Michael Bradley (TSN) on Kotlar this morning

To add more fuel to the Sporting News fire, this just came across the RSS in a "conference call" from Tom Diener...

Looking lame: Iowa State. Remember when everyone was throwing roses at Dan McCarney's feet? Don't look now, but the Cyclones are on an express train to Tanksville with five loses in their last six games. This shows how fragile success is for non-elite programs.

My emphasis on the last sentence. More of the same "ISU isn't a "traditional" power, so if they have success, it won't last long.

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Originally Posted by Cyclonepride

And I've said it before, winning between 7 and 9 games a year is a success in my book. A losing year every once in a while, maybe a chance at 10 wins once in a while. I'm not downgrading ISU at all.......if you look at other programs around the country who are in a major league, you will have your perennial powers, a few teams that jump up into the mix every year or two, and then the also rans. Rutgers? Check back in two or three years. TCU? Big fish in a little pond. Tulsa? When was the last time Tulsa did anything other than play a late night game on ESPN, or go to a bowl that ISU fans would spit on at this point? Louisville is a tougher case. They might be the Kansas State of this decade. But there are only one or two programs every decade or so that go from really bad to really good and stay there. So to talk about it like it is common place is ridiculous.

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I agree, 7-9 wins per year is a success in my book as well, as with the occasional losing seasons and championship (Conference!) caliber teams.

My problem with it is we are not there! And most importantly, where are the signs that we are headed there?

We have had 1 9 win season and that was 6 years ago. That was the peak. Four 7-5 seasons, a 2-9 season, and whatever this season ends up at. I give a pass at 2003, and I'd even be willing to give a pass on this year, if I had any feelings that next year we would return to a 8-9 (Remember, its now a 12 game season + bowl game) next year.

The reality of it is, while we don't yet know this for sure, their isn't a lot to look forward to. In 2003, we knew coming in that it was going to be tough, but we had hope, with all of the young talent that was evident (or waiting in the wings) on both sides of the ball. Flynn, Meyer, Blythe, Davis, Brandt, Zehr, Leaders, Hobbs, Berryman, Paris, Moser, etc.

This year we graduate 4/5 offensive line starters that are way underperforming. It seems to be a concensus that the oline play is one of the biggest problems of this squad. From the coaches mouth, the guys below them are not near as good. If these guys are that much worse than what we are working with now, :no6xn:.

The level of exicitement (read: hope) is not good for the near future of the team. It is evident here, on the call in shows, and most importanly, in the stands.

On defense, I see some hope, but as good as Bowen and McKenzie are, they are undersized and IMO they are not near what Dobbins and Roberson were.

But where are the olinemen to replace the ones that are graduating?

The lack of oline recruitment was a concern of many for the last 2-3 years, and it is now bearing its fruits (or lack thereof).

I know we have had more than some success with JUCO recruiting, but to replace an entire oline with it? IMO that is 100% unrealistic.

Now, I would be tickled to death if I eat some mighty tasty crow if we win out.

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Originally Posted by BigBake

Success/tradition IS a reward of spending tons of money. Those schools spent the big bucks many many many years ago because they could and that's why they are what they are.

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Which came first, the chicken or the egg...

You need money to get tradition and you need tradition to get money.:rolleyes5cz: I don't buy it.

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Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Which came first, the chicken or the egg...

You need money to get tradition and you need tradition to get money.:rolleyes5cz: I don't buy it.

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Exactly. At some point, one of them just has to happen, whether you make it happen or it simply appears. So there's no point in anyone looking at what we need first, because its either of them.

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Originally Posted by ISUAlum2002

Here's a thought: Michael Bradley is an idiot.

"Accept mediocrity, you're only Iowa State."

I listened to the whole thing and I thought it was a Hawk fan on the line until Cotlar said who it was.

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Colin Cowherd of ESPN would say much the same. He always says call in and he will tell you what your program deserves in the real world. Unless a comet struck somewhere, we are more of a basketball school.

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Originally Posted by cycloneworld

Which came first, the chicken or the egg...

You need money to get tradition and you need tradition to get money.:rolleyes5cz: I don't buy it.

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I don't categorize it as a chicken or egg. You need money first and foremost. You can't just win and expect money to come rolling in. The money was already there they just needed to spend it on their programs. Once that happened success and tradition followed.

Money = high caliber coaches you can pay and keep around, high class facilities for the athletes. You put those pieces in place and the top athletes will eventually come your way.

