Niang popularity as a Cyclone
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I was going to say you have to also include his grade A trolling and trash talk.
Georges is the all-time best for me. Came here on nothing more than a vision from Fred. Held true to his commitment after some bigger names came calling. Had an incredibly playing career during one of our best stretches ever. Has continued to be a great spokesperson for Iowa State. Oh, and he shares a healthy dislike of the Hawks, which never hurts either.
I'm 38 and it's Georges. Fred lost that spot the day he took the Nebraska job.
To me, he was losing it already and taking that job sealed the deal.
Yup. Leaving for the NBA caused him to slip a little, but no one really took that personally. People took the Nebraska job personally.
Whether that's rational or not, it's obvious that there are a lot of ISU fans that don't like Fred Hoiberg anymore. I doubt there's a single ISU fan that dislikes Georges.
I don't expect Fred to be something he's not. When he was a player at ISU, he was a really good player at ISU, and not really a personality or anything else. When he was a coach here, he was great, and funny, but he wasn't out in the community doing a bunch of extra things as an ambassador for ISU. That's not his thing, and there's nothing wrong with that. If I was him I'd probably be the same way. I don't expect him to pass up an NBA opportunity, and I don't expect him to stay unemployed when a Power conference job offers you. I certainly don't expect him to have much or anything to do at ISU while he's at Nebraska.
What Niang continues to do for ISU considering all he has going on is next-level. Like I said, he came and did an appearance for the new Ames High gym dedication. He has no formal tie to the school, but he does it anyway. He goes above and beyond being an ambassador for ISU and in Ames far beyond what anyone else does or has done. There are some other guys that have been great, but nobody at the level of Georges long after his ISU career has ended.
If you're a die-hard ISU fan, I really don't see how Georges couldn't be your favorite sports personality.
What Niang continues to do for ISU considering all he has going on is next-level. Like I said, he came and did an appearance for the new Ames High gym dedication. He has no formal tie to the school, but he does it anyway. He goes above and beyond being an ambassador for ISU and in Ames far beyond what anyone else does or has done. There are some other guys that have been great, but nobody at the level of Georges long after his ISU career has ended.
If you're a die-hard ISU fan, I really don't see how Georges couldn't be your favorite sports personality.
I understand why Fred wanted to test himself in the NBA. A lot of us want to do the same thing: trying to prove ourselves in a higher/more challenging role(s), bigger companies, more complex organizations ,etc. It was unfortunate that he failed but that was another situation - he could have gone to a different organization instead of a dumpster fire called the Bulls.
I have no problem too with Fred going to Huskers - he just got fired, a lot of people have tendency of getting a rebound after getting fired (or non-professionally: dumped, divorced, etc) - they want to feel wanted, loved and appreciated and Nebby wanted him.
His kids not going to ISU? It's probably their own choices. A lof of us have kids who don't / didn't / won't go to Iowa State.
The fact that Georges has been coming here regularly and stays involved in ISU-related activities is truly admirable
I have no problem too with Fred going to Huskers - he just got fired, a lot of people have tendency of getting a rebound after getting fired (or non-professionally: dumped, divorced, etc) - they want to feel wanted, loved and appreciated and Nebby wanted him.
His kids not going to ISU? It's probably their own choices. A lof of us have kids who don't / didn't / won't go to Iowa State.
The fact that Georges has been coming here regularly and stays involved in ISU-related activities is truly admirable
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Lol the guy grew up in Ames, went to Ames High School, went to Iowa State University in Ames, and saved the Iowa State basketball program in Ames. Let me know all of these ISU fans who would stay in Ames if the opportunity of a lifetime came after all of that time in Ames.
I had this same thought. I think even if he was here 1 more year OR if Steve was able to give him some more competent teammates in 2020 it would make a big difference on his perception.
I still think it's fair to put him in that second tier just below Georges along with Naz, Monte, Matt Thomas, etc. He's an NBA all-star and still gives a lot back to ISU. His dog's name is Ames btw.
I think to be in the elite popularity category you have to be here four years. Nothing against Tyrese but that's just how it is. Brock Purdy four years, Allen Lazard four years, etc.
His kids have absolutely no f*cking obligation to attend ISU if they didn't want to. FFS...
It's not.
Nebraska has not been a member of the Big 12 since 2011. ISU does not play Nebraska in Men's basketball or to my knowledge any of the revenue-producing college sports either. They are a historic rival who make the decision to leave the Big 12, nothing more. The fans who hold it against Fred to take that job are ("He HATES us! He should never coach college basketball if he doesn't coach in Ames!"), once again, the fans who make us look like the most insecure and neediest fan base in the whole damn country.
I know it was a vocal minority of posters on here who created that stink, but that few days was f*cking peak stupidity on CycloneFanatic.com.
I remember when I was going away to college...I wanted to go away to college and Ames was ~3 hours from home. A high school teacher and mentor said go away at least two hours. You can come home when you want, but it is too far to come home every weekend so you have to learn to do your own laundry.
He certainly didn't have the success there hoped for, but he lived out a dream, and I can think of $25 million reasons I wouldn't consider that move a failure!
That 25 million bucks definitely heals the hard feelings and feeling of failure
