McCarney still coaching, but not for long…

[Ficklone02]

I think that its threads like this that remind me of why I love this website.....I mean I really enjoy seeing what everyone elses opinion's are and would be confused if we didn't have differing opinions on (positive and upset) the play of our team. I think that its good for this board to have "dissenting" opinions (as long as they have good arguments to support themselves) for we can not have good discussions if everyone just agreed on everything. It also helps form my own opinions since I do not have complete knowledge of our teams all the time.

Having said that, those of you who think we ought to just congratulate Mac for getting us this far and not hold him accountable for our mediocrity are nuts. I think, however, we should not be talking about firing him mid-season and let the schedule run its course and evaluate our situation at year end.

So how are we going to get to that next level? Well I have been doing a lot of thinking on Mac's overall psychology on winning football. It was no secret when Mac took over 12 years ago that we lacked in several areas including speed and depth. It was his contention that we use our talent at running back (Davis) to shorten the games to help for our lack of depth and also use his talents at the same time. He also stressed limiting mistakes and big plays for the opposition. This strategy helped put us on the map and eventually got us to where we are today, a mediocre Big12 team, whom has aspirations of a bowl game every year.

Now that we have gotten over that hump of lack of speed and depth, I agree with Wesley that he needs to reinvent himself as a coach and implement a more aggressive defense/offense since I believe he now has the talent and depth to pull off this type of system. Jim Boeheim reinvented himself at Syracuse with a new zone defense and it has netted him two trips to the Final Four and a national championship.

I was appalled to see that we only had 9 possessions on Saturday. This, even after we turned the ball over on a couple possessions. How can we expect to score alot of points if we do not put pressure on the opposition and get the ball back for our offense? How many 3 and outs has our D had this year? I presume it could not be many. We can not expect these results to change without more pressure on the qb and changing our 10 yard coverage cushions.

I know this is long....but my overall thoughts are that from the inception of Mac's program here at ISU he has been as conservative as possible on all accounts. Without superior talent at every position you can not win Big 12 Championships without being aggressive in at least some phases of the game. And above everything else, you need to play to your teams strengths. I'm encouraged to see that they made some adjustments in the second half on defense......because an offense thats given only 9 opportunities a game in the Big 12 is going to struggle, no matter the talent, to score 20 points a game especially with the field position we're putting ourselves in. Hopefully the second half was the start of a new cyclone team for the rest of the year.......lets get those huskers on Saturday....GO STATE!!!!!!!

 

[Cymon]

You have no idea what you are talking about. The reason Cotton wasn't retained at NU had nothing to do with his coaching ability and had everything to do with the regime he came in under and his role on the staff. IIRC, Turner Gill was the only assistant retained by Callahan, and that was only because of recruiting reasons. Other than that, that whole staff was slashed, it didn't matter how good (see Bo Pelini) or how long they were there (see Ron Brown). Cotton was let go because Callahan wanted to run his offensive schemes and had no use for him, plus he was only on the NU staff for a year. Ask most knowledgeable NU fans and they will tell you that Pelini and Cotton are the reasons they did so well Solich's last year.

Actually, I have asked them and they told me that was the reason. I'm sure if Cotton was so outstanding, Callahan would have found a place for him.Our play calling has been terrible since he arrived.

 

[clone92]

Actually, I have asked them and they told me that was the reason. I'm sure if Cotton was so outstanding, Callahan would have found a place for him.Our play calling has been terrible since he arrived.

Yeah, after NU won their bowl game with Cotton and Pelini, I'm sure they couldn't wait to get rid of them. So tell me, what do your knowledgeable NU aquaintances tell you why Callahan sacked Pelini? Cosgrove is not a better coach than Pelini. I'm not here defending the coaching staff's play calling ability, but I have a good memory on the whole NU coaching staff change, and most fans had a problem with Solich and not the asst coaches.

 

[chuckd4735]

Yeah, after NU won their bowl game with Cotton and Pelini, I'm sure they couldn't wait to get rid of them. So tell me, what do your knowledgeable NU aquaintances tell you why Callahan sacked Pelini? Cosgrove is not a better coach than Pelini. I'm not here defending the coaching staff's play calling ability, but I have a good memory on the whole NU coaching staff change, and most fans had a problem with Solich and not the asst coaches.

