Schedule

It is easy to whine about the schedule, but our 1-2 start has nothing to do with the schedule but everything to do with our team's lack of execution. Should be 2-1 and I'd be completely happy with that. We didn't put NIU away in the first half and had to struggle to get a win. We couldn't get a stop and follow up on offense against K-State.

That's not a schedule problem, that's an ISU football problem.

We have also lost to in the last decade: Toledo, UNI, Kent State, UNLV, NIU. So are we scheduling too tough of cupcakes too?

doesnt matter... we cant beat kstate we dont deserve shiz... playing cupcakes doesnt make us better, it delays the heart ache of suckiness... we are young and thin on d, every where, and the offense, well, youve all seen it.

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Originally Posted by ISUFan22

It is easy to whine about the schedule, but our 1-2 start has nothing to do with the schedule but everything to do with our team's lack of execution. Should be 2-1 and I'd be completely happy with that. We didn't put NIU away in the first half and had to struggle to get a win. We couldn't get a stop and follow up on offense against K-State.

That's not a schedule problem, that's an ISU football problem.

We have also lost to in the last decade: Toledo, UNI, Kent State, UNLV, NIU. So are we scheduling too tough of cupcakes too?

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That is just an indicator of the level this program is at. Clearly, we are at the bottom. How do you get out of the bottom? Small, sequential steps, or jumping in head first? How do you teach a kid to drive? Drivers ed class, some time with a learners permit. You don't just qualify them for the Indy 500 and hope one of these years they will catch on and compete.

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Originally Posted by Tedcyclone

doesnt matter... we cant beat kstate we dont deserve shiz... playing cupcakes doesnt make us better, it delays the heart ache of suckiness... we are young and thin on d, every where, and the offense, well, youve all seen it.

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So by this line of logic, why don't we just schedule Alabama, Florida, and Ohio State for our non-conference slate every year. Why wait until October to know for sure that we are a crappy team when we can get our heads kicked in before September is over. Plus, with a lineup like that, we can make sure that we take our pounding on national television every week so people will know who we are and what we are all about. No more being mistaken for the hawkeyes! :twitcy:

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Originally Posted by ISUFan22

It is easy to whine about the schedule, but our 1-2 start has nothing to do with the schedule but everything to do with our team's lack of execution.

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The premise that rethinking our scheduling philosophy given the opportunity of conference restructuring is whining is just wrong headed.

I would contend that our players have executed to their level of ability and to fix the problem we need more ability.

With conference restructuring we have the opportunity to go after southwest recruits that previously went to UNL or Colorado. That could be an instant upgrade in ability. To give us the best odds of capturing that talent we are better off winning the NC games and getting to a bowl game than the opposite.

I would argue that given the conference schedule, and team confidence, at least some of the the coaches want a schedule that takes us the best chance to be 3-0 (or 4-0, 3-1, before the realignment).

We will get better players the more we have better records and bowl trips.

To build on winning, we first have to start winning and have the best chance to win.

No one will remember that we lost to good teams, they simply remember, 3-9, 4-8, etc.

Well, I have two thoughts on this...

On the one hand, BCS AQ programs that are struggling or seeking to 'break out' should perhaps schedule easier opponents for their nonconference schedule. Perhaps start the season with three or four 'cupcakes'. If you start the season at 3-0 or even 4-0, you just need three or four wins the rest of the year to make a bowl game (2 or 3, even!)...which depending on your team and your conference may be wholly feasible.

On the other hand, scheduling cupcakes does nothing to really improve your team. Yes, you may beat up on the 'easy' teams, but when you run into the tougher teams, you might find yourself utterly unprepared. Plus, winning four games or more in a tough conference may not be possible. Scheduling 'tough' non-conference teams helps build up your reputation, depending on how you play them. If you lose, but look okay, then it still helps your program. If you win, then you're on the fast track to potential national attention.

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Originally Posted by HititHard

The premise that rethinking our scheduling philosophy given the opportunity of conference restructuring is whining is just wrong headed.

I would contend that our players have executed to their level of ability and to fix the problem we need more ability.

With conference restructuring we have the opportunity to go after southwest recruits that previously went to UNL or Colorado. That could be an instant upgrade in ability. To give us the best odds of capturing that talent we are better off winning the NC games and getting to a bowl game than the opposite.

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THis is where better playcalling, better sets, better decision making, and more focus to avoid penalities can come into effect. We thus have a long ways to go to reach our high level of ability. We like to shoot ourselves in the foot.

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Originally Posted by edr247

Well, I have two thoughts on this...

On the one hand, BCS AQ programs that are struggling or seeking to 'break out' should perhaps schedule easier opponents for their nonconference schedule. Perhaps start the season with three or four 'cupcakes'. If you start the season at 3-0 or even 4-0, you just need three or four wins the rest of the year to make a bowl game (2 or 3, even!)...which depending on your team and your conference may be wholly feasible.

