Grant Teaff, left. Ever since he quit coaching we've had nothing but a bunch of bad hires. IMO, it's all about coaching. I don't care what school it is. I remember ISU did very well under Earl Bruce. I believe ISU can compete in football just fine, they just need the right coach. Hopefully you have that with your new coach.
In the late 1980's and early 90's Texas was horrible. Nebraska sure isn't their old self and who ever thought Kansas would be winning in football!! Or Baylor in men's or women's basketball!!! I remember how horrible Colorado was in the 1970's They didn't really turn around until the Mid 1980's. And of course the Hawkeyes sucked under Cummings (sp?). Love how the Hawks always think they have been the greatest. Well I know the truth.
Whoever thought the Hawkeyes would suck so bad at men's Basketball? Again, Lute Olson was the reason they went to the final four in 1980 but after Lute left they haven't been the sam. Little ol' Baylor would clean their clock in both football and basketball yet those Hawk fans would still be acting like they were the king of the world.
Anyway, we beat No. 3 ranked USC (Sean Salisbury was QB) in 1985 in LA, we beat LSU in the Liberty Bowl that year pretty handily and we whacked UT in Austin 50-7 in 1989. We beat BYU in Waco in 1983 when Steve Young was QB. The next year BYU won the national title and they killed us in Provo in 1984.
My point is these things run in cycles. No one stays on top forever. Remember when Miami and Florida sucked in the 1970's too. Everyone forgets that, and of course Alabama seemed unbeatable for such a long time. They are on the rise again of course but they went through a long dry spell.