Happy Anniversary Coach Chizik!

[cyclonez7]

On this day, one year ago, Coach Chizik was hired to become the next head football coach at Iowa State. How would you grade his performance as head coach so far?

I would give him a B+ because he did the best he could with the players he had available. Throughout the season, I saw good playcalling and disciplined players. Hopefully he can develop the players we have right now into something special. As far as recruiting goes, he has gotten 13 commits so far, including 4 three-star recruits. I see him getting a few more 3 star recruits and ending up with a total of 20-25 commits by signing day.

[keepngoal]

+ rep to you when I can.

[Drive4cy]

He was able to beat Iowa and finish strong with 2 Big 12 wins in a row coming down the stretch. Not to mention his team played hard and never quit. Plus, we had very few off field problems. Not a bad first year.

Grade: B+

[BryceC]

Not to be the Debbie Downer, but I still can't get over those Kent State and Toledo losses. Honestly, if we could have won all of our noncon games (definitly possible) we could have gone bowling this year. B-

[redrocker]

I was very please with him, and what I saw the players develop into as the weeks went on.

[ColoradoClone]

I grade on a simple Pass/Fail.

He passed.

[4429 mcc]

Not to be the Debbie Downer, but I still can't get over those Kent State and Toledo losses. Honestly, if we could have won all of our noncon games (definitly possible) we could have gone bowling this year. B-

I would agree, there definitely was a learning curve for everyone at the beginning of the season.

I'll give a 82 out of 100

[frontrangeclone]

as of mid-October, I would have given him a C+, but what impressed me the most with the coaching staff was how they held the team together after some ugly losses, improved in play and came away with a couple unexpected W's in November. B+ overall. Another great point was the lack of off-the-field problems. It's great to not see any headlines of arrests in Ames involving football players.

[SaxaCLONE13]

Although I do agree that I'm still stinging about the Kent State and Toledo games, I still applaud Chizik's performances with great wins against Iowa and Colorado, and a K State team that SLAPPED Texas. But I have found out that Iowa State has a recruiting class that ranks 52 in the nation so cross them fingers!

[wesley_w]

First meeting with the DSM Register for coach.

[CrossCyed]

I'd rather we started slow and finish strong than the other way around. To me, that just means the players finally bought in.

[wolverine68]

A+!!!

I drink the Cyclone kool-aid!!!

Seriously, I assumed that the season would go like this. Early losses because of the new system. Growth during the season. Optimism about our future.

I would add the games against OU and MU to the wins as signs that things are going in the right direction. Honestly, I am a college prof. in a subjective discipline, I often grade on not only results, but also on effort and growth. Based on that, Chizik gets an 'A' in my book!

[CyBandCG]

His team showed improvement throughout the season, he beat the in-state rival which is important. One 2 games in the Big 12 against teams that used to beat up on us, even during those winning season. Things started off slowly but there is a bright future for ISU football.

[ISU_Alum_2000]

In a coach's first year, I don't pay too much attention to the W-L record, because the players are basically the same as the previous year.

I look for improved preparation and play-calling by the staff, and improved effort, dicipline and attitude (heart) from the players.

I feel that we were miles ahead in these categories compared to 2006.

Unfortunately, those losses to Kent State and Toledo really hurt.

Grade: B

[Wesley]

Better win 6 next year. Easy schedule.