Take a deep breath, relax.

[BryceC]

I agree, I would be one of the most joyous fans alive if we finished 5-1. or even 4-2. But frankly, I haven't seen anything out of this team to make me even think we'll finish 3-3. I'm not being pessimistic here, because I think I've got a pretty good reputation as Mr. Optimism. But I just don't think we're that good.

 

[kurimski]

"People only care about year end results." Really. Why are so many people complaining right now? What if we go 5-1 to end the season? We'll be 8-4...how will Cyclone Nation feel then?...(oh wait, probably not too good because we'd unlikely be a top 20 team and therefore, in your opinion, not eligible for a bowl)

Saying "what if" the cyclones go 5-1 to end the year is like saying what if the yankees are allowed back into the playoffs this year and win the world series. ISU is going to have to show something more than what they have to go 5-1. They could just as easily be 0-6 as they are 3-3 right now. Suppose they do finish 8-4 i doubt they would be a top 20 team. They are in a pretty big hole right now as is. It's going to take the coaches and media a while to forget about the near victories over UNLV, Toledo, and UNI. Also with a couple very tough games against Oklahoma and Mizzou. They MIGHT be able to finish out 4-2 but even that is a stretch.

Also as far as Bowen, McKenzie, and Banks all in the top 29 in the nation in tackles. That's like being the best athlete in the special olympics. It's great they are tackling people, but if your out on the field for 35-40 min a game on defense you going to have plenty of chances.

 

[brutodd]

Man that's a tough, tough remark about Special Olympic's athletes - remember they did come to Ames this year. I know and follow what you're trying to say, and am not trying to flame ya or make this board "pc" but those kids are close to the heart for a lot of people.

 

[CY ST8T]

I agree, I would be one of the most joyous fans alive if we finished 5-1. or even 4-2. But frankly, I haven't seen anything out of this team to make me even think we'll finish 3-3. I'm not being pessimistic here, because I think I've got a pretty good reputation as Mr. Optimism. But I just don't think we're that good.

Bryce, I agree that we have not seen anything yet, but you do have to agree that there is enough there if we can come together. The things that we need to improve on are the intangibles which can happen on offense and we still have the firepower that we know has been there. It's just time for them to produce. And look at these studs in the LB corps with Bowen leading the way. These guys are really coming along and will be one hell of a unit next year. But for this year I think that if we can jell that we can easily get 4-2 if not 5-1.

 

[Cy Heavy]

And look at these studs in the LB corps with Bowen leading the way. These guys are really coming along and will be one hell of a unit next year. But for this year I think that if we can jell that we can easily get 4-2 if not 5-1.

Petersen will have a minimum of 275 yards rushing versus us and could set some kind of record with his felon dad finally able to see him in person. But the D isn't the disappointing aspect-what the hell is going on with our O? 23 sacks on the QB and averaging less than three TD's per game is unacceptable. The play calling is quickly slipping into the horribly predictable ways of the Davis and Haywood years: 3rd and long-shotgun draw!

Yes, thank you Mac for getting us above doormat status and into whatever status you want to label us with now. However, I, like most boosters, want to see convincing wins over teams we should walk over. I want to be able to, at a minimum, talk smack with my UNI buddies. I, like most boosters are having a hard time writing checks for the renovations with our performance at home this year. As in politics: what have you done for me lately?

 

[BryceC]

Bryce, I agree that we have not seen anything yet, but you do have to agree that there is enough there if we can come together.

I've been saying this all year. I think there is plenty there. I think that this team could be a lot better than their performances and their record shows. But the fact is that we're six games in and I've been saying the same thing after every game. Once I SEE them come together, I'm going to assume they aren't because it isn't like they haven't had enough time.

 

[clonomaniac]

Great first post with all he has done for ISU football! My question remains, is this all the further he can take us? If so, at what point do we say thanks and move on?

I think the next thing you can add on his list of accomplishments is that we will be 8-4 this season. I can even see us winning at Norman this weekend. Oklahoma is over-rated. You take Adrian Peterson out, and they are no good. We have a better offense with Bret Meyer - the problem is our O-line.

Anyway, I think Mac will be let go with another big 12 6-6 record. He will somehow get us to another 7-5, if not 8-4 season this year, however.

 

[businesscyman]

I really like what you pulled together, excellent things to keep in mind. The part about being mad at a 7-5 season really made me think.

 

[Rage On]

I could argue with many of your points. The one that really gets me is the #9 ranking. Wasn't that right before getting humiliated by Oklahoma in Norman? Didn't we go on to lose to Connecticut at home to end the season?

Add this: Had three legitimate shots at the north title and failed every time!

 

[Wesley]

Coaching records:
Dan McC 51-72 (12 yrs)
Mark Mangino 22-32 (5 large yrs)
Dan Hawkins 0-6 rookie
Guy Morris 14-26 (4 yrs)
Ron Prince 4-2 rookie
Gary Pinkel 35-30 (6 yrs)
Bill Callahan 18-11 (3 yrs)
Bob Stoops 78-18 (8 yrs)
Mike Gundy 7-9 (2 yrs sophomore)
Mack Brown 88-20 (9 yrs)
Dennis Franchione 21-20 (4 yrs)

Looks like we only want Mack Brown or Stoops as our coach.
Mike Leach 52-30 (7 years). The rest have laundry problems.

 

[jay moe]

Yes we did lose to UCONN, very embarassing. I think Seneca threw 5 picks in the game at Norman, he was the only playmaker we had that year, and teams knew it. Coming back against Iowa that year, and beating Texas Tech, with The Run, are my favorite games.

 

[mizouse87]

Wow, excellent first post! This is the type of post cyclone nation needs at a time such as this. Let's be honest with ourselves people, we had high expectations for this pre-season and there was a reason for that. So I think we all know that it's possible to turn this around and end up where we thought we would be come bowl season. I know we haven't played the greatest and could quite easily be 0-6 at this juncture, but look at it this way....before the season opener we all knew a 3-3 record was a possible record heading into Norman. I picked ISU to go 8-4 this year and they are by no means out of the running for that record.

This is the time Cyclone nation needs to band together and support the team we love!

Onto Norman........Let's turn this thing around, GO CYCLONES!

 

[HGPuck]

We will beat Oklahoma this weekend, just a feeling, but it seems like everytime I'm down about ISU they pull something out like this. On the flip side everytime I'm excited they seem to mess it up, see last two football seasons along with some other times. I have said it before and I still feel like this is a team that can pull off a big one and as I see it this is our last chance. If the O can step up and have a big game and the D comes up with a big play or two.

On a sidenote sure we could be 0-6 right now but that is the nature of the game and I think we could be 4-2 right now if some things had gone a different way in any of our losses, momentum is a funny thing. And we have had some seasons were we lose all the close ones, so I think it is about time we have a few go our way.