We've all talked about the difficulties that ISU has in creating a successful FB program. For a minute though let's consider the strengths and the potential for the future:
1. First and foremost our AD. He is strong, young, energetic and willing to take big risks to achieve success. He is demanding of himself and of those who work for him, in short a great leader.
2. The facilities plan. This could be listed as 1a as it is a function of JP's leadership. Once the facilities plan is realized and it will be, ISU will have elevated its facilities base to at least the middle of the Big Twelve. As many others have commented, ISU will never be Texas, A&M, NU or Nebraska, but I firmly believe that we can grow this fanbase to 60,000 - 65,000 on a consistent basis to compete with the likes of Mizzou, KSU, KU, Baylor, CU, OSU, and TT.
2. The fanbase. I might get flack for saying this, but I view the ISU FB fanbase as a strength in that they have suffered nearly 30 years of horrible to average FB and have kept coming back for more. The UNI and NU games and the season ticket sales this year illustrated the potential strength of this fanbase when a better product is put on the field.
3. The Des Moines market. If you are generous in your definition of the metro area, you arrive at roughly 450,000 people in a very short driving distance from Ames. The Des Moines area is growing and is occasionally mentioned in publications as one of the most attractive medium-sized communities to live in anywhere in the country. ISU needs to tap into DM and make it into a home base.
IMO, this program is capable of leveraging these strengths and generating a minimum of 6 wins per season (3 nonconference victories + 3 wins in conference), 8-9 wins 2 out of every 5 or 6 years, and once every decade or so 9-10 wins and a shot at a conference championship. If ISU can build a FB program that can produce on that basis, I believe it can accomplish average attendance in the 60 -65 K range and solve all of the money issues that have rehashed as naseum on this and every other board.
1. First and foremost our AD. He is strong, young, energetic and willing to take big risks to achieve success. He is demanding of himself and of those who work for him, in short a great leader.
2. The facilities plan. This could be listed as 1a as it is a function of JP's leadership. Once the facilities plan is realized and it will be, ISU will have elevated its facilities base to at least the middle of the Big Twelve. As many others have commented, ISU will never be Texas, A&M, NU or Nebraska, but I firmly believe that we can grow this fanbase to 60,000 - 65,000 on a consistent basis to compete with the likes of Mizzou, KSU, KU, Baylor, CU, OSU, and TT.
2. The fanbase. I might get flack for saying this, but I view the ISU FB fanbase as a strength in that they have suffered nearly 30 years of horrible to average FB and have kept coming back for more. The UNI and NU games and the season ticket sales this year illustrated the potential strength of this fanbase when a better product is put on the field.
3. The Des Moines market. If you are generous in your definition of the metro area, you arrive at roughly 450,000 people in a very short driving distance from Ames. The Des Moines area is growing and is occasionally mentioned in publications as one of the most attractive medium-sized communities to live in anywhere in the country. ISU needs to tap into DM and make it into a home base.
IMO, this program is capable of leveraging these strengths and generating a minimum of 6 wins per season (3 nonconference victories + 3 wins in conference), 8-9 wins 2 out of every 5 or 6 years, and once every decade or so 9-10 wins and a shot at a conference championship. If ISU can build a FB program that can produce on that basis, I believe it can accomplish average attendance in the 60 -65 K range and solve all of the money issues that have rehashed as naseum on this and every other board.
