With Nebraska imploding, we'll win the North, right?

**AirWalke** · 08-14-2006, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by l2alphmacchio

Why does everybody think that Toledo is automatic? Did anybody watch their bowl game last year? They looked like a pretty stellar team. I have confidence that we will win, but it is no push-over game.

I read somewhere that, even with a 9-3 record, they had one of the weakest schedules in 1A football. Nine wins came from Western Illinois, Western Michigan, at Temple, Eastern Michigan, at Ball State, Buffalo, at Ohio, Bowling Green, and UTEP. They lost big to Northern Illinois, Fresno State, and lost 21-17 at Central Michigan.

I do have respect for a few of these teams, but a lot of them seemed to be relative push overs themselves, but the three losses they garnered were all teams I think Iowa State could beat easily themselves. They haven't won a big non-conference division 1 game in several years. But, as Baylor showed last year, Jack Trice Stadium is always the place for firsts. ;)

**Oldgeezer** · 08-14-2006, 09:29 AM

I love your optimism, but you are falling for the same hype we hear every year. You should be preparing for a disappointing season, and hoping for enough wins to secure a Bowl game. Has there ever been a autumn or a game that Mac didn't approach with blind enthusiasm? Toughest schedule in the country, rebuilt defense, NO running game and a coach that can't win the Big one, spells long season to me. I sincerely hope you save this message and throw it in my face after we go 12-0 but I'm not worried that that will happen.

**zdorr40** · 08-14-2006, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Oldgeezer

I love your optimism, but you are falling for the same hype we hear every year. You should be preparing for a disappointing season, and hoping for enough wins to secure a Bowl game. Has there ever been a autumn or a game that Mac didn't approach with blind enthusiasm? Toughest schedule in the country, rebuilt defense, NO running game and a coach that can't win the Big one, spells long season to me. I sincerely hope you save this message and throw it in my face after we go 12-0 but I'm not worried that that will happen.

That's just it. We should have been 12-0 last year, but stuff happens. Leaders should have intercepted that pass in OT at Knebraska. ISU shouldn't have laid an egg at home vs Baylor. ISU had Misery beat in Columbia but it got away. We had an 11 point lead at KU.

Should we beat some of the teams mentioned? Yes. Could we beat them this year? Absolutely. Stuff happens, though.

Like Kenny Mayne always said, 'Games aren't played on paper, they're played inside television sets.'

**zdorr40** · 08-14-2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Oldgeezer

I love your optimism, but you are falling for the same hype we hear every year. You should be preparing for a disappointing season, and hoping for enough wins to secure a Bowl game. Has there ever been a autumn or a game that Mac didn't approach with blind enthusiasm? Toughest schedule in the country, rebuilt defense, NO running game and a coach that can't win the Big one, spells long season to me. I sincerely hope you save this message and throw it in my face after we go 12-0 but I'm not worried that that will happen.

One more point. Although I agree with your statement, at least this isn't 1989 and we have no optimism going into the year. Besides, 1989 sucked. New Kids on the Block were popular and so were mullets. Now we just make fun of 1989 and the stupidity it wrought.

**AirWalke** · 08-14-2006, 10:08 AM

The way I see it, this team has a big ole chip back on their shoulder. A lot of people didn't predict the surprise that was Iowa State in 2004. A lot of the media placed ISU at the top of the Big 12 North last season, and statistically, that should've happened.

With lowered expectations, I expect the team to flourish under them and prove everyone wrong. The young '04 team certainly proved the critics wrong, and there shouldn't be any reason to think the same thing with this year's defense.

It may be hype, but D-Mac and the team have a lot of confidence going into the year. The injuries at RB and safety appeared to handicap our progress, but then in flows the reports of Josh Johnson stepping it up at RB, and Ryan Baum fitting in nicely at safety.

Regardless of what happens this year, we can always expect a few more wins next year than this year, simply because of the senior-led offense, a more mature defense, and a favorable schedule that brings Iowa, Texas, and OU into Ames.

