There is no joy in Amesville

**BryceC** · 10-09-2006, 09:50 AM

I really haven’t spent a lot of time on the site after the Nebraska game, and have just been reading people’s thoughts on it for the most part. I’m not upset about the game, I didn’t think we would win. I’m not angry at Mac or any of the coaches, or the refs. I’m not upset at all really. After listening to what people have been saying on here and on Cotler this morning, I just feel discouraged with the state of things.

I really feel that the window of opportunity has now closed on the team to make the Big 12 title game, which is sad to me. There is stability in the Nebraska program now and they will only continue to improve as Callahan gets players that fit his west coast offense. Colorado won’t stay down forever, Hawkins is a good coach. KU seems to be on the rise. Apparently Pinkel has figured some stuff out at Mizzou. I guess K-State could suck for a while. Who knows?

I have been one of the staunchest Mac defenders out there, but it wouldn’t really bother me if he was let go now. I don’t think he’ll be fired after this year at all, unless he loses every game the rest of the way and I don’t think this team is THAT bad. ISU is a very tough school to coach at, I understand this. Frankly, I think if we fire Mac there is a greater than 75% chance they will either

A: Suck terribly and we’ll regress to potentially winless seasons
B: Do marginally better and leave for a better program.

This might be “loser-talk” as some are so wont to say, but I feel like it’s the reality of the situation. Right now I feel like they may never win the Big 12 in my lifetime, and I’m only 25. Hell, they never won any conference championships in the lifetimes of some people who’ve lived a really long time.

So what’s the answer here? I don’t know, but that’s why I shuffle papers for a living in a cube. I’ll still buy season tickets, because it’s something my wife and I love to do together. I’ll still donate and probably increase my donation as my wife and I are becoming more financially stable after graduating and getting jobs. I guess I just feel like I feel Cubs fans should feel: like there is no reason to even hope. How do you Cubs fans keep it going so long?

I don’t really know where I’m going with this, so I guess I’ll just sit here staring at the wall of my cube dreaming of Rashon Clark dunks.

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." -Andy Dufresne

**bos** · 10-09-2006, 09:57 AM

Im with ya. I never know how to express what Im feeling like you just did. Im with you 100 percent.

**JJ4ISU** · 10-09-2006, 10:08 AM

Ultimately, we decide if Mac sticks around. If fans continue to attend games and we continue to donate money, then Pollard will continue to support him. If the season starts to go downhill and only 40,000 attend the Missouri game, Mac could be in trouble. It also depends on what our biggest donors say. If our big money people say, "I won't give millions for the Jack Trice expansion if he's the coach," then he is in real trouble.

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

I had such high hopes and expectations for this season.

**mapnerd** · 10-09-2006, 10:13 AM

I agree too. I'm 28 and just moved back to Ames so I'm going to continue to watch my Cyclones and cheer them on. Maybe, just maybe, we'll have a run like the cursed Red Sox did a few years ago. Who knows? I might be 85 when that happens. Good Shawshank quote too.

**amyk33** · 10-09-2006, 10:20 AM

BryceC...wow...I think that caputured a lot of my thoughts as well. Thank you for sharing!

**cycloneworld** · 10-09-2006, 10:26 AM

We have now gone 0-3 to start conference play for the last 3 years...wow.

**Kyle** · 10-09-2006, 10:28 AM

I have similarly lost hope, which is sad because I am a very hopeful person. Before I was at least able to look forward to the next season, but I can't do that with Mac as coach. I have lost all faith in his ability to win a championship, or even beat a truly good team (of which the North might have maybe one at most, and its not Nebraska). While it is possible that we may go backwards if Mac is fired, at least I will be able to hope again.

**benjay** · 10-09-2006, 10:28 AM

Last I checked, we're 0-2 right now in the Big 12.

**ISUAlum2002** · 10-09-2006, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by benjay

Last I checked, we're 0-2 right now in the Big 12.

You predicting a win in Norman on Saturday?

**cycloneworld** · 10-09-2006, 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by benjay

Last I checked, we're 0-2 right now in the Big 12.

Oopps...you are right. I guess that's how dejected I am, I just can't see us upseting OU in Norman.

**benjay** · 10-09-2006, 10:33 AM

No, but I'm not declaring it a loss before letting the team take the field.

**flyhighcy** · 10-09-2006, 10:39 AM

The worse part of this is that there may be some recruits reading this message board. (yes they do read the boards) If I were a prospect I would seriously consider that perhaps ISU is not the place for me to be based on the suicidal posts on this board. Talk about glum!

**cydsho** · 10-09-2006, 10:41 AM

The door for us to become a player in the B12 north for a while officially closed last weekend. It almost slammed shut last year but we stuck our foot out because we still had a good offense coming back. Well, the offense never showed up this year and neither will a title and maybe not even a bowl game.
After 2004 I had visions of competing for titles the next 2-3 years because of the young talented squad we had. What do we have to show for this? A Houston bowl loss and a team with no identity. I wish I could be positive about the rest of the year but the nebr was the biggest game of the year and we didn't show up. I'm getting about as depressed as I was in 2003. I was looking at the plans for enclosing JS and I just don't see the end zone very full............

**Wesley** · 10-09-2006, 10:44 AM

Well people, Nornman has their share of problems as they self destructed last week. The team is one horse offense with AP. It could happen to go our way. However, Cyclone history does not have many big wins on the road.

Texas was a good team. Nebraska could still be proven an imposter at #22. Iowa is masquerading as #14. No way.
Oklahoma wheels have come off twice already at #23. The only real terrific teams are in the Top Ten. We can make a game out of all but the Top Ten.

I remember years where we have a mandatory 52-3 blowout. I would much rather lose 28-14 than 70-7.

Colin Cowherd has been making a great point about the top programs like Alabama, US, tennesee, Nebraska. They can be nine win teams or better through easy recruiting. Teams like Mississippi, Arkansas, Viginia and ISU are likely to average six-seven win teams every year. Fior fans to expect more, is not that realistic. That is why the 12th game has probably resulted in Clones averaging one more win each year - say seven.

At this point my nonconference slate would be Iowa, UNI, and two of these: Buffalo, Miami of Ohio, Central, Michigan, Army, Navy, Central Florida, Puerto Rico U, Mexico State, and Troy State. Toledo and UNLV might be too tough in a long season. Hire Bill Snyder to pick the creampuffs.