I speak of the few hardcore Nebraska fans i know, and not a single one of them was sad to see Cotton go, and acctually laughed at me when we went ahead and picked him up. Im not speaking for the whole Nebraska fan base, just the few that I know.

 

[URBCLONE]

Jeremy,

It is your objective approach that has made your site a huge hit. I greatly appreciate your refusal to be a 'homer' and your telling it like it is. Thank you for all that you do with this site.

 

[CY ST8T]

To those that question if donors want Mac gone, all I have to say is wait until the season is over and see how many increase their donation amount, or rather how many don't. The new AD has raised the bar and will be raising costs and requirements as well, that is fine by the donors I talked to but they won't go along with it if Mac is here.

Look, I have no reason to say things that aren't true, do you think I want to say things about donors and players that aren't true? I don't think anybody would be stupid enough to post false info like that on a site they own.

Like I said, it may not be popular to call out the coaching staff and ask that they be held accountable for their job, but it's also no going to get done until somebody steps up and stops being affraid to hold them accountable.

Jeremy, when you say that Big Donors you talked to want them gone are you talking about 300 lb. guys that buy season tickets?

 

[CY ST8T]

I was not happy with a couple of major things in the coaching Saturday night, but I am also able to look at the whole picture. I do not understand why our defense regressed back to the play off your man team that we put out there against Toledo and I do not understand how you don't exploit one on one coverage from a 1-AA CB on Blythe. But I also can see that even with this vanilla game plan for UNI that we would have easily won had the players executed. Meyer looked horrible with no vision and telegraphing a horrible read. He slips several times, players fumble and have motion penalties at horrible times. Yes, Mac will take all blame of not preparing but when do you fault the players?

 

[keepngoal]

In my opinion, one of two things need to happen, each with consequences.

• Better pay for better assistants. Requires more $$ from donors year in and year out. DMac stays as I believe he can do it, with a really good support staff. IMO, DMac can coach (anywhere in D1A), he just needs better pay for better people.
• Get rid of them all! Then, who do you hire? Do you want to put your trust in someone who doesn’t have head coaching experience? Will you pay for him (if so, see option #1)? Who would come to ISU? You will be making a big change while betting on the come that could take 3-4 years. And will they stay?

-keep.

edit:

don't exploit one on one coverage from a 1-AA CB on Blythe

. Blythe doesn't do a good job at shaking defenders off of the line, like he should. A juke, a push, something... instead of being rode out of bounds by a defender. If TB could play has hard as Davis did/does, he would truly be unstoppable. TB, imo, looked average Saturday night and was easily pushed around while not running crisp routes.

 

[ISUFan22]

Blythe doesn't do a good job at shaking defenders off of the line, like he should. A juke, a push, something... instead of being rode out of bounds by a defender. If TB could play has hard as Davis did/does, he would truly be unstoppable. TB, imo, looked average Saturday night and was easily pushed around while not running crisp routes.

Harsh, yet very true.

 

[ISUTimm4]

Thanks Jeremy

It is about time that someone has had the guts to come out and say what we long time Cyclone football fans have been feeling. I was there when we tore down the goal post after beating Baylor in 97. Yes, we have come along way since then, but I was also there when we missed 2 feild goals to win the North the last 2 years.

I too adore Mac for what he has done, but there also is a time when we must decide where do we want to be in 5 years? Are we still going to be selling out games when we continue to finish 6-6? I am having serious doubts about renewing my season tickets when ticket prices go up next year, and if I am I know alot of other fans are as well. Let's face it, we have had good times with Mac, but he has also really let us down in the last few seasons.

If we continue to say, a win is a win or we are 7-5 and going to a bowl game, we can't fire Mac...then we are not true Cyclone football fans. True fans want to win, I expect to pound UNI, I expect to beat Iowa, I expect to beat Nebraska and I expect to beat rated teams. Yes, my expectations are high. But why shouldn't they be?