On the other hand, scheduling cupcakes does nothing to really improve your team. Yes, you may beat up on the 'easy' teams, but when you run into the tougher teams, you might find yourself utterly unprepared. Plus, winning four games or more in a tough conference may not be possible. Scheduling 'tough' non-conference teams helps build up your reputation, depending on how you play them. If you lose, but look okay, then it still helps your program. If you win, then you're on the fast track to potential national attention.

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Nebby has four cupcakes. Hawk fans are claiming they have three cupcakes.

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Originally Posted by Wesley

THis is where better playcalling, better sets, better decision making, and more focus to avoid penalities can come into effect. We thus have a long ways to go to reach our high level of ability. We like to shoot ourselves in the foot.

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I certainly don't disagree that we need to stop the self inflicted wounds. But you really can't argue that we don't also need better players. You can't coach speed and we don't have enough.

Wouldn't it be awesome to start out 4-0 EVERY year? Thats pretty easy if you schedule

Kent St
UNI
Ball State
NIU

then we beat 2 more teams and were on our way to a bowl. We go 4-4 in conference and whaddaya know, were 8-4... 9-4 with a bowl win. thats an awesome season no matter who we play.

Nebby went 9-3 last season. They beat two solid teams Mizz and OU. Now they are ranked like #5, and they've once again beat 3 cupcakes and play SDSU next week. Man, those wins add up!

I'll even take it a step further. They are 22-8 since pelini got there. They have beaten:

Iowa State
Oklahoma
Missouri
Kansas State x2
Kansas x2
Colorado x2
Baylor x2
San Jose St
New Mexico St
West Mich
Clemson

Washington
West KY
FAU
Ark St
LA Lafayette
AZ
Idaho

Who the hell is any good in there? They beat OU when the sooners were on one leg and Mizz when gabbert was on one leg and trailed the whole game. AZ and clemson were good. So they showed up to play in bowl games. Not that difficult to do- but thats beside the point. Get 4 cupcake wins every year and suddenly people talk about you like your in the national championship picture.

They will probably go 11-1 or 11-2 or something this year... win their bowl game and be ranked #1 to start the year in 2011. They don't even play anyone tough- and get Texas @ home

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Originally Posted by UNIGuy4Cy

Dude, Baylor is still Baylor and CU I dont even want to talk about, but the Chiz couldn't beat either and got DESTROYED by NU.

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2007......................31-28

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Originally Posted by dualthreat

Wouldn't it be awesome to start out 4-0 EVERY year? Thats pretty easy if you schedule

Kent St
UNI
Ball State
NIU

then we beat 2 more teams and were on our way to a bowl. We go 4-4 in conference and whaddaya know, were 8-4... 9-4 with a bowl win. thats an awesome season no matter who we play.

Nebby went 9-3 last season. They beat two solid teams Mizz and OU. Now they are ranked like #5, and they've once again beat 3 cupcakes and play SDSU next week. Man, those wins add up!

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We need 6 cupcakes. How did we let CU get away?

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Originally Posted by HititHard

One thing the TV announcers pointed out yesterday was that Snyder won more games than all the previous head coaches at K State combined.

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I'm a little late getting to this party, and I know I'll be labeled a nitpicker, but come on, how hard is to fact check these days? Even the infamous know-it-all source Wikipedia says pre-Snyder K-State was 299-510-41. And then lists Snyder's record as 145-74-1. Close, but not quite the same as winning more than all previous coahes combined. Not going to argue with his formula for winning, but I just wish announcers and others would get it right more than once in a while.

[quote=ChiefCy;1905467]

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Originally Posted by justcynn

Although it was before there were many bowls, Earle Bruce did it. Easy NC and back then Kansas & K-state were not good. Trouble was ISU was pretty good and one year only losses were to #1 #2 &#3 teams but no bowl.

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I believe that year was 1971 under Johnny Majors. Losses to Colorado, Oklahoma, Nebraska with a Sun Bowl loss to LSU.

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Originally Posted by HititHard

Bruce had three 8 win seasons and 2 bowl games if my memory serves.

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Yep. Three years of 8-3 (after 3 years of 4-7). Good ol' 8-3 Earle. Beat Nebraska two straight years. Some folks still wonder what would have happened if Woody Hayes hadn't punched the Clemson player and gotten fired, opening up the Ohio State job that year, and hired Bruce away from ISU. And some others of us still think the 1976 team that didn't go to a bowl was the best team of the bunch.

OK. Done reminiscing. Back to the scheduled programming and figuring out how to schedule so we can enjoy December somewhere seasonally warm.

[QUOTE=trigger1;1908133]I'm a little late getting to this party, and I know I'll be labeled a nitpicker, but come on, how hard is to fact check these days? Even the infamous know-it-all source Wikipedia says pre-Snyder K-State was 299-510-41. And then lists Snyder's record as 145-74-1. Close, but not quite the same as winning more than all previous coahes combined. Not going to argue with his formula for winning, but I just wish announcers and others would get it right more than once in a while.

[quote=ChiefCy;1905467]
/QUOTE]

Good catch on the fact checking I should have looked myself.