Realistic/Objective view of 2008 ISU Football season

**tejasclone** · 07-11-2008, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by superfan

Hold on, let me make it worse.

That "unknown sophomore" wasn't a sophomore. That was 3 years ago. He was a true freshman.

And for those of us who were there to see the meltdown in person, it was even worse than that.

Well, and then, you know, doing exactly the same thing against Kansas.

Originally Posted by cstrunk

We also played the "Tuff as Rain" Tigers last year quite well at home for how good they were compared to us.

I would call this game our "Upset of the Year" possibility out of any other potential upsets.

I corrected your spelling of "tough". Remember, Roger spells phonetically.

And I agree. I would LOVE to keep them from a national title game appearance that they've apparently already earned from the media without playing a single down.

**CYdTracked** · 07-11-2008, 12:23 PM

Originally Posted by ktoddcyclones

I'm going with wins over South Dakota State, Kent State, Iowa, UNLV,Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado, and K-State.

8 wins? Nebraska and Colorado are the 2 least likely wins in that bunch.

**clone99** · 07-11-2008, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by CyForPresident

5-7

My dream is for Mizzou to be ranked #1 and undefeated when they come to JTS. Then beat the living crap out of 'em. They ruined 2004 for us, lets ruin 2008 for them. It can be the second team ISU has kept from playing for the national championship....cough...2002...cough

if i was missouri i would definitely be upset but i'd pretty happy with one loss all year. when they beat us that kept us from a north division title i think they will probably have that wrapped up and still have a nice bowl game waiting for them at the end of the year. easy on the revenge it doesn't really work all that well. i hope we are undefeated when we play them for #1 ranking in the country. unlikely i know but those are my thoughts on the missouri game, lets beat the jackrabbits first.

**zdorr40** · 07-11-2008, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by ktoddcyclones

I'm going with wins over South Dakota State, Kent State, Iowa, UNLV,Baylor, Nebraska, Colorado, and K-State.

IMO, we'll beat A&M before we win at CU. I think CU could be pretty good this year. Just my $.02 though.

5 to 7 wins. SDSU, Kent, UNLV, Baylor, Knowledge, and K-State. We might knock off A&M to get our 7th.

**Indyclone** · 07-11-2008, 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by usedcarguy

A win over kNU would be huge, maybe even more so than EIU.

Maybe more so than Iowa? Dude it is this kind of thinking that makes hawk fans think they are our super bowl. I would take a conference win over a loss to the hawks every year. Beating the hawks does nothing, when we are in position to compete (and it won't be long) for the North title a win over Nebraska will always be bigger.

But back to the original question, here is my predictions:
SDSU W
Kent St W
@Iowa L
@UNLV W
Kansas L
@Baylor W
Nebraska W
Texas A&M L
@Okla St L
@Colorado L
Missouri L
@Kansas St W

Final Record: 6-6 and a bowl game.

**d4nim4l** · 07-11-2008, 02:04 PM

I think that the mantra of:

First year, lose big
Second year, lose close
Third year, win close
Fourth year, win big

Is going to hold true, but maybe accelerate a bit. We had three of the four last year (never won big) but we were never consistent.

I think 5-7 is probably the most accurate and realistic prediction. I think Chizik will have this team playing greater than the sum of its parts but the inexperience in some key areas (QB, DT, LB specifically) will hurt us in close games. Expect to see losses like 2005 where we drop games by a FG or TD.

2009 though...buckle your seatbelts.

**d4nim4l** · 07-11-2008, 02:05 PM

Oh, and if we go 6-6 I'll put money on us not bowling. Big XII will probably be too strong for us to slide into a bowl at 6-6.

**aeroclone** · 07-11-2008, 02:16 PM

Originally Posted by d4nim4l

Oh, and if we go 6-6 I'll put money on us not bowling. Big XII will probably be too strong for us to slide into a bowl at 6-6.

But aren't we up to line 9 bowl tie ins? Can't think that we would have more teams than bowl slots. Could also see two BCS bids, something like Mizzou and OU.

**GoHawks95** · 07-11-2008, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by aeroclone

But aren't we up to line 9 bowl tie ins? Can't think that we would have more teams than bowl slots. Could also see two BCS bids, something like Mizzou and OU.

I would think if you go 6-6, you're going bowling, based on the Big XII strength.

**Cyclonestate78** · 07-11-2008, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by CY ST8T

I think that this defense is going to be way ahead of where people thought we would be and 6 - 9 wins will be very possible and after seeing the team Chizik fields we will have a lot more positive posters!!!

I like how people are already writing this years team off against Missouri. Remember folks that ISU handed the game last year to Missouri and we only lost by 14. Also the Nebraska loss we handed the game to the Fuskers. When ISU has the ball inside the NU 10 yard line, when a td makes it a I believe a 7 point game late in the 3rd quarter and we toss a pick that gets taken to the house? Yeah.... we shot ourselves in the foot quite a bit last season in games where 1 or 2 fewer mistakes meant we would be right there at the end for wins. Let's face it... It wasn't completely a talent issue... it was a brainfart issue the majority of the time. The exceptions were the KU loss and the Texas loss.

**Cyclonestate78** · 07-11-2008, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by d4nim4l

I think that the mantra of:

First year, lose big
Second year, lose close
Third year, win close
Fourth year, win big

Is going to hold true, but maybe accelerate a bit. We had three of the four last year (never won big) but we were never consistent.

I think 5-7 is probably the most accurate and realistic prediction. I think Chizik will have this team playing greater than the sum of its parts but the inexperience in some key areas (QB, DT, LB specifically) will hurt us in close games. Expect to see losses like 2005 where we drop games by a FG or TD.

2009 though...buckle your seatbelts.

I don't necessarily agree. I firmly believe that Chizik will have accellerated the preperation of some of these younger players and recruits coming in. Don't look for these young players to come in and fail. I think the talent level of these young players is a notch above Mac's recruits and don't be surprised for some of these young guys to contribute in a big way.

**Cyclonestate78** · 07-11-2008, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by zdorr40

IMO, we'll beat A&M before we win at CU. I think CU could be pretty good this year. Just my $.02 though.

5 to 7 wins. SDSU, Kent, UNLV, Baylor, Knowledge, and K-State. We might knock off A&M to get our 7th.

I think CU will be coming into that game with a bit of a chip on their shoulder after the controversial ending to last years game. This could either work for or against them in a big way. I tend to believe that is going to work against them.

**Cyclonepride** · 07-11-2008, 07:30 PM

I'm thinking 7-6 or 6-7, but I wouldn't be surprised or upset with a couple less wins. Sorry, I can't be objective. That's why I'm here.

**jaretac** · 07-11-2008, 07:46 PM

I'm going to be realilistic about this. I say 12 win, plus a Big12 and national title.

**scyclonekid** · 07-11-2008, 07:48 PM

I think 6+ wins is not a stretch. We did improve a lot towards the end of the season last year. I think this years team will definitely be more focused. I believe in this team and coaching staff, the training wheels are starting to come off. Call me crazy, this team will have killer instinct and I hope there is a fire underneath of them to go out and just pound other teams into the ground.