Problem is we ain't got the money to keep up with the big dogs and we never will. That's what these national pundits are saying when they belittle us.

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Originally Posted by BigBake

Yeah, but all those teams won't remain in BCS games year after year. His point was that these top tradition schools are always in the mix for BCS games. A down year for one of them is only winning 7 or 8 games.

TCU...seriously...they play a couple good teams to start the year and run thru their small conf and go undefeated. They are a top program for a Mid Major. There's a very good reason why even when they go undefeated or only lose one game they're not in a BCS game.

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Know a little about TCU before you jump to foolish conclusions. They are the smallest Division I school in the country and they have extremely high academic standards for admission (second only to Rice in Texas).

If TCU can play, compete and beat Oklahoma, Baylor and T.Tech, then we should be able too.

If TCU can compete for their conference championship with the above limitations, we should too.

I, admittedly, don't know anything about this poor excuse for a journalist, but it is irresponsible and ignorant to label a program and tell them to deal with it.

Kansas State was nothing until Snyder got there. Nebraska was miserable until Osborne took over. Why not Iowa State?

Why bother playing the game if we are to accept failure as if it were our nature? Winning is a mindset and an attitude that is developed and fostered by training, coaching and atmosphere. If the team is not recieving the tools for success, then how can we expect them to win?

The only reply i have for Michael Bradley is:
"You sir, are a lousy excuse for a jounalist and appear to be mired in medicrity as well, accept it you are only Micheal Bradley"

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Originally Posted by Torks_Pub

Know a little about TCU before you jump to foolish conclusions. They are the smallest Division I school in the country and they have extremely high academic standards for admission (second only to Rice in Texas).

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My foolish conclusion is that TCU won't see that kind of success year in and year out. Texas and Oklahoma will be way better than them over the same 10 yr span.

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Originally Posted by Cybone

I, admittedly, don't know anything about this poor excuse for a journalist, but it is irresponsible and ignorant to label a program and tell them to deal with it.

Kansas State was nothing until Snyder got there. Nebraska was miserable until Osborne took over. Why not Iowa State?

Why bother playing the game if we are to accept failure as if it were our nature? Winning is a mindset and an attitude that is developed and fostered by training, coaching and atmosphere. If the team is not recieving the tools for success, then how can we expect them to win?
"

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Because you are totally missing his point. He is not saying that.

Fact: K St did not maintain that level of success for very long.

His point given your current and past situation you are foolish to think you can rise up and remain a dominant Big 12 team. And even if you do taste some success it can be shortlived. Along with that success will also come rough years. It's just that if you compare a down year for us to Texas it's not the same.

I do agree with you tools statement though. Problem is we can never afford the tools these tradition schools can afford.

I don't think anyone expects ISU to be as good as Texas and Oklahoma year end/year out. There is a big difference between a .400 winning percentage and being elite. Somewhere in the middle would be fine with me.

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Originally Posted by BigBake

Again I'm not a Mac Apologist but I'm not yanking the fire alarm yet either.

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What good does yanking the fire alarm do after the building has already burnt to the ground. Better to be proactive and take control then to sit back and wait. Mac must Go.

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Originally Posted by GoShow97

What good does yanking the fire alarm do after the building has already burnt to the ground. Better to be proactive and take control then to sit back and wait. Mac must Go.

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That's ridiculous.

The building is definitely not burnt down. Just because we aren't having the season we would like doesn't mean the axe is falling on the program.

Whether Mac goes or stays, I am greatful for what he has done for this school. He is a class act.

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Originally Posted by dmclone

I don't think anyone expects ISU to be as good as Texas and Oklahoma year end/year out. There is a big difference between a .400 winning percentage and being elite. Somewhere in the middle would be fine with me.

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I agree and I think that's what the dude on Cotlar this morning was trying to say.

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Originally Posted by GoShow97

What good does yanking the fire alarm do after the building has already burnt to the ground. Better to be proactive and take control then to sit back and wait. Mac must Go.

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Waging internet campaigns to get a coach fired, signs that say Fire Mac at games, and getting in to altercations with OUR asst coaches leaving a home game. Not my idea of being proactive.

Pollard will be the one to yank the fire alarm if he isn't happy. Losing seasons will drop attendance and things will work themselves out. Doing the above things makes us look bad.

I mean seriously, after the Morgan canning do you really not have faith in you AD to do what needs to be done if it needs to be done?