyway. We now have enough resources to consistently attract and retain the level of talent needed to compete for Big 12 titles.
5. The defense needed a reset.
   Big 12 offenses adjusted, and the 3-3-5 was not going to be the long term answer. A change was overdue, and I am excited to see what Coach Rodgers does with a fresh defensive vision.

I am all in on Coach Jimmy Rodgers. Hopefully he keeps a few key pieces, builds a tough roster, and brings new energy to the program.

You are either with us or against us. Roll Clones!!

The money you list is revenue sharing, not NIL.

 

[LindenCy]

I'd just like to add its, Rogers, not Rodgers.

I'd like to add that it's "it's", not "its."

 

[CYCLNST8]

Crazy how disconnected the UCF fan base is. I get the 3rd degree regularly from these Hawkeye wannabes about how ISU stinks and UCF has a natty (Lol) and yet they don't show up for their games or watch them at all apparently. Is it too late yet to replace them?

We basically got the Florida equivalent of UNI. For every true fan they have they have 10 that went there but cheer for FSU, UF or Miami. Their support and attendance even in their home town of Orlando is embarrassing for a P4 school.

Yeah that addition has never sat well with me. They're not even close to our cultural or geographic footprint and they haven't contributed much competitively so far. Plus UCF sounds so generic. Florida Tech or Florida Central would sound a lot better. Their mascot and uniform design is basically the same as Army's.

That being said, Scott Frost may get them rolling again. It's a huge school with a high ceiling.