Grade the 2012 season

**BallSoHard4Cy** · 01-01-2013, 03:38 PM

C-, we went 6-7, so that bumps down a letter grade (If starting with A) then put 3-6 Big 12, then say that the only good wins we had were Baylor, TCU, and maybe Tulsa, and then subtract that we beat Iowa by 3 and also got 2 wins from Western Illinois and Kansas, and it gets a C- or a D+. For my standards.

**Bryeclone7** · 01-01-2013, 04:11 PM

I gave it a C+. Thought we could have gone 7-5 this season, but with all of the issues we had throughout the season (QB shuffle, losing Knott), getting to 6 wins is a big deal. However, our performance in the bowl game brought the grade down. Imagine if Richardson was not sick and Jake were not injured. This season will be one of "what-ifs". The season was the typical rollercoaster ride that we are all used to.

**Cyclonic1** · 01-01-2013, 04:41 PM

B-
+ Attendance was very good - Recruiting seems to have kicked up a notch which is where I believe everything starts in building or rebuilding a program - Bowl games are always nice to qualify for - through the regular season we were one of the least penalized teams in the NCAA which reflects well on the program, coaches and school.

-Offense sucked most of the year - we had no other options at QB when SJ began to play give-away until the KU game - and worst of all we could not match the intensity of Tulsa in the bowl game which I liken to choking on a marshmallow or applesauce. This reflects poorly on the coaches and program.
I would have graded much lower yesterday but after cooling down I am beginning to believe the "Sam was sick" story. But, vomiting on the sideline is a symptom of both the flu and a concussion so I can only hope that it did not happen after Sam had his bell rung late in Q2 or early in Q3.

**Ry4Cy** · 01-01-2013, 05:00 PM

Grade: C

Arguably one of the most talented teams we have had in years and to have a 6-7 season doesn't cut it for me. With this veteran of a team this year is a big dissappointment. Next year we will be lucky to get 2 wins in the conference. What a wasted oppertunity we had this year.

**jbhtexas** · 01-01-2013, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ry4Cy

Grade: C

Arguably one of the most talented teams we have had in years and to have a 6-7 season doesn't cut it for me. With this veteran of a team this year is a big dissappointment. Next year we will be lucky to get 2 wins in the conference. What a wasted oppertunity we had this year.

Agreed, except that I voted C- instead of C. Player attrition is part of the game. Several teams in the Big 12 lost a key player or two for some part of the season. ISU squandered chances at two more conference wins (TTU and WVU), and looked terrible in a minor bowl game against a non-BCS opponent. And add to that...ISU finished one spot worse in the Big 12 than last year.

**Tedcyclone** · 01-01-2013, 05:51 PM

I gave a c- due to 3 quarterback changes, and no running game at all, after the coaches have continued to profess their love for the offensive line. The running game was wretched. Worst in the Big12 by far. That is a c-... it was only kept from being an F, by emotional play by Jake Knott, Givens, and the rest of the defense when healthy. The drop off at LB after Knott, and Klien is huge...

**BigDH01** · 01-01-2013, 06:05 PM

D+. I would say any team that goes .500 is just average. However, we were less than .500 in the Big 12 and had some bad home games. That lowers the grade to a C- in my opinion. A terrible bowl showing drops the grade to D+.

I don't care about injuries, QB play, schedule, etc, etc, etc. These things are all a part of football and all that matters at the end is winning (or at the very least, showing up). We are average at winning, less than average at winning in the Big 12, and awful at winning bowl games. D+ might actually be a bit gracious.

**justcynn** · 01-01-2013, 06:16 PM

C+. Playing 3 qb's doesn't inspire confidence, defense played well enough to win, offense was terrible again. Special teams were unremarkable in a good or bad way.

**TXCyclones** · 01-01-2013, 06:27 PM

I think John Walters, the Velvet Voice of the Cyclones, summed it up best. This group of seniors helped bring this team from TEN consecutive losses to 3 bowl games in four years. FOUR YEARS! No, the last two seasons haven't been perfect endings, but they've been fun seasons to be a Cyclone. They've outperformed expectations again. While I'm upset we didn't win a bowl game that I had assumed we'd win it was still a fun season.

**swarthmoreCY** · 01-01-2013, 06:34 PM

Is C still average? If so, I could go as high as a C.

**Luth4Cy** · 01-01-2013, 06:58 PM

I gave it a B. Higher than most of you, but I figure winning 6 games and only being predicted to win something like 4 games goes for something. Knott being out to end the year made the grade higher too.

**cygrads** · 01-01-2013, 07:02 PM

C+ with going to a bowl game and if we would have won the bowl game it would have been a B- or a B.

**cyclones500** · 01-01-2013, 10:05 PM

C+ was my grade before the bowl loss, and it still is. Bummer finish, but not enough to drag it down any further. A dominating bowl win might have elevated it to B-minus. Maybe.

I won’t go point-by-point, but to summarize, there were a few elements of a B+ season, and areas that were sub-C.

**Snyder21** · 01-01-2013, 10:13 PM

B-. Could have easily had Tech and K-State. That woulda been awesome. Woulda been a solid B to B+ if we coulda just beat Tulsa. Damn.

**IcSyU** · 01-01-2013, 10:17 PM

C+. Would've been a C or C- but I have to give a little bit losing Knott.

Positives:
- A bowl game is a good way to end any season for Iowa State
- For the first time in a long time, we scored more points over the season than we gave up
- After early season issues, Arceo did a very nice job

Negatives:
- the offense...from line play to quarterback play to receiver play
- we look in trouble for the future on the defensive side of the ball
- Absolutely terrible defensive line play the second half of the season
- Very questionable fundamentals