No Excuse!

[Covenant Clone]

Right now Ben Bruns is on the radio defending Coach Mac, saying that he can't think of one play that was miscalled. It was on the offense that simply didn't execute. I agree with him completely. our Offense simply didn't make the plays when we needed them to. Way to go D. Quit complaining about the coaches, this close call is not on them.

I totally agree with Ben. I am not trying to put down any of our players (especially Bret, b/c he has done some great things for the program and I think he will lead us to the next level and be one of the best ISU has ever had) but having been very close to the program for a long time now, I know that Bret goes to the line of scrimmage every down with the ability to check to 3 or 4 different plays after he makes his read. If the call from the sidelines doesn't make sense, Bret can audible to a play based on his read of the defense. The coaches make a play call before the defense even lines up. If they call a run based on down and distance and the defense comes to the line of scrimmage with 9 in the box, it is Bret's responsiblity to recognize this and check out of the play call. Almost every player I know has the utmost respect and confidence in Dan and the rest of the staff, and everyone of them will tell you that the coaches can only draw so many X's and O's. The players need to step up and make plays. And yes, this includes getting the ball in Blythe's hands.

 

[loboclone]

I think alot has been written here good and bad. When you have been a Clone fan for over 40 years and can remember Clay Stapleton and Johnny Majors coaching FB teams at ISU and suffered through Criner and Walden years, you probably have a perspective of low expections over time. That is a fact of life for us "Old Timmers" I have never seen an ISU team with more talent than the last few years. Yes, D-Mac probably has assembled the best bunch in his tenure. So, now with VERY HIGH EXPECTATIONS we go forth with threads that will continue to question play calling and coaching mistakes-is it healthy? YES it is. Is it OK for Daily to call D-Mac out? YES. We as alum and fans deserve to vent or complain and even praise when we what to-it's a game! 2 years of missed OT's and North title will fuel these comments. Will D-Mac have them ready Saturday? It's historical that he will!! Am I a HUGE fan of D-Mac ? No, never have been, but Jamie gave him a raise to over 1 mil/year. That sets a stage for his (JP's) high expectations of this FB program, he will pull the trigger if need be. With this high a salary you can finally get the best replacement money can buy. Do I think this will happen, NO, I expect a 7-5 0r 8-4 season thus saving us having to tee off anybody but D-Mac!!!!

 

[dbronco7sc]

Our guys arent' getting the job done.

I'm fine with anybody being upset with how the team has performed the last two games... but many of those people have this common misperception... because their job is to win the game... and they've got the job done every game... if they push 9 games to the wire... and win them... have fun living your life of misery being upset about the team while I'm havin a good time in san diego or some place better watchin our team win another down to the wire bowl game...

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

Whooaaaaa there buddy. I'm the one that is WITH you on this. Iccyfan was the one calling for MAC's head. I'm saying that Mac needs to stay. That is unless his boss decides that isn't the case as I support whatever decision JP should make. I'm not calling for Mac's job. Nor am I "settling for Mediocrity" (I just posted as to why I hate that phrase).

Whoa there CyinCo; you and Cy Fan 28 are very adept at putting words in people's mouths! As a matter of fact (or maybe just my opinion), CyFan28 wrote something so ridiculous ("so you think we don't want to win?") that I wouldn't even respond to it! We're all Cyclone fans here; some of us are just frustrated with what we see as a continuation of season's past. Others seem to be OK with the state of things. If you only graduated in 1997, you haven't seen the futility that we earlier alum have witnessed. We all want the program to succeed. Loboclone has a post that pretty much sums up my feelings so I won't rehash it anymore...Go Cyclones!

 

[Covenant Clone]

Ben Bruns is full of crap. To say this is not coaching is crap. First, it was terrible play calling, and second, poor execution is a reflection of poor coaching. Either way, the head coach is responsible, and the problem with Dan, is that he never takes responsibility. Just deflects critisism with excuses. Again, the problem with many of us on here, along with Ben, is that we get used to it and it becomes acceptable. We as fans need to stand up and no longer accept this crap. I know most will disagree, but I think we either need to start a whole game chant to fire Mac, have a mass boycott of a game, or turn our backs on the game for the 3rd and 4th quarter during the next home game. Many would say that is being a poor fan, I say it's leading to drive change that will better for the players, the school, the city of Ames, and all the fans that continue to support ISU.

