Spencer Tillman predicts that ISU...

[AirWalke]

My pledge is this, if I see a better team in Nov than I do in Aug, I am upping my NCC membership to Gold. Hopefully others will do the same.

While I don't graduate until next year, I'll be doing the same if Chizik does the impossible next year and manages to win a copious amount of games.

I do wonder where the optimism has gone, and I think it's because Gene Chizik and Iowa State have been beat up by the media, telling us that it'll be hard to replicate what D-Mac did here, that we'd be lucky to get to 4-5 wins, etc. What happened to before Chizik was hired, when he was considered a viable replacement at 'Bama, where, had he been hired, expectations would have gone through the roof for him?

Suddenly, he "commits" to ISU, and he's gone from a 5 star prospect to a 3 star. Sound familiar? I hope so. In a matter of weeks, Chizik's hype went from "an excellent head coaching prospect" before he came to ISU to "a questionable hire with unknown head coaching abilities." Was he not a, or the, assistant head coach at UT?

Obviously there's a difference in tradition between ISU and Alabama, but both teams went through lackluster seasons, ISU finishing 4-8, and Alabama finishing 6-7.

Of course, Tillman could be doing what our in-state friends on the radio are doing, and just trying to stir the pot. Or, if we do manage to squeak out an 8 or 9 win season, he can claim that he knew it all along. If he's wrong, people will just remember him, laugh, and say "hey, remember that crazy guy who thought ISU would be big this year?"

[CyinCo]

There are realist, pessimists, and optimists. I'm a realist. I say we win 5, possibly 6, games.

[cyclonelifer]

Hey, I've been saying all winter long, that with swagger and an attitude we could win 9 or 10 games.

But, in hindsight I also thought we'd win 9-10 games last year... and the year before that... and the year before that... and... well you get the point.

I do believe that this year it is possible, mainly because of the excitement of not only the fans and players... but the coaches as well.

It is possible to go into Lincoln 4-0 - against a kNU team that very well could be 2-2.

[iccyfan]

IMO they are the best two hires of the offseason without question.

ISU fans probably don't want to think about it, but Brian Kelly to Cinci was a pretty good hire. The guy has won and won quickly at two different schools and he's an offensive genius (scoring records and multiple national titles at Grand Valley State). I'm in the definite minority on this, but I was excited at the prospect of having him as ISU's head man. I like what I've heard of Chizik thus far, but I'll be watching Kelly at Cinci as well.

I've always liked Spencer Tillman; I don't know where he sees eight-nine wins but I'm all for it!

[CyinCo]

ISU fans probably don't want to think about it, but Brian Kelly to Cinci was a pretty good hire. The guy has won and won quickly at two different schools and he's an offensive genius (scoring records and multiple national titles at Grand Valley State). I'm in the definite minority on this, but I was excited at the prospect of having him as ISU's head man. I like what I've heard of Chizik thus far, but I'll be watching Kelly at Cinci as well.

I've always liked Spencer Tillman; I don't know where he sees eight-nine wins but I'm all for it!

I'd probably agree with you here from a proven coaching track record. However, JP has said that he is selling hope and I don't think BK was going to create the excitement around the program that Chizik has. It really isn't a knock on BK. It's just business and marketing.

I'm also not saying Chizik is a poor coach. He just doesn't have a headcoaching resume.

[Drive4cy]

I'm in the definite minority on this, but I was excited at the prospect of having him as ISU's head man

I don't think you were alone there. I was perfectly happy going to bed that Sunday thinking Kelly was our new coach. Although when I found out it was Chizik who landed at the airport, I was blown away.

[pulse]

People have just learned that if you have lower expectations you are less likely to get hurt. I'm not saying that is the way to go, but it does make us feel better no matter what happens. If the season produces 8 wins and you had expectations of 9 then you are disappointed even though it was a good season. If someone else has the expectations of 4 or 5 wins, then they are off the wall excited with 8 wins. Same season...they're overjoyed, you're disappointed...however same result. It's just a coping mechanism to help with the possible pain a season may bring. When it comes down to it, we are all there together cheering on our Cyclones. Everyone wants to see an 8 or more win season, but not everyone wants to take the chance of being disappointed.

While its great to have faith in your team, with a new coaching staff there are so many unknown factors. I would personally rather have the average Cyclone fan (All fans on CF are well above average and would stick with the team no matter what) come in with low expectations on the year, especially those new purchasers of season tickets, this way they are not disappointed causing them to not purchase tickets next year.

Whether you have high or low expectations it does not make you more or less of a fan...as long as your there cheering on the Cardinal and Gold.

Thanks for the info, it is great to know that others outside ISU have a good feeling about Coach Chizik and the possibilities with ISU!

You're dead on there with the psychology. I for one don't buy into the low expectations this year though. I've said this before, I have to believe Chizik (and staff) is a much better at coaching than Mac (and staff), otherwise what is the point. Taking that into consideration, Chizik should win 1 or 2 of those winnable games every year that Mac was talented at losing.

[cyclonenum1]

Saban will have Bama back to BCS games and in the national title hunt within 3 years. Now, as you say from a longterm standpoint Gene might be the better hire given what we need. However, I'm not so sure Saban will leave Alabama anytime because really, where does he go? Clearly, he's done in the NFL and if you are in the college ranks, not many places beat Alabama and the SEC. I could see him being there for many years.

