It has been quite a long time since I have posted. I am not an alumni of Iowa State, but I am indeed a proud supporter of Iowa State athletics. Since last night, I have tried to read most threads and comments after the loss to Iowa, and I want to start this thread for something to think about.
I haver been reading all the posts leading up to this season and specifically this game with Iowa. And I have to tell you that I was impressed with the abslolute love and loyalty you have for the Cyclones, and how that love and loyalty carried over to your enthusiasm on predictions for wither games or the season. Doggone near everyone of us wanted to beat Iowa, no question about it. And then Kent State, Army, etc.
I am in business, and I know for a fact that it takes alot of hard work, planning, communication, and getting the right people on board to "carry out your game plan". Sports are no different. And football take slomger than any other sport I know simply because of the sheer numbers. Counting kickers, long snappers, and other "once in awhile players", it takes 25 people to start and play, and then you need at least 20 behind them to give yourself some security of continuity if someone gets hurt.
So looking at this pragmatically, it is easy to understand why we are all so hungry to win and go to bowls, because a.) it is fun and b.) we haven'tdone it in quite sometime. But this program is down, and they are now putting a business like approach to rebuilding it. So to rebuild that, first of all you need MONEY. That money is ascertained either from direct contributions or ticket sales. Corporate sponsorships also play a major role. Secondly, you need a game plan. That begins with the hiring of the CEO ( Coach Rhoades ). Your CEO has to have impeccable charecter, and I believe that almost everyone on here believes that to be the truth. Once your CEO is in position, then he has to get the right people on board with him to execute the plan. That means the right coaches aqnd recruiting the right players. And the whole time he is dealing with all these functions, the CEO somehow has to project the image that they are heading down the right path, and convince us ( the fans and sponsors ) that the only thing they lack is TIME.
Here is where we need to come to the table. Although I care whether they beat Kent State, it isn't going to decide whether I believe in this staff to get the job done. Because I do. And regardless whether we beat Kent State or not, we need to be there in Ames when we play Army. And all the other home games. My personal opinion is that something has to change permenantly at Iowa State and that is our attitudes. We have to be Cyclones through and through. If the dobber gets down, then take a break from it, but when you come back, you need to have the same amount of enthusiasm as you did this past week. WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WIN FIRST, AND WIN THE RIGHT WAY. Then the players and coaches put it on the line to do the same.
But when we make comments like "if we lose to Kent State, then our season is over" it is all wrong. There is a thing in the sports world called KARMA, and right now we don't have it. And KARMA isn't something that happens overnight. It is built one brick at a time as well. The University of Iowa had no KARMA during the 60's and 70's. Their program was pathetic. Then a man named Hayden Fry came along and he changed that Karma, just like a guy named Johnny Orr did Iowa State basketball.
Don't give up on this team, stay enthusiastic even if they go 3-9. They after all are YOUR TEAM. Then expect the CEO to go maybe 4-8 or 5-7 next year, maybe .500 after that, then your expectations should rise for what we want now. That is how you build a business the correct way.
Sorry for the long post. But I love this program as much as you, and now is NOT the time to throw anyone under the bus, or give up if it doesn't go as you hoped. That is the time to get after it, and help out in any way possible. GO CYCLONES
I haver been reading all the posts leading up to this season and specifically this game with Iowa. And I have to tell you that I was impressed with the abslolute love and loyalty you have for the Cyclones, and how that love and loyalty carried over to your enthusiasm on predictions for wither games or the season. Doggone near everyone of us wanted to beat Iowa, no question about it. And then Kent State, Army, etc.
I am in business, and I know for a fact that it takes alot of hard work, planning, communication, and getting the right people on board to "carry out your game plan". Sports are no different. And football take slomger than any other sport I know simply because of the sheer numbers. Counting kickers, long snappers, and other "once in awhile players", it takes 25 people to start and play, and then you need at least 20 behind them to give yourself some security of continuity if someone gets hurt.
So looking at this pragmatically, it is easy to understand why we are all so hungry to win and go to bowls, because a.) it is fun and b.) we haven'tdone it in quite sometime. But this program is down, and they are now putting a business like approach to rebuilding it. So to rebuild that, first of all you need MONEY. That money is ascertained either from direct contributions or ticket sales. Corporate sponsorships also play a major role. Secondly, you need a game plan. That begins with the hiring of the CEO ( Coach Rhoades ). Your CEO has to have impeccable charecter, and I believe that almost everyone on here believes that to be the truth. Once your CEO is in position, then he has to get the right people on board with him to execute the plan. That means the right coaches aqnd recruiting the right players. And the whole time he is dealing with all these functions, the CEO somehow has to project the image that they are heading down the right path, and convince us ( the fans and sponsors ) that the only thing they lack is TIME.
Here is where we need to come to the table. Although I care whether they beat Kent State, it isn't going to decide whether I believe in this staff to get the job done. Because I do. And regardless whether we beat Kent State or not, we need to be there in Ames when we play Army. And all the other home games. My personal opinion is that something has to change permenantly at Iowa State and that is our attitudes. We have to be Cyclones through and through. If the dobber gets down, then take a break from it, but when you come back, you need to have the same amount of enthusiasm as you did this past week. WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WIN FIRST, AND WIN THE RIGHT WAY. Then the players and coaches put it on the line to do the same.
But when we make comments like "if we lose to Kent State, then our season is over" it is all wrong. There is a thing in the sports world called KARMA, and right now we don't have it. And KARMA isn't something that happens overnight. It is built one brick at a time as well. The University of Iowa had no KARMA during the 60's and 70's. Their program was pathetic. Then a man named Hayden Fry came along and he changed that Karma, just like a guy named Johnny Orr did Iowa State basketball.
Don't give up on this team, stay enthusiastic even if they go 3-9. They after all are YOUR TEAM. Then expect the CEO to go maybe 4-8 or 5-7 next year, maybe .500 after that, then your expectations should rise for what we want now. That is how you build a business the correct way.
Sorry for the long post. But I love this program as much as you, and now is NOT the time to throw anyone under the bus, or give up if it doesn't go as you hoped. That is the time to get after it, and help out in any way possible. GO CYCLONES
