Where did anyone take us (football)?

**pulse** · 08-09-2007, 01:18 PM

Until this past year we really have still been suffering the aftershock of the 70's. It really was a cascading effect that was a wave that we couldn't get out of. Criner came in and left a mess for Walden, who was highly thought of at the time. Although people tired of listening to Walden whine, he was perfectly justified in the fact that we had many less scholarship players than other teams. It of course ended horribly for Walden when he started phoning it in.

McCarney was not a great hire. He was hired to pick up the pieces. When he was hired many people were not thrilled with it, but the job wasn't desirable because of the shambles Walden left. McCarney's hire is similar to Wayne Morgan's, in the fact that the situation was a mess and nobody wanted the job. Mac did just enough to keep his job, but Chizik will bring good football and a consistency that ISU has been longing for decades.

**CyCloned** · 08-09-2007, 01:27 PM

Okay guys it is simple. ISU has never been good at FB. Sure they have had a few good years, one under Mac, a couple under Earl, etc., but by and large ISU FB has sucked.

Mac managed to win enough games to get to some minor bowls. He was greatly aided by the sudden colapse of the B12 north and a very soft non-conference slate, but he did win some games. And he was a great figurehead for the athletic department. Last year's team was really ugly at times. Speaking of throwing up; anyone that went to the Kansas game last year that didn't loose their cookies has a double lined cast iron stomach. Anyone that thinks we needed to keep Mac need a copy of that game sent to them.

Bottom line: Mac was making $1,000,000 a year. His head assts. were making $300,000 a year. Mac was a nice guy, but I am a heck of a nice guy too. No one seems to be offering that kind of money to be a nice guy.

Winning has become everything in college sports, and the coaches are paid very well to figure out how to win. If they can't do it, they understand why they are let go.

**darts180** · 08-09-2007, 01:42 PM

It's bad though, when the "figurehead" of your department ois the butt of a Lou Holtz joke.

**darts180** · 08-09-2007, 01:46 PM

And to try and down play how weak the north has been is not giving an accurate representation either. Plus with as many bowls as there are, it's tougher to not make one.

**Clone_12** · 08-09-2007, 02:19 PM

"Plus with as many bowls as there are, it's tougher not to make one"...yeah there are a lot more bowls, and I agree a lot of them shouldn't exist. But you still can't qualify for a bowl with a losing record, and very rarely over ISU's history have we had a winning record....part of the reason McCarney qualified for bowls 5 of his last 7 years was because we only beat mediocre teams...but I'd rather beat those teams then lose to them, like we used to do...(see UNI, Drake, Minnesota, Wisconsin when they sucked, Kansas, Okie State when they sucked, Missouri, etc...)

**Chris** · 08-09-2007, 03:04 PM

I'm an oldie like kberyldial, was in school, started attending ISU football with the Majors and Bruce years. All of those games were fun to go to, even when the team lost. The teams had spirit, playeers had great personalities, teams had a few top caliber players, and the two coaches were "what you see is what you get", no spins. From my perspective, ISU football has never been to that level since, even with Mac winning. From what I have seen and heard, Chizik seems to be like the old days.... I am excited again for some real hard fought win or lose give it your all, be proud of who you play for brand of football.

**darts180** · 08-09-2007, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by Chris

I'm an oldie like kberyldial, was in school, started attending ISU football with the Majors and Bruce years. All of those games were fun to go to, even when the team lost. The teams had spirit, playeers had great personalities, teams had a few top caliber players, and the two coaches were "what you see is what you get", no spins. From my perspective, ISU football has never been to that level since, even with Mac winning. From what I have seen and heard, Chizik seems to be like the old days.... I am excited again for some real hard fought win or lose give it your all, be proud of who you play for brand of football.

Did you ever see that from a Mac team consistently??? You saw flashes, especially against the Hawks, but never for an extended period of time.

Realistically, he spent too much time limiting expectations, talking about how bad it was before him, and talking up meager accomplishments. Some saw that as endlessly positive, some saw it as trying to hold on to the best job that he will ever have.

**cyclonelifer** · 08-09-2007, 04:26 PM

Another thing to remember with Majors and Bruce is that they coached during a time where there were no scholarship limits.

Win or lose... to play an OU or a kNU, at that time, and be able to play with them, in itself was quite an accomplishment.

**Cyclonepride** · 08-09-2007, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonelifer

Another thing to remember with Majors and Bruce is that they coached during a time where there were no scholarship limits.

Win or lose... to play an OU or a kNU, at that time, and be able to play with them, in itself was quite an accomplishment.

Excellent point.

**darts180** · 08-09-2007, 04:57 PM

I just think that when you see what is possible, what a good gameday coach would have been able to do, it frustrates a person even more.

Look, I used to think that Dan made bad decisions, but defended him to people. Then I realized that while my two year old can learn from her mistakes, here's a man in his 50's was unable to.

**Clone_12** · 08-09-2007, 05:12 PM

Darts, I know I disagree with you a lot, but that last statement was funny...I apologize to people if I have came across pretty edgy the last couple days, but you have to understand...the Cubs were in a 0-28 slump with runners in scoring position, and it was very tough on me.

**kberyldial** · 08-09-2007, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by Clone_12

Darts, I know I disagree with you a lot, but that last statement was funny...I apologize to people if I have came across pretty edgy the last couple days, but you have to understand...the Cubs were in a 0-28 slump with runners in scoring position, and it was very tough on me.

In jest, that is the one thing that I've never understood about Cyclone fans, being a Cubs fan as well. Sufferage at it's greatest. I was born into a Cyclone family and went to school at Iowa State and that is that. Fortunately for me though my grandfather taught me to love the Cardinals as a young boy! So, my misery is often offset by the Cards. Certainly not this year but I still have a few years of riding the 06 Championship.
You know what I'm already dreading as a sickening moment? When family and I go to Wrigley Field on the same day Iowa plays NIU in Chicago. The place will be crawling with those... people [biting tongue].

**ozone** · 08-09-2007, 06:13 PM

I like my teams to wear red - ISU Cyclones, STL Cardinals, KC Chiefs. The Cubs colors remind me of KU. That and all the EIU fans are Cub fans. Sorry Cubs fans. Actually they are my second favorite team in their division.

**kberyldial** · 08-09-2007, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Chris

I'm an oldie like kberyldial, was in school, started attending ISU football with the Majors and Bruce years. All of those games were fun to go to, even when the team lost. The teams had spirit, playeers had great personalities, teams had a few top caliber players, and the two coaches were "what you see is what you get", no spins. From my perspective, ISU football has never been to that level since, even with Mac winning. From what I have seen and heard, Chizik seems to be like the old days.... I am excited again for some real hard fought win or lose give it your all, be proud of who you play for brand of football.

Remember Crutchfield? My cousin was a student manager back then and his brother an olineman. He got me an authentic Crutchfield tear away jersey. Man I love that thing. Still folded up in a box. I got a helmet too with the star over the i in isu. Last year the facemask dry rotted off the thing. Safe huh?
I will share that this year is special for me as I moved back from Chicago after 15 years there and bought season tickets for the first time in that long. I am so excited to go meet my parents and other family for games this fall.
Even more exciting. I drove past the practice field today and the boys were scrimmaging in helmets. SO excited and glad to be back!

**ozone** · 08-09-2007, 06:18 PM

Anyway, about football. I think the best years for ISU football was the Majors and Bruce era. Bruce was good for a while because he had Majors' players. I only remember one year when ISU was ranked in the top 20 in the final poll. Anyone remember when?