Future Opponents

[hoosman]

Looks like Minny is the top choice. I disagree with us not recruiting locally - the recruiting visits are easier, the familiarity with ISU is better, families are closer, and the players are accustomed to the climate.

Would we be vying for the annual Go-Clone trophy?

Wasn't Minnesota part of the Jack Trice legacy?

 

[4429 mcc]

I voted Arizona, would be a good west coast team. Lots of good JUCO schools out west and would be a fun travel game.

It would be even better if the set them up home/away right before Turkey day. Travel there in the nice warm weather and have them travel here where is balls cold outside. It'd be a good shock for their system.

 

[hoosman]

I'm wondering why we're playing in Las Vegas in September (best month in Iowa) instead of November. I would be going for sure this year if the game was later. We should also be playing Texas/Tech/TAM in November. If we can't make a bowl game every year, let's at least go somewhere warm for our finale. I know, there's supposed to be a late season rivalry with Missouri or Kansas, but the attendance for these matchups doesn't prove that. Bring on the Aztecs, Rainbow Warriors, or Hurricanes, but please schedule them in November.

 

[MontyBurns]

I'm wondering why we're playing in Las Vegas in September (best month in Iowa) instead of November.

Probably because November is filled up with Big 12 games for us and Mountain West games for UNLV. And it would send the wrong message, confidence wise, if we scheduled a non-conference game on the same day as the Big 12 Championship Game.

 

[ajk4st8]

ADD SEC TEAMS!

 

[dunar]

Wasn't Minnesota part of the Jack Trice legacy?

Yes, they were the opponent on 10/05/1923. I vaguely referenced it in this post, in the ISU vs Northwestern thread.

 

[hoosman]

I just read through that thread. You did mention the ISU-Minn past history. There is one thing about playing Minnesota, there would be a lot of ketchup and mustard on the field.

What about Auburn? Could Chizik get his old team to play us?

 

[Clone96]

Here's an idea. What about Notre Dame? Starting in 2009, ND is going to play one of their home games at a neutral site. They are playing Washington State in San Antonio in 2009, I think either Rutgers or UConn at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando in 2010, and they are supposedly negotiating with Baylor to play at the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington. So why not ISU vs Notre Dame at Arrowhead in KC? It would probably have to be 2 for 1, but still I would go, and I'm sure the KCCVB and all the bars in Westport would love it.

 

[NWIAclone]

Since the Big Twelve schedule is so difficult, playing one BCS school (Iowa) is enough.

At this point the Cyclones need all the W's they can rack up. Going to a decent bowl game on a regular basis should be the priority. Most conference bowl game invitations seem to be based on two things: number of wins and the ability to sell tickets.

The Cyclone faithful will buy the bowl game tickets....we need a schedule that gives us a chance for seven or more wins at this time.

 

[candg4ever]

How about the Rainbow Warriors?:biggrin:

 

[Arkansas Cyclone]

I would still like to see a three game series set up with someone like Arkansas or Colorado St. at Arrowhead. That game down there was so much fun.

I would LOVE to see a Cyclones/Razorbacks matchup in Arrowhead! The trash talking in the office would be a blast plus I would bring a TON of ISU fans just like when we played FSU.

 

[cyclonefan59]

We all rag on how weak the big 10 is, so why don't we want to play more of them??? I think Minn is a great idea, but so is Indiana, Illinois, NW, etc....we wont get or want Michigan or tOSU yet. I also agree that some SEC schools such as Vandy or Miss St would be great.

We need another bcs school that can get us on national tv for recruiting purposes. I think we will be competitive with anyone so we don't have to worry about embarrassing ourselves anymore.

 

[Aclone]

Here's a thought-aside from playing in Arrowhead (Colorado State there just doesn't do it for me).

How about playing teams from where we recruit?

All right, so that might mean Florida, Florida State and Miami, but South Florida (not the giant they appear) and Central Florida would also qualify--I notice the school across the state is trying mighty Florida International.

In Texas, there are the SWC castoffs like Rice and Houston (is SMU still playing football?), all of whom are in our recruiting footprint. Toss in TCU (there's an intriguing rematch), and you start to have some interesting games.

After that, I'll happily go conference by conference. Illinois would be fun, especially because of the potential benefits to recruiting, but either we're not there yet, or Zook hasn't yet self-destructed. Northwestern and Minnesota would also offer recruiting benefits, if on a lesser scale.

The Pac 10 offers a lot of interesting matchups--not only Arizona, but remember how many fans showed up in Phoenix? ASU would seem to be a must. Washington State is practically a cousin in educational orentation and isolation, while Seattle, like Phoenix, is home to a great many Iowa ex-pats, so why not Washington? Shoot, if anyone's daring, I'd happily venture into a series with UCLA or Stanford.

I'll lump together the SEC and ACC (and Big East) of the Southeastern portion of the country. Scattered amongst the rest are the four North Carolina schools, Vanderbilt, UAB, Georgia Tech (both with recruiting bennies), and in an agreed intriguing interregional match, Arkansas. Alabama and Georgia? In a few years, at the pace we're going.

Frankly, I can't say that I think a lot of the likes of Syracuse, Pitt, Boston College or Rutgers--we simply don't recruit in the Northest any more.

I'll also point out, to those of you who have mentioned that our schedule seems "locked" for the next several seasons, that I'm quite sure that should the networks come trolling with a prime interregional matchup, that the likes of Western Illinois would happily allow themselves to be bought off the schedule, for a mere pittance of what the television appearance would represent--and not only in sheer dollar value alone.

And about 2010, when most of this young team will be juniors and seniors? Bring on whomever you please!