With all due respect Balls, maybe you and your nephew should migrate because when a program is coming out of the dark ages as we are, we don't need continuous negativity. I just recently joined this website and I have been reading all of the post that "cyclone FANS" have been writing. Listen to yourselfs, I continually make fun of EIU fans because they will support, support, support until something goes wrong. If the EIU football team went 5-7 this year they would be calling for Ferentz's head. That's what EIU does, not ISU. If we go 9-3 this year and go to a January 1 bowl game, all of you will be signing praises to Mac and calling him the best coach ever. I am not saying that people can't or shouldn't vent and be frustrated because as I understand it, that is the purpose of this site, but it is one thing to vent, it is completely another to untactfully negative and rude about a program and a coaching staff that has come as far as they have. I am also not trying to tell anyone that they should or shouldn't like Mac (personally, I am a huge supporter) but here is the bottom line. He is the best this program has ever had, all of his players and people close to the program (and more and more people on a national level) have tons of respect for what he has done, he is recruiting better and better talent to ISU every year, players are starting to chose ISU over other schools simple b/c he is the coach and he is doing all of this will an institution that has always been considered a educational institution before athletics, that has the smallest budget in the big 12, the smallest stadium in the conference and decending fan support because he hasn't "won the big game the we except him to win." If the people that decide the direction of the program (i.e. Pollard) decide Mac isn't the best thing for the future of Cyclone football, I am sure he will take care of it. My suggestion to everyone would be, lets support Cyclone Football (after all we are 2-0) and agrue about what is the right dircection for the future after the season. The players believe in the fans and the fans should support them and the situation because right now it is the only thing that we have. Go Cyclones.

 

[CyinCo]

Whoa there CyinCo; you and Cy Fan 28 are very adept at putting words in people's mouths! As a matter of fact (or maybe just my opinion), CyFan28 wrote something so ridiculous ("so you think we don't want to win?") that I wouldn't even respond to it! We're all Cyclone fans here; some of us are just frustrated with what we see as a continuation of season's past. Others seem to be OK with the state of things. If you only graduated in 1997, you haven't seen the futility that we earlier alum have witnessed. We all want the program to succeed. Loboclone has a post that pretty much sums up my feelings so I won't rehash it anymore...Go Cyclones!

It was clear that you said you didn't want Danny Mac as our coach. That is the only thing that I stated you said. I never said that you said you don't want to win games. Everyone here wants to win games.

Also, I started classes at ISU in 1992. I have seen plenty of bad years. I was there when Walden wouldn't even play a young Troy Davis. I had season tickets as a student when we went 0-10-1 and I STILL went to every home game when 3000 people were in the stands. I have witnessed the definition of futility.

Like I said before, the only thing we disagree on is the approach to the future. We still both support the team and are both fans. Lets just leave it at that.

 

[CY ST8T]

I think alot has been written here good and bad. When you have been a Clone fan for over 40 years and can remember Clay Stapleton and Johnny Majors coaching FB teams at ISU and suffered through Criner and Walden years, you probably have a perspective of low expections over time. We as alum and fans deserve to vent or complain and even praise when we what to-it's a game! 2 years of missed OT's and North title will fuel these comments. Will D-Mac have them ready Saturday? It's historical that he will!! Am I a HUGE fan of D-Mac ? No, never have been, but Jamie gave him a raise to over 1 mil/year. quote]

This is the problem attitude we deal with on a huge percentage of the east side. I see not a single reason that you deserve to constantly complain other than you still are probably as negative as you were 40 years ago with the team. You of all people should know about loyalty and should see where D-Mac has taken this program. 1 million a year anymore isn't crap, and for 5 bowl games in our program he is worth every penny. You all make assumptions that you know the play calling and scenarios behind Dan's decisions. Truth is that arm chair QB is the easiest position to play. Fact is that Dan is in charge. I can see the talent and I can see where we are improving and where Dan is doing as much or more than at least 60% of the Big XII right now with youth. It is worthless to argue though because Dan bashers are narrow minded as ever which is how they draw there conclusions to start.

