See the Light at the End of the Tunnel

shadow · 10-14-2007, 12:33 AM

I grew an Illinois fan and they are still my favorite team even though I go to Iowa St. Football program wise, they are very similar though Illinois will usually have a stretch of 2-3 good years every 20 years where they'll win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl. Then they suck. I look back 2 years when Zook started his first year. They gave up 56 FIRST half points to Penn St. It was ugly, yet I still watched the game and any game they showed on TV. I see a similar situation here. There will be bad ones, it just takes time. Zook modeled his vision after Bobby Bowden: 1st year, lose big; 2nd year lose close; 3rd year win close; 4th year win big. With that in mind, try and look at the future that way. I'm not saying Chizik can recruit like Zook (Zook is ridiculous; best recruiter undoubtly) but if you see where Illinois was (a D-1AA talent playing D-1 ball) 2 years and where they are now (ranked for the first time in 6 years) and try to see Iowa St. getting there in the future. It's rough, but just hang in there. It will get better... Just takes time.

Drive4cy · 10-14-2007, 12:46 AM

I'd be very angry if I were an Illinois fan today. Zook found a way to do the impossible and that's lose to Iowa with all that talent. I don't see why any top level player would bother going there with Zook at the helm. The guy is a pathetic coach and won't put you in good spots to win games. I was just shocked at how they played today. For some reason they refused to spread the field and throw the ball until late.

83Clone · 10-14-2007, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by shadow

I grew an Illinois fan and they are still my favorite team even though I go to Iowa St. Football program wise, they are very similar though Illinois will usually have a stretch of 2-3 good years every 20 years where they'll win the conference and go to the Rose Bowl. Then they suck. I look back 2 years when Zook started his first year. They gave up 56 FIRST half points to Penn St. It was ugly, yet I still watched the game and any game they showed on TV. I see a similar situation here. There will be bad ones, it just takes time. Zook modeled his vision after Bobby Bowden: 1st year, lose big; 2nd year lose close; 3rd year win close; 4th year win big. With that in mind, try and look at the future that way. I'm not saying Chizik can recruit like Zook (Zook is ridiculous; best recruiter undoubtly) but if you see where Illinois was (a D-1AA talent playing D-1 ball) 2 years and where they are now (ranked for the first time in 6 years) and try to see Iowa St. getting there in the future. It's rough, but just hang in there. It will get better... Just takes time.

Thanks for the words of encouragement, we didn't expect to win this year but we hoped to improve every week.

That being said, how did Zook find a way to hang a whopping 6 points on that secondary yesterday?

shadow · 10-14-2007, 10:02 PM

Originally Posted by Drive4cy

I'd be very angry if I were an Illinois fan today. Zook found a way to do the impossible and that's lose to Iowa with all that talent. I don't see why any top level player would bother going there with Zook at the helm. The guy is a pathetic coach and won't put you in good spots to win games. I was just shocked at how they played today. For some reason they refused to spread the field and throw the ball until late.

Least they have talent; they're young too. I did not see the game but they are the best running team in the Big 10 and if you have seen our QBs; passing is not our best thing. I won't be angry with Zook...

SouthernHawk · 10-14-2007, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by Drive4cy

I'd be very angry if I were an Illinois fan today. Zook found a way to do the impossible and that's lose to Iowa with all that talent. I don't see why any top level player would bother going there with Zook at the helm. The guy is a pathetic coach and won't put you in good spots to win games. I was just shocked at how they played today. For some reason they refused to spread the field and throw the ball until late.

Contrary to popular belief, Iowa isn't short on talent, they are short on experience and new plays.

Talent is not the issue.

ISUFan22 · 10-14-2007, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by shadow

I grew an Illinois fan

How does one do this? Just add water?

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Contrary to popular belief, Iowa isn't short on talent, they are short on experience and new plays.

Talent is not the issue.

Hmmm. Young and inexperienced I'll give you. But that team/program isn't brimming with talent right now. Should Iowa falter next year, what will the excuse be then?

SouthernHawk · 10-14-2007, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

How does one do this? Just add water?

Hmmm. Young and inexperienced I'll give you. But that team/program isn't brimming with talent right now. Should Iowa falter next year, what will the excuse be then?

I've said this all year - the assistant coaches are a huge problem. Play calling.

