Schedule, Game Progression

[SeattleClone]

Sep 13 Iowa at Iowa City
Don’t think that Chizik won’t open it up—at least a little—against the Hawkeyes, especially on defense. Remember the last time we had a linebacker of Josh Raven’s size in Iowa City? And what did he do to the Hawks? Trust me, Gene knows what’s riding on this game—at least a season’s worth of instate recruits. Plus, it’s on TV. Hard fought, but this one is still too early to call.


Oct 18 Nebraska Ames
I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this game, as we’ll see if Nebby is still bringing their Pinkshirt defense. Yes, there’ll still be that "New Coach" smell for the Huskers as well. I will point out, however, that Barney Cotton will decidedly be looking for vindication after his tenure in Ames, and the criticism he endured. Don’t sell your tickets, this could be the first "upset" of the Gene Chizik era—if he hasn’t already managed it, at home against KU. W 35-31.

Let me help- ISU 35 Iowa 13 (same as last year except this time we score all TD's).

Also, kNebraska's "new coach" has a name... it's 'Jesus II'. They will also accept 'Tom Osborne Jr.'

Nice write-up!

Oh, and I didn't quote the '09 at KU portion, but "road trip anyone?" Sorry, I went there a couple years ago for the "pee down our leg festival", and if I never set foot in Lawrence, KS again it will be too soon.

[besserheimerphat]

SeattleClone, thanks for showing that it is possible to quote only small portions of large posts, especially when your reply is only one line.

[cycloneML]

Let me help- ISU 35 Iowa 13 (same as last year except this time we score all TD's).

Also, kNebraska's "new coach" has a name... it's 'Jesus II'. They will also accept 'Tom Osborne Jr.'

Nice write-up!

Oh, and I didn't quote the '09 at KU portion, but "road trip anyone?" Sorry, I went there a couple years ago for the "pee down our leg festival", and if I never set foot in Lawrence, KS again it will be too soon.

I was there in lawrence in '05 also. has to be one of the darkest days in cyclone history. Cy hasn't been the same since. As a matter of fact, Pollard looked phyically ill after that game. it cost isu millions of $$$ in bowl revenue.

[djkent01]

That was fun to read - LOVE the optimism. To me, the underlying current of this entire thread is two things. First, Chizik has brought back hope to the fans and we believe we can make a run at glory and will support him, the team, and the entire athletic program. Second, just like an article I read about Lou Pinnella and the Cubs - Chizik has changed the culture of ISU Football. Of course, he's got to have the athletes to do everything we hope for, but he's clearly off on the right foot.

[Bader]

I was there in lawrence in '05 also. has to be one of the darkest days in cyclone history. Cy hasn't been the same since. As a matter of fact, Pollard looked phyically ill after that game. it cost isu millions of $$$ in bowl revenue.

Odd that an Assistant AD at Wisconsin would look physically ill after some team in another conference screwed themselves out of a division title

[LonoClone]

Odd that an Assistant AD at Wisconsin would look physically ill after some team in another conference screwed themselves out of a division title

That is funny.

[bmuff]

Okay, I noticed it too. Either a win or too close to call. I'm still looking into the teams myself, but I still think it'll be a 4 to 6 win season, depending on how the cards fall. Anything more, and we'll have to anoint Chizik the new mayor of Ames. I still think that the next couple of years will play out a bit like Illinois under Ron Zook -- two embarrassing years followed by a break out year. We won't be lucky like Illinois was to make the BCS, but the third year is when the gears will really start to click.

Must wins/Sure wins -- Have to win these, or else the season will turn south in a hurry:
South Dakota State
Kent State
@ Baylor

Toss ups -- I expect to go 2 for 5 in these, with the most likely candidates the two home games:
@ Iowa
Nebraska
Texas A&M
@ Kansas State
@ Colorado

Likely Losses -- Probably won't win, but stand a reasonable chance of upsetting at least one of these:
Kansas
@ Oklahoma State
Missouri

My prediction for now: 5-7 (3-5)

OK, here is my prediction:

Sure win:
SDSU

Probable win:
Kent St.
@UNLV

Tossup:
@iowa
@Baylor
Nebraska
A&M
@KSU

Probable loss:
KU
@OSU
@CU

Sure loss:
Mizzou

So, assuming that ISU wins that "probables", the question is how many tossups they win. If they go 3-2, then that results in 6-6 and a bowl. If they go 2-3, then the result is 5-7. I'm predicting 5-7, which IMO is a great springboard to 2009.

[BryceC]

Wow...I hope most of that was done tongue-in-cheek. I love how you predicted all the wins but games that are sure-fire losses were too early to call. Lay off the kool-aid man.

Gosh I wish the message boards at hawkeyenation went back before last season.

It's the offseason dude.

[jdoggivjc]

Odd that an Assistant AD at Wisconsin would look physically ill after some team in another conference screwed themselves out of a division title

It's quite possible that the Assistant AD at Wisconsin would be green in the face after that loss to KU, considering he became AD at Iowa State 19 Sep 2005, and the KU game was 26 Nov 2005.

Quoted from cyclones.com:

Named the school’s Director of Athletics on Sept. 19, 2005, Pollard’s most notable impact has been the re-engagement of Cyclone fans. Iowa State set school records in 2007-08 for season football ticket sales (more than 36,000), season men’s basketball tickets sales (more than 10,000), donors in the Cyclone Club (more than 7,600), members of the Lil’ Clone Club (more than 2,500) and members in the Letterwinners Club (more than 950).

[iowast8fan]

If the seasons went the way you have them layed out, we can all assume Chizik will be coaching somewhere better than ISU by the end of the 2009 season.

[GoSTATE71]

Great write up i loved reading and makes me excited about isu football, but 2 years from now we could have star players gone or hurt and you just dont know but i appreciate all the effort...and the risk of calling the 09-10 seasons

[Wesley]

Wow...I hope most of that was done tongue-in-cheek. I love how you predicted all the wins but games that are sure-fire losses were too early to call. Lay off the kool-aid man.

Obviously the offense looks like a rocket with these scores - good for us. We can score again.

[Wesley]

You are ******* crazy, sorry for harsh words.

Is this comment in reference to the Iowa game?

[Aclone]

Is this comment in reference to the Iowa game?

I was kind of wondering that myself.

[MontyBurns]

If the seasons went the way you have them layed out, we can all assume Chizik will be coaching somewhere better than ISU by the end of the 2009 season.

Not if we give him a guaranteed 8-year contract worth over $30,000,000. That's a "can't lose" strategy.