 

[Cyphor]

Right now Ben Bruns is on the radio defending Coach Mac, saying that he can't think of one play that was miscalled. It was on the offense that simply didn't execute. I agree with him completely. our Offense simply didn't make the plays when we needed them to. Way to go D. Quit complaining about the coaches, this close call is not on them.

I can think of a few! After a nice drive we get down to the six yard line. Then the coaches hand the ball of twice to Scales who gets stuffed for losses. When you get in the red zone, you need to give it to your best players. Don't take the ball out of Meyer's hands. Let him run it or throw it. Hell, at least give it to your starting running back.

I like Scales but he missed most of spring and fall practice with knee problems. ISU needs to go with it's bread in butter in that situation, and scales is more like a jar of cappers that has been sitting in the back of the frige for two years.

 

[ISU_Clone_28]

Whoa there CyinCo; you and Cy Fan 28 are very adept at putting words in people's mouths! As a matter of fact (or maybe just my opinion), CyFan28 wrote something so ridiculous ("so you think we don't want to win?") that I wouldn't even respond to it! We're all Cyclone fans here; some of us are just frustrated with what we see as a continuation of season's past. Others seem to be OK with the state of things. If you only graduated in 1997, you haven't seen the futility that we earlier alum have witnessed. We all want the program to succeed. Loboclone has a post that pretty much sums up my feelings so I won't rehash it anymore...Go Cyclones!

Easy there iccyfan, if you are going to call me out here at least get my screen name correct. so your saying that you didnt say that everyone is settling for mediocrity? If you dont remember saying this I believe your statement is a little past half way down on the 4th page... and with that statement stems the idea that seeing as how we are "settling for mediocrity" we must not want to win games. So please inform me what words I put into your mouth? agreed that some fans are getting frustrated but is that really reason to start turning on the team... afterall it is a new season and they are 2-0 and there is plenty of season to play... if the ticket prices are getting too high for you and you dont feel that ISU is putting quality teams on the field to give you your moneys worth (also a statement u made half way down on the 4th page so u dont think I'm putting words in your mouth again) then perhaps its better that you wont be there next season.. i would rather have fans there that are supporting the team and happy to see them win despite their performance.... as they say.. even an ugly win is still a win.... and ISU has two of them so far.

 

[Cyphor]

even an ugly win is still a win.... and ISU has two of them so far.

There won't be many more wins this year at this leval of play (maybe UNI). This is the point us naysayers are making. We are about two plays away from being 0-2. We got taken to triple overtime by a team that just got pounded by Weastern Michigan. We couldn't even score 20 points against a sub par mountain west defense. Both of these games were at home. This level of play will only result in repeated blowouts against real teams. I would love to eat crow on this one, but to me, four wins this season would be difficult.

 

[loboclone]

Thanks for taking my comments out of context CY STST!!! If your going to quote put all in there not what you want. I really don't know where you get the idea I constantly complain, I sugesst you read some other posts before jumping to conclusions based on this one.

My point is this: These forums create pro and cons for fans to vent!!!! When I played for ISU we were the door mat of the Big 8. Johnny Majors turned it around with walk ons like me( I had no athletic ability) and great scholarship players. Believe me we had alot of critics and went our 1st Bowl Game in 1970. You would not have JTS today with out those Bowl teams of the early 70's.

When you contribute over 200k like I have over 30+ years you earn the right, young pup! If you think this negative, so be it, you should have been there in 1969. When you write your 1st 20 K check to ISU email me a copy!

 

[monkeybrow]

Thanks for taking my comments out of context CY STST!!! If your going to quote put all in there not what you want. I really don't know where you get the idea I constantly complain, I sugesst you read some other posts before jumping to conclusions based on this one.

