***Official portal tracker thread***

And he could be setting himself up for failure. It’s almost a sure fire guarantee that Penn State will be in the playoffs next year and if Campbell doesn’t consistently have them in the playoffs, they’ll want him gone. He better pray they’re in the playoffs at least 4 times in his first 5 years
Can’t just get to the CFP. That’s not enough. Have to “regularly beat Top 10 teams.” That’s from their AD. It’s largely the fail that got Franklin fired. So he as to beat Ohio St, Michigan, and Oregon regularly. That’s who WE ARE think they are.
 
Of the 70 who entered the portal last year for Wazzu, 10 guys came back to play for Rogers, including their #1 QB, #1 WR, and #1 TE.

Not saying I expect our stars to come back, but I absolutely believe some guys will return
The quick turnaround hire was done with the belief it would limit the mass transfer out. We'll see how it all plays out but I wish a coaching search was done.
 
There are still some decent players who have not announced anything yet...

Sama, Lee and Peppers at RB. The Sowell bros. Cooper Alexander. Ka'Mori Moore and Kuol Kuol would be huge if we can keep them. Trey Verdon also. Will Hawthorne, David Coffey, Garret Rutledge, Alijah Carnell, Zaimir Hawk, etc.
Sama is being paid big money. Has been for the last two years. Don't think he'd see a better offer.
 
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The quick turnaround hire was done with the belief it would limit the mass transfer out. We'll see how it all plays out but I wish a coaching search was done.

So we could be less prepared for Jan2?
So we had even less chance of retaining players?

If there’s a better hire for us than Jimmy I’d love to hear it.

Midwest winner. Spent 13 years in SD.

Jumped to WSU because our AD told him he needed to do it if he wanted this job one day.

Has family here and considers the MW home.

Took 70 transfers to 7-6 in a much worse situation than Iowa St faces, with a fraction of the money.

Knows TJ & TJ basically dubs him FB TJ.

Until he wins here, we can’t say for sure…but damn if this doesn’t look like a home run!

No one from Campbell’s tree was probably coming back. No major named coach was coming. Roll the dice on another Gene Chizik hire?

Saban & Meyer weren’t returning JP’s text messages.
 
So we could be less prepared for Jan2?
So we had even less chance of retaining players?

If there’s a better hire for us than Jimmy I’d love to hear it.

Midwest winner. Spent 13 years in SD.

Jumped to WSU because our AD told him he needed to do it if he wanted this job one day.

Has family here and considers the MW home.

Took 70 transfers to 7-6 in a much worse situation than Iowa St faces, with a fraction of the money.

Knows TJ & TJ basically dubs him FB TJ.

Until he wins here, we can’t say for sure…but damn if this doesn’t look like a home run!

No one from Campbell’s tree was probably coming back. No major named coach was coming. Roll the dice on another Gene Chizik hire?

Saban & Meyer weren’t returning JP’s text messages.
Iowa State made the prudent and fiscally responsible decision in hiring Jimmy. I have been attending ISU football games since 1968. We as a school, have to play Moneyball and think medium to long term in our strategic planning. #1: Our school and athletic department are not heavily in debt like most of the other Power 4 schools. #2: The large SEC and Big 10 ESPN television contracts expire around 2031. ESPN is financially collapsing-and its parent, Disney, is not in great financial shape. We need to ride the storm out. Iowa State has never been financially reckless. I believe we made a very solid and pragmatic decision in hiring Jimmy, in the eye of a storm. President James Hilton - starting around 1955- was the visionary and mastermind of the modern Iowa State. He was strategic and fair and played the long game on almost every darn issue and usually prevailed against foes like Iowa and the NCAA and the Iowa BOR. Hang Tough Cyclone Brothers!!!! GO Clones!!
 
So assuming some of these guys were told they don’t fit…and some aren’t going to make big money anywhere else…

How many come back?

Also, rumor is Rocco is getting $3.5m to pedo state.

Not sure he’s worth the $1.5m we were paying.
 
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At this point... nothing would make me happier than JP discovering evidence of Campbell tampering with our players and telling them to leave.... and suing him and PSU for everything he can get.

Well... I guess winning the lottery would make me happier!

Seriously though.... I would not be shocked at all to someday find out that Campbell was throwing JP under the bus this whole time to the players before he left and telling them that if he left they should also look elsewhere. I don't understand where all these kids think they are going to end up that is so much better than here?? Most do not move on from here to a better program honestly.
Slick Matt can convince kids to run through a brick wall with his rhetoric...those kids loved him...not Iowa State. He'll be as loyal to them now as long as they can play football...if they can't...back in the portal they'll go...more the wiser of CMC.
 
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It’s amazing to me the number of kids committing that have probably never stepped foot in the state of Iowa. Sign of the times I suppose.
FWIW, I had only been to the State of Iowa (Des Moines) twice and never been on Campus when I started at Iowa State. :)
 
Of the 70 who entered the portal last year for Wazzu, 10 guys came back to play for Rogers, including their #1 QB, #1 WR, and #1 TE.

Not saying I expect our stars to come back, but I absolutely believe some guys will return
Given that number, and the way that this has gone for us so far, I get the impression that Rogers might be a little like TJ in his approach. Just "this is what we are going to do, this is how we're going to do it, if you want to be part of that (and your skillset fits that), then you are welcome to stay". No big money, no big promises.

You could easily blow your budget just trying to retain a core of the team who either don't fit what you want to do, or are there simply because the money was right. Probably better to keep those who are completely on board with Iowa State and the new staff, and reload with guys who want to play for this staff.
 
At this point... nothing would make me happier than JP discovering evidence of Campbell tampering with our players and telling them to leave.... and suing him and PSU for everything he can get.

Well... I guess winning the lottery would make me happier!

Seriously though.... I would not be shocked at all to someday find out that Campbell was throwing JP under the bus this whole time to the players before he left and telling them that if he left they should also look elsewhere. I don't understand where all these kids think they are going to end up that is so much better than here?? Most do not move on from here to a better program honestly.
I'm now looking at this whole CMC thing differently. I bought into the CMC "I love developing players", "the absolute best fans in the nation", "building something special". What I didn't expect was his own "character assassination" (strong words, but in the end he killed his own character). In the end, it really was all about winning and money. There's the whole closer to family thing, but let's be serious: his work hours will still be the same and that's a bigger obstacle to overcome than the hours to where he grew up. And, let's face it: 2.5 hours by car or 2.5 hours by plane ... too close to be the reason.

All this aside, I place the blame of my frustration all on myself for buying into coach speak. Which brings me to my final point: Rogers, being the quiet type, I don't have to listen to as much. :D