2007 Cyclones with "swagger"

**jtwilson** · 02-02-2007, 01:28 PM

Love this post... makes me want September to come even more now! I look at next season, and borrow a quote (made truly famous by Dan McCarney) and ask "Why not next season?" Sure, we might go 4-8, but who's to say we wont go 8-4? That's why we play the game... Man! Is it September yet??

**iccyfan** · 02-02-2007, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by cyclone#1

I want to commend a book to you...The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. As the book says..."The Secret is the law of attraction! Everything that's coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it's attracted to you by virtue of the images you're holding in your mind. It's what you're thinking. Whatever is going on in your mind you are attracting to you.

Read the book and join me in attracting a winning Cyclone FB program!

I was not trying to sting you (or anyone else) with my comments. However, I firmly believe that we need to totally adjust our mindset as Cyclone fans! I believe it was our "patience" that kept us muddling around for too long with our prior coach.

I believe you need to email Gene Chizek with your book recommendation and have him mandate it to the team. Believe me, I saw the 2004 game-winning Culbertson FG versus Missouri (that wasn't to be) split the uprights in my minds-eye, and I was already thinking about the Big XII title game!

It's the ISU football team that needs to "believe" and play with that "swagger" that the post originator speaks of. We can only attend the games and cheer our heads off. I'm already doing my part, both financially and spiritually...

**cyclonenum1** · 02-02-2007, 02:02 PM

Originally Posted by iccyfan

I believe you need to email Gene Chizek with your book recommendation and have him mandate it to the team. Believe me, I saw the 2004 game-winning Culbertson FG versus Missouri (that wasn't to be) split the uprights in my minds-eye, and I was already thinking about the Big XII title game!

It's the ISU football team that needs to "believe" and play with that "swagger" that the post originator speaks of. We can only attend the games and cheer our heads off. I'm already doing my part, both financially and spiritually...

The good news is that I don't need to email our new coach...he already understands this (as does our AD)!

**cyclonelifer** · 02-02-2007, 02:09 PM

iccyfan - I'm impressed, to figure out the east coast connection from that long ago! Terrizi was a good friend of my brother's and was the starting RG. Both guards were Jersey boys. In HS, Terrizi was an all-state RB, but Majors wanted his speed on the line. The rest of the line had a Chicago guy at one T Joe Macroni, the other was Gerry Murdock, and the center was Dave Pittman. The TE was a sophmore by the name of Keith Krepkle (sp?) who went on to a good NFL career at Philly. One WR was Otto Stowe (later with the Dolphins), QB Carlson played with the Chiefs, and RB George Amundson who I believe is in the Clone Hall of Fame, played with the Oilers. And probably the most successful player on that team was LB Matt Blair who had a long career with the Vikings.

On another thought;

Comparing ISU's challenges to when Majors arrived and when Chizik arrived are a little bit different. The Big 8 was by far the best football conference in the nation during those 4-5 years. '71 teams ranked 1-2-3. Kansas, with Lynn Dickey had a good team. Missouri was a challenge. In '07 the Big 12 is a good league - but not the best. The attitude of winning won't be as "fierce and daunting" as it was back in the '70s. Still, a huge challenge, but one I think Chizik can accomplish, because to him losing isn't an option.

**iccyfan** · 02-02-2007, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonelifer

Comparing ISU's challenges to when Majors arrived and when Chizik arrived are a little bit different. The Big 8 was by far the best football conference in the nation during those 4-5 years. '71 teams ranked 1-2-3. Kansas, with Lynn Dickey had a good team. Missouri was a challenge. In '07 the Big 12 is a good league - but not the best. The attitude of winning won't be as "fierce and daunting" as it was back in the '70s. Still, a huge challenge, but one I think Chizik can accomplish, because to him losing isn't an option.

You'll get no argument from me about that!

I've loved your first hand account of the era which preceeded mine; I'd give you some rep but for the fact that nobody with less than ten posts deserves to eclipse 1000 points! Keep up the great work and with a few more, you might actually get me to believe, as your attitude is contagious! Oh, what the heck, + rep for the newbie (because you referenced Packer QB Lynn Dickey)!

**SeattleClone** · 02-03-2007, 12:29 AM

Originally Posted by GoShow97

Rep sent.

Thanks. I know this is way OT by now, but I get chills thinking about Fizer, Tinsley, Stevie Johnson, Nurse, and Horton stepping onto the court in Cyclone jerseys.

**G-Rock** · 02-03-2007, 01:18 AM

Originally Posted by cyclonelifer

Not drinking Kool-aid or smoking wacky weed...

...A 9 or 10 win season can be achieved.

And we make fun of Iowa fans for being overly optimistic?

**ISUclones33** · 02-03-2007, 02:23 AM

Hawk fans dont have a new coach out of Texas that is doing an outstanding job recruiting. After a 4-8 season everyone should be very optimistic for next season with the Hiring of Gene Chizik.. the way i see our team.. what a rollercoaster.. i think we are on our way up a solid hill. And i do believe in the next few years that we cyclone fans will be very proud, Im not going to say we will win 9 games next season. As this is very well possible its not completely realistic, but 2008, 2009... watch out we might have something again. Until then i will continue to support Iowa State University Football with my checkbook and my presence on gamedays.

**cyclonelifer** · 02-03-2007, 09:23 AM

Its kind of sad that we too, have bought into the believe that we will have good things happen in two year cycles. Mainly when Tech, OU, and Texas we shouldn't expect great things. It is a hard schedule, but it is possible.

