OK I drank the kool aid, but next years schedule..

**wonkadog** · 12-14-2007, 10:08 AM

Uh, yeah, we usually have one or two "patsies" on the schedule every year. Those teams beat us last year but you do have to schedule a few of those if you want to have a full schedule each year.

**mj4cy** · 12-14-2007, 10:12 AM

It's possible, but I'd love for even 6-6 the way our program has been the last two years.

**clonomaniac** · 12-14-2007, 10:29 AM

I will be shocked if we don't win six games next year. 10-2 is a possibility but I don't think we are there yet. We can definitely go 7-5 and that seems very possible especially if Arnaud can feel comfortable right away.

**BryceC** · 12-14-2007, 10:34 AM

I'd be happy with 6 next year. 2009 is the year we need to make some noise.

**clonomaniac** · 12-14-2007, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I'd be happy with 6 next year. 2009 is the year we need to make some noise.

I think if Chizik is really all that great, he needs to start producing next year. With all the coaching adjustments elsewhere in big 12, we will have a big advantage over some of these other teams.

JP needs to set a higher expectation from the coaching staff for next year - maybe a bowl game at the least.

**mj4cy** · 12-14-2007, 10:56 AM

Agreed. Now that my wife and I are both out of school and will have a year's worth of salary under our belts, we might be able to afford bowling next winter!

**letsgostate** · 12-14-2007, 10:57 AM

Fun to look at how we stack up
QB: Should be improved, with Arnaud, strong arm and he knows the system (Grade B)
RB: We know who we have, and help is coming. (Grade B)
OL: The biggest question mark last year will be our strength this coming year(Grade A)
WR: No Blythe, but plenty still there with Hamilton a big time player(Grade C+)

DB: Needed first aid to start last year, but with returning vets and incoming help, we should be decent (Grade B-)
LB: Minus our best guy, but good returnees and help coming in (Grade C)
DL: Need a couple of fat guys in the middle, otherwise we look decent. Hopefully a JUCO or two will come in to shore that up (Grade C-)

Special teams: We improved 1000 percent in the last 4 games, and with a REAL returner coming in, more depth with RS frosh and JUCOs, this should be a serviceable unit.(Grade C+)

Overall, greatly improved over 2007 in my view.

**Go2Guy** · 12-14-2007, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by ketelmeister

really looks favorable for an ISU run. This is the best case senario, but a possibliity.
South Dakota State WIN
Kent State WIN
Iowa WIN
UNLV WIN
Kansas LOSS
Baylor WIN
Nebraska WIN
A and M WIN
Okla St. WIN
CU WIN
Mo LOSS
K State WIN

That would be 10-2, and I'm not convinced we can beat either MO or KU next year.

At first we laughed at any Hawk Fan that predicted 10-2 in '07 and then we served them Crow when they went 6-6.

Seriously people, get a grip on reality; we got beat at home by Kent - even Toledo and Nebraska beat us convincingly. We're going to have an inexperienced QB and some big holes on defense to fill. I'll take 5, maybe 6 wins. Also, isn't K-State away - this list seems like we play them at home.

**clonomaniac** · 12-14-2007, 11:11 AM

OH *****, do we have a KICKER yet?

**jdoggivjc** · 12-14-2007, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

At first we laughed at any Hawk Fan that predicted 10-2 in '07 and then we served them Crow when they went 6-6.

Seriously people, get a grip on reality; we got beat at home by Kent - even Toledo and Nebraska beat us convincingly. We're going to have an inexperienced QB and some big holes on defense to fill. I'll take 5, maybe 6 wins. Also, isn't K-State away - this list seems like we play them at home.

If you call losing to Toledo by one point "convincing" , that was more like ******* a game down our legs that we had all but won. But your point remains the same - I think we struggle next year.

**Aclone** · 12-14-2007, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

Seriously people, get a grip on reality; we got beat at home by Kent - even Toledo and Nebraska beat us convincingly.

