Letter from Jamie Pollard

[cycloneworld]

In this week's InCyde Scoop. It was great to read this, especially after the last 2 weeks. Here is the text of the letter:

Oct. 21, 2008
Fellow Cyclones,
You probably had to be there to get the full effect.

And from the size of the crowd, I think that many of you were there when the Iowa State football team travelled west to Las Vegas in
September.

Our hope was that the trip would be a catalyst to draw Cyclones from all corners. The Iowa State University Alumni Association rolled out their red carpet and hosted a pre-game tailgate that drew several thousand. The camaraderie was great, the spirit was overfl owing and Cyclone pride was on display.

Once the game started at Sam Boyd Stadium, which usually draws crowds of around 15,000 for UNLV football, it was obvious to observers this wasn’t an ordinary Saturday. That’s because more than 10,000 Iowa State fans had descended upon Las Vegas for the game. Loud throughout the game, boisterous to the end and classy and encouraging after an overtime defeat, I couldn’t have been more proud of who we feel are the best fans in the nation.

Your loyalty is what inspires us to continue pushing forward, trying to elevate the Iowa State University Athletics Department to become the program you have always desired. The Cyclone fan base is the heartbeat of our operation. Coach (Gene) Chizik has shared with me repeatedly how amazed he is with the enthusiasm and passion of ISU fans. It isn’t this way at most schools, he always says.

At Jack Trice Stadium, we’ve come to expect and count upon your vocal support. What’s not typical is for the road crowd to rival the home fans. Don’t think that the bowl scouts in attendance at UNLV weren’t taking notes.
Our student-athletes, coaches and staff do not take your support lightly. If fact, it only adds to the responsibility that we feel for representing you to the best of our abilities. Many of you have been partners with us for many years. Others have signed up recently and are new members on the Cyclone Athletics bandwagon. Whatever you personal story, we are thankful.
You deserve the best that a college athletics program can deliver. There will always be naysayers, but events like the football game at UNLV only underline for me both the urgency and the potential for us to be successful at Iowa State.
Our development and maturation as a department is a long journey. It will include road blocks, steep hills, detours and all sorts of challenges.

My staff’s full-time attention is dedicated to working hard, making sound decisions, cultivating new relationships and trying to deliver success in both the classroom and on the field. Any success that we realize will be because of a combined effort from everyone associated with the program. If a road stop in Las Vegas is any indication, we’ve got quite a caravan assembled for the trip ahead.

Go Cyclones!
Jamie Pollard

Director of Athletics

http://www.cyclones.com//ViewArticle...ATCLID=1608211

Don't think the AD, coaches, and players don't want to win for the fans.

[cycloneworld]

I know it is a PR thing but reading things like this make me proud to be a Cyclone fan.

I hope everyone shows up this weekend to support the team/program.

[gocubs2118]

I have no doubt people will show up for the remaining games this year. Its next year that I am worried about.

[isucyfan]

I like how he wrote this: Coach (Gene) Chizik

Like there was another Coach Chizik on staff or we may not have known who he was referring to.

[chuckd4735]

Wonder what the plans will be for the KC game next year...really looking forward to that one!

[tejasclone]

I like how he wrote this: Coach (Gene) Chizik

Like there was another Coach Chizik on staff or we may not have known who he was referring to.

Enrique Chizik, towel boy coordinator. I can't believe you've never heard of him.

[Cymaster]

I like how he wrote this: Coach (Gene) Chizik

Like there was another Coach Chizik on staff or we may not have known who he was referring to.

I remember at one of the tailgate tour events this past summer that Pollard was talking about how all the "great" Cyclones (Pete, Cael, Seneca, etc) were known to the masses by their first name. Perhaps this is his attempt to have Gene enter our psyche as one of the greats that ISU has had. If that's the case, they both have a little work to do yet

[cycloneryan]

Pollard is an amazing salesman. He knows what it takes to get this program going and I think he is doing an amazing job. I second the hope that we pack the stadium saturday for what should be another great night game at JTS.

[MontyBurns]

I have no doubt people will show up for the remaining games this year. Its next year that I am worried about.

The last half of the season will determine that. The Colorado and K-State games last year created a lot of hope that 2008 would be an improvement over 2007. A win or two or three between now and the end of the season will have the same effect for 2009. If we finish with 10 straight losses an awful lot of ticket renewal and seat donation forms are going to end up in landfills.

[wright4cy]

I know its hard to keep on keepin on but , We will be there this year and next I absolutely love game day at Jack Trice and take pride in being a cyclone through and through.! I really think coach will bring the change we want ! Sooner is better , but honestly if later , my family will still be there. I couldnt stand it if they turned the corner the one game I would miss ! Go cyclones!!!!!!!!

[hort4cy]

I think it is great that Pollard is upbeat... but bowl scouts - someone's been in the kool-aid.

[jakemcilroy]

I love Pollard.
I love McDermott.
I love Chizik.

I love winning.
October 20th, 2008 through March 2010 = CRITICAL for each's legacy.

[MontyBurns]

I think it is great that Pollard is upbeat... but bowl scouts - someone's been in the kool-aid.

He is right -- there were bowl scouts at the ISU/UNLV game. What he did not put in the letter is that they were there to scout UNLV.

[rworkman83]

He is right -- there were bowl scouts at the ISU/UNLV game. What he did not put in the letter is that they were there to scout UNLV.

Of course they were there for UNLV.

Can they not take note of the crowd following we had in Las Vegas though, with 10,000 fans there?

[woodie]

if bs were a snowflake,pollard would be a blizzard. get your rose colored glasses on pollard-get some athletes in that can support your program-we had better fan support during my dirty-30 days!!!!!