It's hard to argue with talent - the fact that Iowa's had 3 straight classes in the top 25, the talent (at least according to the recruiting sites) is indeed there.

However, if Iowa falters next year, it would be nothing short of a disaster. The youth is getting plenty of experience, even on defense. So, with a gimme schedule, and experience not an issue, if Iowa is short of a 9-10 win season, it will be very disappointing.

Oh, and sorry to hi-jack another thread. This actually was not my intent this time.

Back on topic - I do see a lot of similarities between ISU and Illinois, and even ISU and Ferentz's first year. Remember, the Hawks got blown out of the water in most of their games in KF's first year, and then competed in 2000, won in 2001, and really did well in 2002.

I dunno if that'll be the same, but there is reason to hope based on past experiences with other teams and their new head coaches in similar situations.

cstrunk · 10-14-2007, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

So, with a gimme schedule, and experience not an issue, if Iowa is short of a 9-10 win season, it will be very disappointing.

You are a true Hawk fan!

ISUFan22 · 10-14-2007, 10:44 PM

People said our problem was coaching as well. Some are now realizing, coaching was an issue.

But talent was just as big, if not a bigger issue.

You'll figure that out too, eventually.

You'll also figure out, this is a Cyclone board and if you're gonna be received well here - once in a blue moon you'll discuss something related to Iowa State rather than taking offense to anything and everything you read about Iowa.

SouthernHawk · 10-14-2007, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by cstrunk

You are a true Hawk fan!

Honestly, if you were an Iowa fan, or a fan of a team in a similar position, you'd agree.

Iowa's schedule next year isn't the toughest in the world, and Iowa returns a lot of experienced players - both on offense (9 offensive starters) and a good number of experienced players on defense (about 8 starters, and about 11 experienced players).

With the pay that Ferentz is getting, the returning experience, and the schedule, can you honestly tell me that this is not a reasonable expectation?

SouthernHawk · 10-14-2007, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

People said our problem was coaching as well. Some are now realizing, coaching was an issue.

But talent was just as big, if not a bigger issue.

You'll figure that out too, eventually.

You'll also figure out, this is a Cyclone board and if you're gonna be received well here - once in a blue moon you'll discuss something related to Iowa State rather than taking offense to anything and everything you read about Iowa.

I'm not taking offense, I'm discussing.

I'm also making comparisons to Chizik's first season and Ferentz's first season. I'm not posting in this thread to make this about Iowa.

I said it was not my intention to hijack this thread, and I did attempt to get it back on track. I do apologize for that.

Drive4cy · 10-14-2007, 10:48 PM

With the pay that Ferentz is getting, the returning experience, and the schedule, can you honestly tell me that this is not a reasonable expectation

When you haven't been a factor THREE years in a row, yes to expect 10 wins out of the blue is not reasonable. All this koolaid talk because you beat a Ron Zook coached team in Iowa City.

jdoggivjc · 10-15-2007, 07:38 AM

In our case the light at the end of the tunnel appears to be hope of a better future.

In Iowa's case, it appears to be the headlights of the oncoming train!

aeroclone · 10-15-2007, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Honestly, if you were an Iowa fan, or a fan of a team in a similar position, you'd agree.

Iowa's schedule next year isn't the toughest in the world, and Iowa returns a lot of experienced players - both on offense (9 offensive starters) and a good number of experienced players on defense (about 8 starters, and about 11 experienced players).

With the pay that Ferentz is getting, the returning experience, and the schedule, can you honestly tell me that this is not a reasonable expectation?

Could have said the same thing last year, and look at where the team is today? People are screaming for the heads of the assitants and in some cases Ferentz himself.

Recruiting rankings don't always translate to success.

Iowa next year, 6, maybe 7 wins tops. That is the level that program is at and I see nothing over the past couple years to indicate that big improvements are coming.

bellzisu · 10-15-2007, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

I'm not taking offense, I'm discussing.

I'm also making comparisons to Chizik's first season and Ferentz's first season. I'm not posting in this thread to make this about Iowa.

I said it was not my intention to hijack this thread, and I did attempt to get it back on track. I do apologize for that.

People Seriously Read this and Follow Directions....

This is a Cyclone Site... Not a "lets compare everything to Iowa, and be a Typical hawk fan." You should know the moment you open your mouth about Iowa in a thread that dealt with IL and ISU you were going to get this response.