Many forget...

**ISUFan22** · 09-10-2007, 10:56 AM

That having a rookie head coach can be much like breaking in a freshman quarterback.

The skills/fundamentals may be very, very good - however - the inexperience and decision making can cause some bumps in the road.

I really like Gene Chizik. The man he is and the coach I see in him. I've personally witnessed a few practices and have read various inside information on what's taking place in Ames. He's doing things the right way and the hard way - no short cuts.

That doesn't mean, he will be perfect. Unfortunately, some fans came into '07 with the notion that Gene would be perfect, a quick cure-all fix for the ISU football program.

That's just not feasible and quite frankly, it's unfair to expect it.

Now after two games, we've witnessed that there will not be a quick-fix in Ames.

My hope (and expectation) is, by the end of the year, we can say our team did improve as the year grew on - as did our coach.

**jtdoyle1** · 09-10-2007, 11:01 AM

People this is also a team that went 4-8 last year that could easily have gone 0-12 and we lost some key players.

I too, just want to see some fundamental improvement throughout the year and hopefully we can see a win or two to build on for next year.

**brianhos** · 09-10-2007, 11:01 AM

I agree, but the second game is supposed to be a big improvement from the first. ISU looked worse. Hopefully that trend does not continue.

**bellzisu** · 09-10-2007, 11:03 AM

I agree with your post there. I truely believe we need to give Chizik time to grow. I'm happy there are no short cuts being taken. Although, I thought with him going after JUCO's on the O-line that he was gearing up to win this year. Thinking about it now, it could of been an attempt to keep one of our QBs from getting carted with a serious injury.

I have to think that not all the players have bought into this system yet. I can name one QB, one WR, and probably a few others. I have a feeling that if they don't take care of those problems, it will have an effect on the rest of the team.

**keepngoal** · 09-10-2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

That having a rookie head coach can be much like breaking in a freshman quarterback.

The skills/fundamentals may be very, very good - however - the inexperience and decision making can cause some bumps in the road.

I really like Gene Chizik. The man he is and the coach I see in him. I've personally witnessed a few practices and have read various inside information on what's taking place in Ames. He's doing things the right way and the hard way - no short cuts.

That doesn't mean, he will be perfect. Unfortunately, some fans came into '07 with the notion that Gene would be perfect, a quick cure-all fix for the ISU football program.

That's just not feasible and quite frankly, it's unfair to expect it.

Now after two games, we've witnessed that there will not be a quick-fix in Ames.

My hope (and expectation) is, by the end of the year, we can say our team did improve as the year grew on - as did our coach.

How dare you show any reason or clarity into our internet forum area.....

- keep.

**isuno1fan** · 09-10-2007, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by brianhos

I agree, but the second game is supposed to be a big improvement from the first. ISU looked worse. Hopefully that trend does not continue.

I do not agree we looked worse. Perhaps not better, but definitely not worse. I actually think there was VERY minor improvement, but my glasses are rose colored.

**ISUFan22** · 09-10-2007, 11:11 AM

IMO, if we don't have a false start on 1st and 10 inside UNI's 20 and/or throw a pick on 3rd and 8 a few plays later (on a drive that looked very good), we win that game Saturday. Again, goes back to this team not handling adversity worth a crap. That takes time to fix as well.

**cycloneworld** · 09-10-2007, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

IMO, if we don't throw a pick on 3rd and 8 on our first drive (that looked very good), we win that game. Again, goes back to this team not handling adversity worth a crap. That takes time to fix as well.

I would even argue that the interception which led to 3 points wasn't the culprit but Sandvig's muff/tournover that gave them 7 points.

**ISUFan22** · 09-10-2007, 11:15 AM

The muffed punt was a bigger deal, no doubt.

However, our early mistakes (false start, interception) set the tone for the game. A "here we go again" feeling oozed throughout the stadium and no doubt on the sidelines as well.

Players need to find out how to handle that - instead of dwelling on it and making more mistakes - suck it up and make someone pay for it - preferably the other team.

**Rogue52** · 09-10-2007, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

IMO, if we don't have a false start on 1st and 10 inside UNI's 20 and/or throw a pick on 3rd and 8 a few plays later (on a drive that looked very good), we win that game Saturday. Again, goes back to this team not handling adversity worth a crap. That takes time to fix as well.

Agreed. Our fate was sealed after that interception on the first drive. We appeared to have all kinds of momentum and then it was thrown out the door. If it wasn't sealed after that interception, then it was sealed after the punt fumble.

Our handling of adversity is not good. Until this can be corrected, it will take a nearly perfect game or a game where we get out to a lead to win. There is no reason why this can't happen, unfortunately it will probably take a few more games to get there. By that time, however, we will be facing teams that are deeper with a lot more talent (aka Nebraska, Texas, Oklahoma).

It's going to take time. I just hope we can knock a team or two down along the way.

**LindenCy** · 09-10-2007, 11:30 AM

When looking at the fact they lost the turnover battle 4-0, I think it is pretty clear why we ultimately lost.

**Wx4Cy** · 09-10-2007, 11:39 AM

You can see the implications of the new system. Too much thinking. You can see that people are thinking through their assignments, etc. and that won't work. You wind up a step slow, in the wrong spot, etc.

They'll get better as they better understand and can play/react rather than think.

**mwitt** · 09-10-2007, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

The muffed punt was a bigger deal, no doubt.

However, our early mistakes (false start, interception) set the tone for the game. A "here we go again" feeling oozed throughout the stadium and no doubt on the sidelines as well.

Players need to find out how to handle that - instead of dwelling on it and making more mistakes - suck it up and make someone pay for it - preferably the other team.

I'm not going to blame penalties on the loss. That false start hurt our drive, but it was the only penalty of the game. I'll take one penalty a game every time.

We weren't completley pathetic in the game on offense. We did get about 400 yards and over 20 first downs. It's just that, so far, we've been so ridiculously bad at the little things, it's not even funny.

I mean, in consecutive games, we've turned the ball over because a shotgun snap went over a QB's head. Anyone else recall a time where that has happened to a team in consecutive weeks? Reminds me of two years ago when we thought it was cool to fumble on the goaline.

**ISUFan22** · 09-10-2007, 11:43 AM

I'm not blaming the penalty. I'm blaming how we react to penalties/mistakes...

Which is very poorly.

**cycloneG** · 09-10-2007, 11:43 AM

I completely agree on the thinking too much problem. It seems the entire team on both sides of the ball seems to be encased in molasses while the other team gets to spots first. Also, no team is going to win by turning the ball over that many times while not getting any in return. The first two games have been a cacophony of mistakes and over-thinking.