Football

Williams Blog: Rhoads’ passion an inspiration to Hoiberg

By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com PublisherFollow Chris on Twitter @ChrisMWilliams

Fred Hoiberg wasn’t able to attend Iowa State’s football upset of Oklahoma State last Friday evening. The Cyclone head basketball coach was busy preparing for his team’s game against Western Carolina on Sunday.

"I wasn’t doing much preparing though," said Hoiberg. “The football victory on Friday night was one of the most unbelievable scenes that I’ve seen in this town. I’ve been living here since I was 2-years old."

Here’s how jacked up Hoiberg was about the upset. After Iowa State defeated Western Carolina by a final of 90-62, Hoiberg actually led off his press conference not by answering questions about his team’s 32-point victory, but by praising the man who has become an inspiration for Iowa State’s coaching fraternity.

“To watch Paul (Rhoads) and the passion and enthusiasm that he has for that group of kids and the way that they love playing for him and how he has gotten every single one of those guys to buy into that team concept is something that all of us strive to be as coaches," said Hoiberg.

Rhoads’ latest locker room video has been a national hit. It’s gone viral on YouTube and the list goes on and on.

Hoiberg used the latest video as a coaching tool for his team of players who come from all over the country with multiple backgrounds.

“I showed my guys Paul Rhoads’ speech," said Hoiberg. "That was part of our edit yesterday when we were going through Western Carolina and their plays. We showed them Paul Rhoads and what it means to be a team and how those guys have all bought in. They are one. That’s what we need to become.”

@cyclonefanatic