"FANS"

**CyTom** · 09-20-2006, 11:40 AM

There is always going to be the people who will loyally support every individual coach and player and those who will criticize coaches and players when the time is fit. For those who are rah rah people and consider critical people not to be "fans", they need to remember what we are fans of which is Iowa State University. ISU fans want to see a return on their investment...no one individual (coach or player) is owed anything. The only way we are going to increase investment in our program is by showing fans that there are positive signs and things will improve. Instead we have been average over the past few years and there are no signs of improvement on the horizon.

**Blandboy** · 09-20-2006, 11:45 AM

Don't know why everyone keeps chirping about the offense. No surprise here. I remember Mac getting crazy prior to the season over the suggestion that the offense would carry the defense. He said it wouldn't and he was right! It hasn't...

**cstrunk** · 09-20-2006, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Blandboy

Don't know why everyone keeps chirping about the offense. No surprise here. I remember Mac getting crazy prior to the season over the suggestion that the offense would carry the defense. He said it wouldn't and he was right! It hasn't...

Another reason why I believe he has something to prove to everyone. We all know our offense has the firepower to do it. Why can't it be done?

**Wesley** · 09-20-2006, 01:40 PM

Defense C+ (Potential A-)
Offense D+ (Potential B-)
Special Teams C- (Potential C)
Grade point Average - Go figure.
Award nominees for Big 12 Honors: Alvin Bowen, Tyrone, maybe Blythe.

**Wesley** · 09-20-2006, 10:35 PM

You mean a C-?

Everything is up from here with high potential ahead.
Will we see a reverse of the Seneca Wallace collapse season?
We can go to B- and win the Big 12 North.

**ISUFan22** · 09-20-2006, 10:37 PM

The issue I have is not always the critical stance some fans take. It's the "fire the coach" and/or "throw in the towel" mentality they have after just 3 games.

In fact, this was the mentality of some just after one game...and others....before we even took the field for the first time in '06.

Color me what you want...but that's just ridiculous.

**Angie** · 09-20-2006, 10:38 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

The issue I have is not always the critical stance some fans take. It's the "fire the coach" and/or "throw in the towel" mentality they have after just 3 games.

In fact, this was the mentality of some just after one game...and others....before we even took the field for the first time in '06.

Color me what you want...but that's just ridiculous.

Eloquently put, ISUFan!

**darts180** · 09-20-2006, 10:39 PM

We are going to win 7 games this year, and that will prove all of the Mac supporters right!!!
They'll be in their suite at the Econolodge in Shreveport saying, "yep Mac sure did prove all those people wrong, he went 7-5."

**ISUFan22** · 09-20-2006, 10:40 PM

Originally Posted by darts180

We are going to win 7 games this year, and that will prove all of the Mac supporters right!!!
They'll be in their suite at the Econolodge in Shreveport saying, "yep Mac sure did prove all those people wrong, he went 7-5."

Nah...not here...I'm shooting for 8-4 or better.

However, if we do fall short...that "blame" lands on both the coaches and players.

Someday...somehow...you just might realize that. But I'm not betting on it...

**darts180** · 09-20-2006, 11:44 PM

I'll let you in on a secret ISU, I do hold the players responsible for mental mistakes. Physical mistakes, not so much, those happen. Missed blocks and tackles drive me, an old high school football coach, crazy!!!
But football is an aggressive, and nasty game. So when you see OVER AND OVER AGAIN a team that for one half, have their way with another team, then see the coach OVER AND OVER AGAIN sit on the ball and play not to lose instead of putting the other team away two things happen:
1) the offense loses its flow, and you see more of the types of mistakes that you are talking about, and
2) the defense is on the field WAY TOO MUCH, and then the types of mistakes that you and I are talking about because technique becomes sloppy due to fatigue
Of course after 12 years you would think that there would be plenty of defensive depth, but you know injuries, suspensions, and arrests hurt that.
So I expect that when we lose the eight offensive starters that we will lose after this year, Mac's brilliant running of the program will afford us unbelievable depth, until all of the injuries, suspensions, and arrests give him that out next year.

**Covenant Clone** · 09-21-2006, 08:58 AM

I'll let you in on a secret ISU, I do hold the players responsible for mental mistakes. Physical mistakes, not so much, those happen. Missed blocks and tackles drive me, an old high school football coach, crazy!!!

Maybe you should coach the team? After reading all of your posts and for being an old high school football coach you sure don't know much about coaching football.

**Cyclonepride** · 09-21-2006, 09:05 AM

Does anyone remember that ISU has the 2nd toughest schedule in the nation? 8-4 would be one of the best seasons ISU has ever had considering the competition, and 7-5 would be very respectable.

**ISUFan22** · 09-21-2006, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by bhoodjer

Maybe you should coach the team? After reading all of your posts and for being an old high school football coach you sure don't know much about coaching football.

Ahhh, yet another assumption/assessment without any concrete knowledge of what's going on.

My team got their butts handed to them Sunday. For that I take responsibility, however the same level of responsibility falls on the shoulders of my players. I didn't even need to tell them that, as after the game - one stood up and addressed the team - noting they must play better next time. He stated we as coaches have taught them better than that.

Oh...that...and the team I had last year was very successful.

But you're right, I don't know a damn thing about coaching...and neither does the ISU staff.

**cycloneworld** · 09-21-2006, 09:10 AM

Darts: Are you seriously blaming the arrests, suspensions, and injuries on Mac? That's the way you are coming off...

ISUFan is making a great point here. People are criticizing Mac for:

Not throwing to Blythe every play
Sitting on the ball at the end of the first half of the Iowa game
Going for it on 4th and 10 in the 4th quarter
Sitting on leads
Etc, etc, etc.

All of that is fine and dandy. Some of it I agree with, some of it I don't. However what about the players:

Many penalities in the Iowa game
Many, many missed tackles
Dropped passes in the 4th quarter
O-line breakdown in pass protection
Botched special teams (FGs, kickoff returns) many times this season

The coaches can tell the players what to do but it is up to the players to execute.

**Covenant Clone** · 09-21-2006, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Ahhh, yet another assumption/assessment without any concrete knowledge of what's going on.

My team got their butts handed to them Sunday. For that I take responsibility, however the same level of responsibility falls on the shoulders of my players. I didn't even need to tell them that, as after the game - one stood up and addressed the team - noting they must play better next time. He stated we as coaches have taught them better than that.

Oh...that...and the team I had last year was very successful.

But you're right, I don't know a damn thing about coaching...and neither does the ISU staff.

Actually my response was to Darts180 and somewhat in diffence of the position that you were taking but that's ok.