Good coaches revolve offenses and defenses around their strentghs. Two HUGE questions: 1) Why can't we do what we did in the 2nd half of UNI everygame and all game long? How bout trying the new pistol offense? We have a great QB and recievers to do it. Instead we do shot gun and draw on 3rd and long. Why in the hell is #1 Blythe not getting the ball more? I realize defenses key on him, but it is the coaching staffs job to find ways to get him more catches. Wide receiver screens, reverses etc 2) When we will change our defense to not allow 10-15 yard catches all night long? Do we have a nickel? Why do we have to give a 10 yrd coushin to a receiver? Get up and bump them. It messes up timing and routes and this would allow more penetration for sacks.

I am not a coach, nor contend I could be one...Just some questions I would like answered.

As far as a replacement...how bout the coach from the University of Nevada who runs the pistol offense? We need something new, something fresh to bring to ISU, something our oppents have not seen or know how to prepare for. Instead we run shot gun draw, QB draw, 5 yrd pass to Flynn then punt.

SHAKE IT UP....WE ARE READY, ARE YOU?

 

[mustangcy]

I think the "fire mac" crowd should wait until after our last game. I'm not happy with barely beating UNI in front of a record crowd but calling for a change not even mid-season is wrong.

 

[tazclone]

Jason Fiacco. Was a big recruit that redshirted last year. Was upset he was behind Fisher and most thought he would start this year on ISU's OL. He is second string for UNI.
Chuck I agree with you on the wait for the end of the season but it angers me that people will argue not knowing the facts.

This was a trap game. We just played Texas, and we have the biggest game of the year coming up against Nebraska. Hmmmm maybe we were looking ahead.

 

[loboclone]

Jeremy, Thanks for your comments and note to read entire post before commenting. I waited till Monday to read any of the D-Mac posts and the Nancy Clark article, it was interesting and to the point. Being an very out of town fan and alum has disadvantages as to hearing and seeing the actual games and fan base comments. As I listened to the "Win" Saturday night on Sirius I couldn't help but wonder what post might be here on Monday. My wife being a "shawk grad" was in another room suffering so I had no distractions.
It is obvious you have the ear of many donors and former players as well as current staff. D-Mac has as pointed out by many done some great things at ISU, however expections out weigh results. The next level has been within reach and fumbled. After years of "rebuilding" at ISU what do the fans and alum deserve, a product that wins the games they should? great coaching?, talented players? and high expections? I go back to Clay Stapleton, played under Johnny Majors (no athletic ability however) and suffered with Criner and Walden. I have contributed at one time 10K at a clip and loved doing it, even when I left the state in '96 we still sent at least 5K/year. That's not big time but significant by any means. What if many like me stop donating at that level or stop sending the $100/year for the national Cyclone Club? Do we take JP's "next big step"???? I think that might be the case with some not all. I have stopped my donations 3 years ago, my money, my decision. It hurts the programs and ISU and it hurts me to have made that decision. JP knows how I feel, we have e-mailed. Not another dime till changes are made JP. Nancy Clark senses it and so do you Jeremy. JP pulled the trigger on the B-ball program and I'll bet my next 10K donation at season end there will be some long nights for JP and the ISU President. Lets all hope and pray that a performance this Saturday in Primetime is a real "dinger" and the Clones prevail.

 

[tazclone]

Jeremy, Thanks for your comments and note to read entire post before commenting. I waited till Monday to read any of the D-Mac posts and the Nancy Clark article, it was interesting and to the point. Being an very out of town fan and alum has disadvantages as to hearing and seeing the actual games and fan base comments. As I listened to the "Win" Saturday night on Sirius I couldn't help but wonder what post might be here on Monday. My wife being a "shawk grad" was in another room suffering so I had no distractions.
It is obvious you have the ear of many donors and former players as well as current staff. D-Mac has as pointed out by many done some great things at ISU, however expections out weigh results. The next level has been within reach and fumbled. After years of "rebuilding" at ISU what do the fans and alum deserve, a product that wins the games they should? great coaching?, talented players? and high expections? I go back to Clay Stapleton, played under Johnny Majors (no athletic ability however) and suffered with Criner and Walden. I have contributed at one time 10K at a clip and loved doing it, even when I left the state in '96 we still sent at least 5K/year. That's not big time but significant by any means. What if many like me stop donating at that level or stop sending the $100/year for the national Cyclone Club? Do we take JP's "next big step"???? I think that might be the case with some not all. I have stopped my donations 3 years ago, my money, my decision. It hurts the programs and ISU and it hurts me to have made that decision. JP knows how I feel, we have e-mailed. Not another dime till changes are made JP. Nancy Clark senses it and so do you Jeremy. JP pulled the trigger on the B-ball program and I'll bet my next 10K donation at season end there will be some long nights for JP and the ISU President. Lets all hope and pray that a performance this Saturday in Primetime is a real "dinger" and the Clones prevail.