There's no reason not to be hopefully optimistic. Plus, those losses occured when the team was still adapting to a new system, and we get NU at home. If everything shakes out, I'd be happy with six, but eight is a possibility--and ten is worth at least dreaming about.

**clonomaniac** · 12-14-2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by Aclone

There's no reason not to be hopefully optimistic. Plus, those losses occured when the team was still adapting to a new system, and we get NU at home. If everything shakes out, I'd be happy with six, but eight is a possibility--and ten is worth at least dreaming about.

I have to agree.

We have to be hopeful. We paid a lot to get rid of DMac and get the new coaching staff in. We have to produce more and real soon to get the new projects at JTS rolling. Unless the coaches start producing, it will be the fans alone paying so much more and not be satisfied without winning records for years to come.

That's why I don't see any reason why we should NOT expect more and be optimistic.

**jdoggivjc** · 12-14-2007, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by Aclone

There's no reason not to be hopefully optimistic. Plus, those losses occured when the team was still adapting to a new system, and we get NU at home. If everything shakes out, I'd be happy with six, but eight is a possibility--and ten is worth at least dreaming about.

There's hopefully optimistic and unrealistically optimistic. 8-4 to me is hopefully optimistic. 10-2 is unrealistically optimistic. Unrealistically optimistic is what leads to the kind of meltdown we've seen here on CF after some on this site were convinced ISU was going to win 20+ games, finish in the top half of the Big XII, and make the NCAA tournament. Then we lost to Bradley. Then we lost to Minnesota. Then we lost to Northern Iowa. Then we lost to Drake. Then a couple of players left the team. Now those same people who were convinced we were going to have an outstanding season are the same ones that are sharpening their axes in preparation of calling for G-Mac's head. Unrealistically optimistic leads to goals we can't expect the team to realistically achieve and then when the team goes and fails our expectations we get ****** as a fanbase. That's why the "I think the team can go 10-2" is getting ripped by a lot of us here, especially when nothing we've done as a football team over the last several years shows that we're capable of doing something like that.

**clonomaniac** · 12-14-2007, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

There's hopefully optimistic and unrealistically optimistic. 8-4 to me is hopefully optimistic. 10-2 is unrealistically optimistic. Unrealistically optimistic is what leads to the kind of meltdown we've seen here on CF after some on this site were convinced ISU was going to win 20+ games, finish in the top half of the Big XII, and make the NCAA tournament. Then we lost to Bradley. Then we lost to Minnesota. Then we lost to Northern Iowa. Then we lost to Drake. Then a couple of players left the team. Now those same people who were convinced we were going to have an outstanding season are the same ones that are sharpening their axes in preparation of calling for G-Mac's head. Unrealistically optimistic leads to goals we can't expect the team to realistically achieve and then when the team goes and fails our expectations we get ****** as a fanbase. That's why the "I think the team can go 10-2" is getting ripped by a lot of us here, especially when nothing we've done as a football team over the last several years shows that we're capable of doing something like that.

I thought this thread was for ISU football????

**RedStorm** · 12-14-2007, 11:27 AM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

At first we laughed at any Hawk Fan that predicted 10-2 in '07 and then we served them Crow when they went 6-6.

Seriously people, get a grip on reality; we got beat at home by Kent - even Toledo and Nebraska beat us convincingly. We're going to have an inexperienced QB and some big holes on defense to fill. I'll take 5, maybe 6 wins. Also, isn't K-State away - this list seems like we play them at home.

I agree 10 - 2 is not going to happen, however, I disagree with you telling people to "get a grip" and useing last season as a measureing stick. Last year is done and we will be a different team next year and there is no reason to not be optimistic....it is just how optimistic should we be? I say a 7 a win season is not crazy thinking. But we have a tough stretch with NU, TAM, Okie St, CU, and MU....I will be happy if we can win one of those games. I don't see NU slideing with the coaching change. In fact I think they will get better. The cupboard is not bare at NU by a long shot.....