Monday Musings: Nov. 26, 2012 Edition

**bawbie** · 11-26-2012, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

I was curious, so I looked it up. The last time Iowa State has had a season with a worst loss of less than 26 points was in 2005, when the worst loss was 10 points against Baylor.

I guess I had forgotten how close that '05 team was to greatness. They finished 7-4 in the regular season. Other than that Baylor loss, all three of the other losses were in overtime.

It's amazing how easy that schedule looks compared to what we've had the last several years... Think about it: only 2 ranked teams (Iowa and Colorado), both at home - and we beat both of them.

**cyhiphopp** · 11-26-2012, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

It's amazing how easy that schedule looks compared to what we've had the last several years... Think about it: only 2 ranked teams (Iowa and Colorado), both at home - and we beat both of them.

Please don't talk about how close the 2005 team was to being 11-0 going into the Big12 championship game.

It's too early to start drinking.

**Cycsk** · 11-26-2012, 11:41 AM

7-5 would have been nice, but the 4th conference win is the dimension that I think really would have been great.

**Cycsk** · 11-26-2012, 11:42 AM

IIRC, we are the only Big 12 team to hold each of its opponents under 35 points. Nice tribute to our consistency on defense.

**CTTB78** · 11-26-2012, 11:42 AM

We've got the right guy as head coach. The key going forward will be recruiting and who Paul hires as asst. coaches. I'm curious how long Wally will go and who CPR will replace him with. These are big decisions. Just look what happened at Iowa.

Also, good to see two of our former coaches in the national championship game.

**Wesley** · 11-26-2012, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by Cycsk

IIRC, we are the only Big 12 team to hold each of its opponents under 35 points. Nice tribute to our consistency on defense.

Because we stripped the ball so much in the red zone and we moved the goal post when their kickers kicked...

**Cyclophile1** · 11-26-2012, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

It's amazing how easy that schedule looks compared to what we've had the last several years... Think about it: only 2 ranked teams (Iowa and Colorado), both at home - and we beat both of them.

Yeah, I lost a lot of confidence that the McCarney regime was ever going to be able to get us to new heights when we had that schedule laid out in front of us and crapped the bed time and time again. That was at a point in time where we could have taken the driver's seat in the Big12 North at the time, but it turned out to be an exercise in patience and character development instead.

We have a guy in place now that I think can get us there, but we still need to have some patience since the Big12 today is a substantially more difficult situation to gain ground in then it was in those days. You have to go back to prior ages which are basically irrelevant as comparisons to see a better foundation-building than what Rhoads has accomplished. I think 2013 may be a step back but 2014 will be our next chance for a really big year like this one was. The future looks bright.

Cheers

Cheers

**2XaDime** · 11-26-2012, 12:30 PM

Originally Posted by cyhiphopp

So CW, who was your wise old sage? I figured you would let us know at the end of your story but you left us hanging.

Yeah, Chris! Who's this Obi-Wan of football wisdom?! I was totally expecting a stunning, Paul Harvey-like twist at the end of your article.

"And that wise gentleman and master of all great football knowledge who gave me this profound insight into building a consistently successful football program turned out to be....Gene Chizik! Paul Harvey. Good day!"

Now that would be a twist!

**NickTheGreat** · 11-26-2012, 12:46 PM

Good article. I don't believe in moral victories, but I still feel that ISU is on the right track

**CyFan61** · 11-26-2012, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by cyhiphopp

Please don't talk about how close the 2005 team was to being 11-0 going into the Big12 championship game.

It's too early to start drinking.

It all worked out okay. That was the year that Colorado got pasted 70-3 by the Vince Young Texas team that won the NC in the conf. championship game.

Had Iowa State been 11-0, facing that 11-0 Texas team, the buildup would have been huge and the outcome probably similar to the CU game. So it was for the better

**cyhiphopp** · 11-26-2012, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by CyFan61

It all worked out okay. That was the year that Colorado got pasted 70-3 by the Vince Young Texas team that won the NC in the conf. championship game.

Had Iowa State been 11-0, facing that 11-0 Texas team, the buildup would have been huge and the outcome probably similar to the CU game. So it was for the better

Sorry, even if we got killed by the eventual NC team and 11-0 season would have been a LOT better than how it turned out.

For me that was the year, not 2006, that I knew DMac just didn't have what it took to be more than just bowl eligible. CPR would have recruited enough RB depth that we would never have put in Coleman at running back to fumble the ball into the EZ against Baylor. We would have also been able to handle the injury or prevented the injury to Stevie Hicks if he had someone to share carries with like our RBs do now. DMac was here 12 years and never had any real depth behind his starters. If someone was hurt we were woefully unprepared to replace them and often had walkons forced to play and getting crushed. Our starters would play the full game and get gassed in the 4th quarter and blow leads. It was just horrible to watch a team with enough talent to win get effed over so often.