**Wesley** · 08-14-2006, 12:14 PM

I would like to see McC finish games up better than the lasty two years. Do not shut down The Machine because you are playing close to the vest. Do not make your defense do all the work. With this schedule, we might as well go for it all the waay6 to Lincoln Way. If we do not have a running game at the end of the game, let's admit it and keep passing.

**Wesley** · 08-14-2006, 12:15 PM

I would like to see McC finish games up better than the last two years. Do not shut down The Machine because you are playing close to the vest. Do not make your defense do all the work. With this schedule, we might as well go for it all the waay6 to Lincoln Way. If we do not have a running game at the end of the game, let's admit it and keep passing.

**CrossCyed** · 08-14-2006, 12:55 PM

The reason that people overlook Toledo is because they'll be breaking in a new QB. They lost an NFL-caliber QB in Gradkowski.

**Mr Janny** · 08-14-2006, 02:49 PM

also, I don't think it's wise to overlook UNLV. They've got a bunch of players that transfered in from big name schools. Their QB transferred from USC, and they have other players that transferred from UCLA, Oklahoma, and I think another one from USC. Certainly we should expect to win this one, but we can't look past it, either. The last thing we need to do this year is drop a game that we should win.

**garn91** · 08-14-2006, 09:00 PM

What do you mean by imploding?

Does losing Bowman suck? Yeah, it does, espcially after he the way he came on late in the year. For most of 2005, you guys probably don't know this, but Bowman was far from 100%. He teweaked his hammy in camp last August and it took him most of the season to recover. Look for JUCO CB, Andre Jones, to have an impact immediately. He's just as good, if not better than Bowman and the coaches have been very impressed with Spain since he switched from WR to CB last week.

Having Beck transfer? Don't let the door him in the ***** on the way out of town. Beck has some serious growing up to do and reports were that he was struggling with the offense. Meanwhile, current #2 QB, Joe Ganz, has been in the system for 2 or 3 years, knows the offense and has the the respect/support of his fellow teammates.

Leon Jackson transfering - He was a 4* stud coming out of HS buried on the Husker depth chart, any other school and he's starting. Leon tried several posistions while at Nebraska, but his heart was/is set on RB.

Originally Posted by CLONE2THEBONE

I know it's early and a lot can happen throughout a season, but I'll be very, very disappointed if we don't win the North. I won't settle for "almost" this year.

I've been very,very disappointed in the past, but I can't help but think this year will be different. Our offense should be explosive and as close to unstoppable as can happen at ISU. Our defense is going to surprise.

Is there a team in the North that is better than us? I don't think so. Anything short of an appearance in the Big 12 Championship game will be a kick in the nits.

If not this year, when?

KSU, Nebraska and Colorado aren't going to be down forever.

**zdorr40** · 08-14-2006, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by garn91

What do you mean by imploding?

I don't believe this, but once again, I'm going to have to agree. An injury and a transfer is far from an implosion. Does it hurt them? Maybe a little, but it's not like all the sudden NU has given up on the year and they should throw in the towel.

Do I still think ISU has a shot? You bet.

**Wesley** · 08-15-2006, 07:51 AM

Now Courtney Grixby, the leading member of NE secondary, is wearing a cast on his right arm for a sprained wrist. Supposedly okay for opener, buit it will be tender for awhile.

**garn91** · 08-15-2006, 08:03 AM

Originally Posted by Bryceman

Now Courtney Grixby, the leading member of NE secondary, is wearing a cast on his right arm for a sprained wrist. Supposedly okay for opener, buit it will be tender for awhile.

Actually, it's not even a sprain, it's a dislocated thumb http://www.wowt.com/sports/headlines/3567767.html and from what i've read is that Grix won't miss practice time, but will be limited contact wise for a couple of days until he get's used to the cast.

**CyinCo** · 08-15-2006, 08:57 AM

Garn, if you read the entire thread, most people here don't agree that Nebraska is Imploding. I certainly don't. Nebraska isn't having any more problems with starters than ISU is\did. With Jason Scales injured and Robertson and Berryman dismissed, would anyone say we are imploding? No.