**BryceC** · 02-03-2007, 10:05 AM

Ok, I can't hold my tounge anymore here. Listen, I believe in ISU athletics as much as anything and I pour a lot of time and money into following the teams. I'm apparently a loser because I don't think there is any way in hell we finish with 8 wins next year. My "believing" it will happen won't make it so. If I wish hard enough Santa isn't going to bring presents to my house next year.

I love the spirit of the first post and many others in this thread. We should expect our team to compete week in and week out. But when people start thinking that we should win 8 games or something, that's when we enter Alabama territory and we start firing coaches left and right.

What happens if Chiz doesn't win 7 or more games next year? Is he on the hot seat? Do we have a bunch of people saying he was overrated, that he's a bad coach? As somebody pointed out, Majors had two 3-7 records before he righted the ship and he still ended with a losing record at ISU (including a 5-6-1 season as his last year)

I expect the team to have more pride this season and really put it on the line. The reason why last year was so disappointing to me is that when the team faced some tough spots they seemed to just roll over and die. I want to see the guys competing hard and trying to steal some games. The fact is that we'll finish in the bottom 2 of the big 12 north in recruiting rankings and that will be another year in a long line of that. It will take Chizik time to do it and I'm willing to give him time.

As somebody else said, we make fun of Iowa fans for predicting 11-1 records. They finished 6-7 last year, 5 games under their prediction.

How many people predicted 9 win seasons last year, only to hav us end up with 4 wins, 5 under the prediction? I'm not asking for people to not get excited, but seriously. I'm very excited about next season. Before people start saying I'm exactly what's wrong with the athletic department know I'm a football and MBB season ticket holder and a donor. I support everything Pollard has done.

I'll go back to my loser hole now and start "believing" I'm going to win the lottery tonight.

**cyclonelifer** · 02-03-2007, 11:31 AM

Yeah, Majors had a rocky start at ISU. But it's hard to compare those two times. Majors coached when there weren't any scholarship limits. NU, OU, Notre Dame, all the traditional power schools got the best of the crop. But it was Majors' (and Bruce's) attitude that made them a winner. And it's Chizik's attitude that will make the Clones winners again.

Chizik has a bit more level playing field. As far as winning 9 or 10 games it is possible. If it isn't achieved, is his head on the chopping block? Of course not. Just progression. Majors had progression, so did Bruce, and to a certain extent Mac did early in his career.

My personal opinion, I hope we're done looking for coaches for a long, long time.

**BryceC** · 02-03-2007, 11:59 AM

My personal opinion, I hope we're done looking for coaches for a long, long time.

I think that is something everybody can agree with. I think we are done looking for coaches for a while as well.

**cyclonenum1** · 02-03-2007, 12:10 PM

Why are so many Cyclone fans afraid to really be fans (you know it is short for fanatic...one that is fanatical)? In most programs around the country the athletic department has to try to rein in fan expectations. At ISU we need the athletic department to try to pump up fan expectations. I do not understand this. I think it is great that you are a "supporter" but take the plunge and become a "fan"!

I've got news for you, Alabama fans don't expect that they "should win 8 games"...they expect that they should win 10 plus games on a regular basis. They will tolerate 8 wins by a coach only if it happens infrequently. By the way, your characterization of Alabama "firing coaches left and right" is not really legitimate. Since 1990 they have only fired 2 coaches for performance (Dubose 24-23 in 4 seasons and Shula 26-23 in 4 seasons). I would not count the firing of Mike Price who never coached a game for them in the discussion (as you will recall he got fired over an ethical lapse in a strip bar in the Florida panhandle...not over performance).

I live in south Louisiana and Les Miles is 22-4 in two years as head coach of LSU with two impressive bowl wins. Most fans down here are uncomfortable with his coaching abilities because they believe they've had "National Championship talent" on the team the last two years.

I too am willing to give Coach Chizik some time...I have no choice in the matter. However, I do expect immediate results...a higher quality of competitiveness next year just for starters. By years two and three we should see a major turnaround in the win column! I think all of this talk about "waiting 4 or 5 years for him to get his own guys in" is ridiculous. This is the approach we have taken for the last 25 years and from my perspective we have done nothing but tread water while schools like Kansas State have become nationally prominent. I want it now...I believe we can have it now.

I have faith and I believe!

One quick story about faith and believing. Back in the late 70s there were a couple of guys in Albuquerque, NM that had founded a small business. They were financially strapped and needed $50,000 to keep the company afloat. They went to 10 or so local banks to ask for a loan and were turned down by all of them. One of the founders finally asked his father if he would loan him the money. His father agreed on one condition...that he move the company's headquarters to the Seattle area where he lived. The two founders were Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company was Microsoft, and the father was Gates' dad. The rest, as they say, is history! With respect to ISU athletics, are you more like our "prudent" bankers in this story or like Bill Gates' father that had faith and believed in his son?

PS: I hate Iowa but I never make fun of their fans for having optimism about their team.

**IsUaClone2** · 02-03-2007, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I'm apparently a loser because I don't think there is any way in hell we finish with 8 wins next year. My "believing" it will happen won't make it so.

The only way to predict and be right 100% of the time is to believe that you cannot be a winner. This topic isn't about predicting as much as it is talking about being winners who do not want to be right 100% of the time.

**darts180** · 02-03-2007, 01:10 PM

Cy #1 I agree with you to a point. I agree in that what I really care about seeing is a well coached, fundementally sound team that plays with effort and pride. If I see that this year, then I know that we will eventually be successful.

What do I expect for wins??? I can't really answer that. The program was left in pretty sorry shape after 12 years, and I don't know how well Gene can plug the holes in the short amount of time that he has had to recruit.