IMO they are the best two hires of the offseason without question.

Saban is a great college coach. He will win at Bama. The real question is will he win enough? 8, 9, 10 win seasons are not enough to keep the Bama fans happy year in and year out. They want BCS Bowls and National Championships.

As is the normal course of events with Saban, he is not making many friends with the press or big boosters (he limits access to himself, his coaches, and his team dramatically). If he wins...no one will care. If he doesn't win (and the definition of not winning at Alabama is not making BCS Bowls and National Championship games) his seat will get awfully hot in a big hurry.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out over in Tuscaloosa...8 years at $4 million per year guaranteed and unlike Cyclone fans...the Crimson Tide fans will demand immediate success!

[cyclonedcm]

Why did Koch look so good against Missouri last year???? He ran like a Heisman trophy candidate... the o-line looked good.

[AirWalke]

Saban is a great college coach. He will win at Bama. The real question is will he win enough? 8, 9, 10 win seasons are not enough to keep the Bama fans happy year in and year out. They want BCS Bowls and National Championships.

As is the normal course of events with Saban, he is not making many friends with the press or big boosters (he limits access to himself, his coaches, and his team dramatically). If he wins...no one will care. If he doesn't win (and the definition of not winning at Alabama is not making BCS Bowls and National Championship games) his seat will get awfully hot in a big hurry.

It will be interesting to see how it all plays out over in Tuscaloosa...8 years at $4 million per year guaranteed and unlike Cyclone fans...the Crimson Tide fans will demand immediate success!

The AD at Alabama needs to grow a pair. If they fire a great coach like Saban after a 10-2 year, then they'll lose any respect I ever had for the program. Firing coaches constantly isn't going to get you the next Bear Bryant..

[cyclonenum1]

ISU fans probably don't want to think about it, but Brian Kelly to Cinci was a pretty good hire. The guy has won and won quickly at two different schools and he's an offensive genius (scoring records and multiple national titles at Grand Valley State). I'm in the definite minority on this, but I was excited at the prospect of having him as ISU's head man. I like what I've heard of Chizik thus far, but I'll be watching Kelly at Cinci as well.

I've always liked Spencer Tillman; I don't know where he sees eight-nine wins but I'm all for it!

Brian Kelly might have been an "OK" hire for ISU had he been the man but I believe Chizik is a huge "statement" hire.

You win championships with defense. Chizik has been the top defensive coordinator in the country for the last several years at Auburn and Texas where the teams were dominant in both their conference and on the national scene. Chizik, although never a head coach, brings considerable experience that, frankly, Kelly did not (and may never) have.

[cyclonenum1]

The AD at Alabama needs to grow a pair. If they fire a great coach like Saban after a 10-2 year, then they'll lose any respect I ever had for the program. Firing coaches constantly isn't going to get you the next Bear Bryant..

Believe me...he has a pair! That is precisely why they shelled out the buyout to get rid of Shula who was 26-23 in four years with Bowl appearances in his last 3 seasons and one 10 win season. And why they shelled out the most lucrative coaching contract in college FB history to get Saban. Mal Moore understands what his fans demand...big time winning football teams every year. If Saban doesn't meet the demands, he will be gone...head coach of Alabama is a pressure cooker!

[iccyfan]

JP has said that he is selling hope and I don't think BK was going to create the excitement around the program that Chizik has. It really isn't a knock on BK. It's just business and marketing.

I'll have to respectfully disagree with you on this statement. Chizik's pedigree is exciting to diehard ISU fans and the hope is that he'll be able to use his recruiting contacts to upgrade the program. I can tell you from personal experience that this hiring isn't impressing anybody in Iowa City, IA, Columbia, MO or Boulder, CO. The national media isn't overly excited about it because they've seen it before, ie - David Cutcliffe to Ole Miss, etc.

JP could have generated excitement about a Brian Kelly hiring; heck, I was enthralled via my own internet research and by watching Central Michigan play! If JP trots out his achievements at Grand Valley State (multiple national titles, many offensive records including 59 points / game over a season) and the quick turnaround he accomplished at CMU, the fanbase is just as mobilized as they are now.

My own personal analogy for JP's decision. GC is a 5* HS recruit with all the potential in the world. BK was a JC All-American with question marks as to whether his talent would translate to the Big XII. I think BK was the coaching equivalent of Seneca Wallace; let's hope GC turns out to be Carson Palmer or Matt Leinert rather than Rocky Hinds or Matt Gutierrez!

P.S. I long ago renewed my five season tickets and increased my donation to the NCC. I'm not a naysayer, just a pragmatist.

P.P.S. Shout-out to Airwalke for his use of the word "copious" in an earlier post. Can you work "juxtaposition" in later?

[Dormeezy]

It is possible to go into Lincoln 4-0 - against a kNU team that very well could be 2-2.

so, i gotta ask, what's the deal with kNU and kNebraska? am I missing something??

[moo-u]

so, i gotta ask, what's the deal with kNU and kNebraska? am I missing something??

kNebraska.......is where the N stands for nollidge......that's all I
know about it.....maybe somebody else has a nuther answer.

m.