There is an old baseball saying that you cannot win a pennant in April, but you can certainly lose it !
SUCKTEMBER: Matt Campbell Teams not ready to start the season.
- Thread starter Gunnerclone
- Start date
I think expectations should have been tempered due to the weird COVID year for sure. But had ISU had a normal 8-5 type season and brought everyone back like they did it's reasonable to think you house a mid-tier Mo Valley team and probably win at least 1/2 vs. Iowa and Baylor.
Except this horse isn't dead. It's a legitimate argument that for some reason people like you try to silence every time it's brought up.
So a contrarian take:
Every September we play Iowa. Our Big 12 games in September with Campbell as coach have all been road games except 2017 home vs Texas, Jacob Park's final game and 2018 home vs Oklahoma with Zeb Noland (3rd to last game).
2016 @ TCU
2017 vs Texas
2018 vs OU
2018 @ TCU
2019 @ Baylor
2020 @ TCU
2021 @ Baylor
These aren't exactly games we SHOULD be winning. I would expect more than 1 win from those 7 Big 12 games, but it's not as if we're starting off the Big 12 schedule with home games vs Texas Tech.
We suck in the first game of the season, no doubt. And we haven't beaten Iowa. But I would argue that a LOT of what happens in September is the difficulty of the schedule, and SOME of it is a slow start.
Every September we play Iowa. Our Big 12 games in September with Campbell as coach have all been road games except 2017 home vs Texas, Jacob Park's final game and 2018 home vs Oklahoma with Zeb Noland (3rd to last game).
2016 @ TCU
2017 vs Texas
2018 vs OU
2018 @ TCU
2019 @ Baylor
2020 @ TCU
2021 @ Baylor
These aren't exactly games we SHOULD be winning. I would expect more than 1 win from those 7 Big 12 games, but it's not as if we're starting off the Big 12 schedule with home games vs Texas Tech.
We suck in the first game of the season, no doubt. And we haven't beaten Iowa. But I would argue that a LOT of what happens in September is the difficulty of the schedule, and SOME of it is a slow start.
Yes the Sucktember trend (as its now being called) worries me, but its Brocktober now and I don't want to think about Sucktember again until next year. It was depressing enough live through it, don't need to reflect on it. Nobody quote me until next year, I'm done with this thread. 
Or keep doing those things and don't turn the ball over.
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There was a stat thrown out from year to year and UNI has fared well vs. FBS teams for a long time with exception to a handful of games that got out of hand.
CMC isn't the first coach at ISU to come out rough in the first game or so but that tended to mean the rest of the season wasn't going to be much.
The last two games were about where I was hoping ISU would have been in week 1 with what they had coming back. That doesn't mean they beat Iowa or Baylor clearly but the chances are at least higher and it wouldn't have such a WTF feeling afterwards.
Beating OSU tomorrow would make this season feel a whole lot different so let's see where it goes.
I will never believe they don't care about the non conference especially when they have recruiting battles with a yearly opponent.
That's a bad approach and not fair to the players.
If it makes you feel better, Iowa State will absolutely drill SEMO next year.
I'd avoid all MVFC schools not named Indiana State, Western Illinois or Youngstown because they're better than a large majority of the G5 but they don't put me in charge of scheduling like they should...
Playing schools better than most of the G5 while not getting credit for an FBS win is duuuuuuuuuuuuumb.
I'd avoid all MVFC schools not named Indiana State, Western Illinois or Youngstown because they're better than a large majority of the G5 but they don't put me in charge of scheduling like they should...
Playing schools better than most of the G5 while not getting credit for an FBS win is duuuuuuuuuuuuumb.
If the statistic above isn't convincing enough, here's another statistic to put things into perspective. In the entire history of Iowa State University football, below is a list of all the coaches who managed to beat every conference opponent on their home field:
- Matt Campbell
Oh my god. Because we haven’t talked about it enough? Because we need ANOTHER thread devoted to it?
Link me all the relevant threads (that for whatever reason you couldn’t resist opening)?
What’s your point? Things could be worse?
Every program in the country (except Lord Saban’s) can say the same thing.
Ok. Not threads. The sentiment has been broken down and discussed to death in all kinds of threads. You’re the about the only one who doesn’t agree with me.
I just disagree that the horse is dead when the same GD horse has trampled us every year.
I’m happy with the end of season records, just frustrated that the CFP goal was flushed so quickly this season. Sucktember (thanks for that, btw, @Gunnerclone) is a disturbing trend that hopefully he sticks around to fix.
Few are surprised, but it is stupid. Especially a whole month later. And I wouldn’t mind being a smidge less spoiled than every other fanbase out there. You gotta have more resources than our program has if you want to attract and keep the right people while also calling for their heads because we didn’t win a game by enough. The criticism is fair, but given the overall shape of the program, those who want to turn September into a fireable offense are asinine.
My point is we're incredibly blessed to have unquestionably the greatest coach in the history of our university - probably the most sought after coach in the entire country! To start a thread talking about the "lack of preparation and failure of the coaching staff" is a bit much. I"m not saying Campbell should be immune from criticism, but good Lord have some perspective.
I"m sure I'll get criticized for saying this, but I believe part of why we struggle in September is also a big part of why we're so successful later in the season. Campbell is always coaching with the big picture in mind. For example, Campbell plays far more young players in crucial situations early in the season than any other coach I've seen. While it may hurt us in September, it does wonders for team chemistry and it pays big dividends later in the season.
I get the frustration with our rough starts to the season, but a trademark of Matt Cambell's teams is they ALWAYS improve throughout the season. I'd much rather have our team start slow and finish fast than vice versa. Campbell and his staff are a breath of fresh air in this world that's so obsessed with immediate gratification.
Just my humble opinion.
Of course it’s still a problem. No one thinks it isn’t a problem. Everyone in the world knows it’s a problem and has given their grievances and takes on it. We don’t need thread for people to piss and moan about the same crap again. There’s a reason Gunners crazy ass was the one to start the thread.
That guy who said Campbell quit on the team. Though that would be quitting and not getting fired.
