Where are we truly at as a program.

[MontyBurns]

Originally Posted by Aclone

You do realize that Northwestern is 5-0 and atop the Big Ten standings, right?

They also haven't played anybody good yet.

I think Minnesota can manage to go at least 2-4 over their next six games and get to a bowl.

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Anyone that thinks that a McCarney-led team comes back and fights after that third quarter yesterday is nuts. What we saw yesterday is something that we've seen almost every game since the end of the Texas game last season - the team doesn't quit, and they fight to the end. Has it translated in wins yet? Maybe not as many as we like, but this is a VERY YOUNG TEAM!!! Young teams are going to frustrate the daylights out of the fan base.

As was posted in other threads:

Year 1: Lose big
Year 2: Lose close
Year 3: Win close
Year 4: Win big

Either people who are quick to criticize Chizik on the outcome of this season so far either don't see the drastic improvement in the team so far or they don't care. But they all probably have one thing in common - they were probably the loonies that were saying earlier this year that anything short of 8 or 9 wins this season was unacceptable.

This is the only thing that has made me feel better...thanks!!!

I pray you're right, yesterday I was high as a kite at half, more than I've ever been at an ISU game, the 3rd quarter throttled me and I left early (stupid, I know, but I was so pissed).

I'm worried these young players will always have the "ISU disease" of losing big leads and always wondering if they have "it" to close these games out.

We've seen these games too many times as ISU fans!!!

The young talent is amazing though, the best I've ever seen in my 30 years of going to ISU games.

[Aclone]

Originally Posted by Landshark

I'm worried these young players will always have the "ISU disease" of losing big leads and always wondering if they have "it" to close these games out.

Well, be reassured. There is no such disease.

[AnkenyCy24]

Originally Posted by Istate

I just lost about a 8 paragraph analysis so here comes the quick one.

I'm bummed about yesterday's loss. Couple that with the UNLV game, and my darkside starts to wonder where we really are. I have a bright side too, but this will only note some thoughts that stick around in my head when thinking about ISU football.

Last year: We were putrid the first few games, primarily due to turnovers. Our offseason excitement was derived from the way we ended the season. We played OK and Mizzou tough, but did they really care? We then beat Colorado because ratface made a poor decision to go for it on 4th down and we beat a KSU team that had quit before being hammered by Kansas.

This year: We pummel SDSU thanks to them giving us about as much as Mr. Jacobsen has. SDSU had some success moving the ball when their QB didn't look like I did in 7th grade. SDSU has proven to not be very good. Kent state again helped us mightily with turnovers. They moved the ball consistently and made me begin to worry quite a bit about our ability to stop the run. Kent State is now 1-5.

Iowa was a mess weather wise. A special teams play seals the victory for Iowa, but they start a new qb that was very generous to us, but we didn't take advantage. Iowa was the better team and had it been dry, Greene might have had 300 yards rushing. I question playcalling some for not utilizing the QB more. Iowa is a slightly above average team right now that would be the talk of the country if they had our turnover fortunes. UNLV was going to be tough after Iowa. I knew there would be some hangover, but I didn't think UNLV would move the ball that easily against us. Some Mccarney coaching by UNLV and Austen getting hot in the 2nd half gave us a shot, but in the end, we lose, to a bad team who now sits 3-3 after losing to Colorado St. and Nevada (whom Missouri beat 69-17).

Yesterday concerns me just as much. We all thought if we could get out early, we'd win that game. Kansas isn't near the team it was last year. Heck they lost to S. Fla who struggled with Fla. Intl. and was beaten by Pitt. Kansas didn't want to be in Ames in the first half, at least their minds didn't, and we couldn't extend the lead past 20 with the field position we had. Then, did they not think we were going to do an onside kick? Holy cow, that team looked unprepared; yet, we still couldn't get that signature victory. Kansas has 6 more losses on its schedule.

How about some talent comments. I hope we're right, but I wonder if we just got so low talent wise that we're blown away by some of the new kids. We love Johnson, but is he better than a RB that started in the superbowl last year as a CB? Our WR's look good, but I remember Blythe as a youngster too. Our young LB's are not impressing, and our OL/DL talent isn't making the strides we thought. Most everyone on here thought we'd start Osem, Trey, and Hicks this year.

Finally, a peak ahead to next year. Convince me that we don't lose more off of this year's team than we did last year. We lose 2 of our best 3 RB's. Maybe Bo Williams is for real. Maybe there's a reason why he wasn't more heavily pursued after leaving Florda. We lose our most consistent and long-term contributor at WR. We lose our best offensive lineman and our two best defensive linemen. Then we lose 3 of our starting back 7, including the LB that is playing the best this year. That's alot of talent to replace.

So are we truly making gains? Man, I hate feeling like this.

If this is your quick analysis, I don't think I would have ever had time to finish your long one...

[Landshark]

Originally Posted by Aclone

Well, be reassured. There is no such disease.

I hope you're right!!! This one hurt and I'm worried.

We need to win at Baylor!!! This is a huge game for this team.

[FD Cyclone]

I hate this thread, but anyways....
People need to stop the victory/loss chain. Its the dumbest thing of all time.

Originally Posted by Istate

Kansas isn't near the team it was last year. Heck they lost to S. Fla who struggled with Fla. Intl. and was beaten by Pitt.

But if you must, let me finish this one for you.....

Kansas lost to S. Florida who struggled with Fla. Intl. and was beaten by Pitt, who beat Iowa, who beat ISU. Bring it full circle if you must!

So tell me now, what exactly losing to kansas means in this equation?