My point is this: These forums create pro and cons for fans to vent!!!! When I played for ISU we were the door mat of the Big 8. Johnny Majors turned it around with walk ons like me( I had no athletic ability) and great scholarship players. Believe me we had alot of critics and went our 1st Bowl Game in 1970. You would not have JTS today with out those Bowl teams of the early 70's.

When you contribute over 200k like I have over 30+ years you earn the right, young pup! If you think this negative, so be it, you should have been there in 1969. When you write your 1st 20 K check to ISU email me a copy!

Silly yank,
Let us not get into a silly contest of who has the bigger contribution check...this is embarrassing..especially from an elder alumnus (by the way...I wouldn't be so quick to fire that $ if I were you...there are plenty of recent graduates that have contribute high dollar amounts) Shall we move on to other conversations?...such as how far we had to force-march to school in the snow when tykes?

 

[ISU_Clone_28]

There won't be many more wins this year at this leval of play (maybe UNI). This is the point us naysayers are making. We are about two plays away from being 0-2. We got taken to triple overtime by a team that just got pounded by Weastern Michigan. We couldn't even score 20 points against a sub par mountain west defense. Both of these games were at home. This level of play will only result in repeated blowouts against real teams. I would love to eat crow on this one, but to me, four wins this season would be difficult.

So do you not think that the team will get better as the season progresses? I'm with you that if we continue to play at the current performance that we have had the past couple of games it will make for a tough season... but what I'm goin on is the assumption that this team is going to play better as the teams get better. granted the teams we have beaten shouldnt have made it as close of a game as it was.... we won the game with Meyer not having his best game and our best reciever not even touching the ball... just think how things are going to be when both are clicking... just have faith.. the team will play better football as the season progresses... i guarentee it.... for whatever thats worth.

 

[CloneFan65]

Thanks for taking my comments out of context CY STST!!! If your going to quote put all in there not what you want. I really don't know where you get the idea I constantly complain, I sugesst you read some other posts before jumping to conclusions based on this one.

My point is this: These forums create pro and cons for fans to vent!!!! When I played for ISU we were the door mat of the Big 8. Johnny Majors turned it around with walk ons like me( I had no athletic ability) and great scholarship players. Believe me we had alot of critics and went our 1st Bowl Game in 1970. You would not have JTS today with out those Bowl teams of the early 70's.

When you contribute over 200k like I have over 30+ years you earn the right, young pup! If you think this negative, so be it, you should have been there in 1969. When you write your 1st 20 K check to ISU email me a copy!

I was going to express my opinions about the ISU football team and the job the coaching staff is doing thus far this season, but I'm afraid I can't afford it.

 

[BryceC]

I was going to express my opinions about the ISU football team and the job the coaching staff is doing thus far this season, but I'm afraid I can't afford it.

Hilarious.

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

if the ticket prices are getting too high for you and you dont feel that ISU is putting quality teams on the field to give you your moneys worth then perhaps its better that you wont be there next season..

Very nice! The fact that I've voiced criticism of DMac does not mean I've turned on the team no matter how badly you want to twist my comments. Just stop already (and I'll do the same)...:growl5cj:

Go Cyclones!

 

[loboclone]

Thanks iccyfan- maybe I should have put that way. Another quick point:
If the program was poised for next level us "negative oldtimers" who give big bucks wouldn't have anything to do but pluck ear hair.

 

[darts180]

Why do I have to stop coming to games, and become a Hawk fan just because I point out that I disagree with the coach??????
And if Ferentz were to go 5-7 Iowa fans would be patient, because HE HAS WON IMPORTANT GAMES!!!!! Two conference championships get you a mulligan, 7-6 should NOT, but again we should just be happy that ol' Danny Mac has taken us to all these IMPORTANT Bowl Games, most of which didn't exist 10-15 years ago
MY BAD MONKEY, I WILL STOP SPENDING MONEY TO GO TO IOWA STATE GAMES FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE

 

[Balls]

loboclone. Great post and much thanks for your contributions to ISU. I agree with your comments and respect your experienced perspective.

 

[Wesley]

If we could beat Oklahoma or Texas just once....that would be a Keeper. Just like Monkey for Amy.