So you admittedly hurt the program. Nice. Do you stop and think that if you donate now that it will help Mac's replacement. It could help recruit a better/different coach? Wouldn't you like to be able to show D-Mac's replacement great facilities instead of telling him what he might see if he comes here? Do you notice that facilities take time. The renovations are set to take till how long 2010? Your stubborness hurts the long term future of the program. Do you honetsly think JP is not smart enough to make a move without donor pressure? I think he is smart enough. I will continue to give money so ISU gets better no matter who is at the helm. It only gets easier for the new person that is here. Itonly shows people we are serious. It shows that we aren't bandwagon fans. Tell JP you want Mac gone. tell him he should go but still donate $$$.

 

[clone92]

I speak of the few hardcore Nebraska fans i know, and not a single one of them was sad to see Cotton go, and acctually laughed at me when we went ahead and picked him up. Im not speaking for the whole Nebraska fan base, just the few that I know.

Why did they laugh? From what I remember, Solich was still more or less doing all the play calling during the games when Cotton was there. In their bowl game that year, Cotton was in control of offense without the 'aid' of Solich, they won that game. I would think NU fans could maybe feel indifferent about Cotton, but I don't think they could have formed an opinion one way or the other. They were looking for a change at the time, and they got it.

 

[Chris]

Interesting editorial Jeremy. It may very well be now that since we have an aggressive AD, many more "high profile" donors and ex players now feel they can sound off about the direction of the program and finally be heard. I know just from talking to my classmates and ex players from my days at ISU their comments reflect fairly similiar to what you have put forth here.

 

[heisman2]

Interesting editorial Jeremy. It may very well be now that since we have an aggressive AD, many more "high profile" donors and ex players now feel they can sound off about the direction of the program and finally be heard. I know just from talking to my classmates and ex players from my days at ISU their comments reflect fairly similiar to what you have put forth here.

I highly doubt that the ex-players you have talked to want Mac gone. I was a walk-on a few years ago and know many players, and none of them want Mac gone. Most respect him beyond measure and would do almost anything for him. He is an extremely hard worker, a great person, and in my opinion a very good coach.

Also, I also know many big donors to the program and though many are frustrated, none of them want Mac gone right now.

 

[pttb]

Let me preface this by saying, I'm a UNI fan, so I have no big interest here, which is why I ask this question.

What kind of coach (or individually what coach), would you like to see Iowa State hire, if in fact, Mac were to be fired/resign?

 

[URBCLONE]

Let me preface this by saying, I'm a UNI fan, so I have no big interest here, which is why I ask this question.

What kind of coach (or individually what coach), would you like to see Iowa State hire, if in fact, Mac were to be fired/resign?

Someone from the South. Perhaps a coordinator for one of the SEC schools. Someone who can mine the talent-laden South for players. Think of it as the FB version of Tim Floyd replacing DM. In this scenario DM is roughly equivalent to Johnny Orr. A foundation has been laid, know we need new blood to elevate the program.

 

[CY ST8T]

Mac Smackers, please without calling me a Kool Aid drinker or any of your other negative crap please answer this question. ISU predicted this year at best of 7-5 or 8-4 and no one was really calling for Mac's head. So at 3-2 regardless of what you think if they finish with 7, 8 or 9 wins do you justify canning the guy? We go 9-3 say hypothetically and win the North. Does this justify in your mind canning him at the end of the year to attain this next level? Is this not a next level on our plate?
Go look at Jeremy's post showing all the teams that have been to bowls in the last 6 years. Yes bowls are easier to get to, but aren't they easier for everyone? And do you not get to bowls through winning? So you could agree that in the Big XII there is only one team that has consistently won more games than us? Yes, you can put spin on the teams we beat or how we beat them, but wins are wins and you can't argue what has been done.