ISU FB: Unable to respond to adversity

**ISUFan22** · 10-23-2008, 12:03 AM

I've harped on this many, many times before - but our team continues to "force" me to do so.

It's clear we still don't respond well to adversity. And especially with a rather young team, at the first sign of trouble, things go downhill quickly. I do think though, the day our team can overcome some adversity, the light bulb will (or at least I hope) come on and things will noticeably change.

Falling short at UNLV and giving the KU game away has really kicked this team in the shorts and we still have not rebounded from those games. If we had won in OT at UNLV, I think we finish the KU game and at least split the Baylor and NU games.

It's a group with a major headcase situation right now.

**anticyclonic** · 10-23-2008, 12:10 AM

I think we will be fine Sat nite. I predict a win and then an upset next week at OSU. As long as there are no major injuries we should be good to go. I just hope the coaches help the players out with good play calling, that is my biggest worry. We did regoup after the Texas debacle last year and nearly took out Oklahoma.

**ISUFan22** · 10-23-2008, 12:26 AM

Originally Posted by anticyclonic

I think we will be fine Sat nite. I predict a win and then an upset next week at OSU. As long as there are no major injuries we should be good to go. I just hope the coaches help the players out with good play calling, that is my biggest worry. We did regoup after the Texas debacle last year and nearly took out Oklahoma.

A win Saturday night is reasonable, yet I'm not counting on it.

A win at Oklahoma State? I've seen almost nothing that would suggest we can be within 20 of that team...at halftime.

At any rate, not really looking to discuss our W/L chances - but instead how this team handles adversity and why ISU FB can seemingly never overcome it.

I can really only recall 2 games in which we really overcame some serious adversity.

**anticyclonic** · 10-23-2008, 12:33 AM

We were in the same boat a year ago and starting winning, though it does seem to be going the other direction versus last year. I am sure the Bates departure has effected the situation. I guess this is what good coaching is all about.

**CycloneWanderer** · 10-23-2008, 12:42 AM

"I've harped on this many, many times before"

and then I stopped reading . . .

**mj4cy** · 10-23-2008, 06:49 AM

Hopefully we can put one together this weekend. Winning is always the best remedy.

**CyBobby** · 10-23-2008, 08:40 AM

ISU 22...I think what happened was that the team lost its confidence and mojo in the second half against Kansas and has never gotten it back.

Ben Bruns this morning said that the team was still suffering from the KU game.

Like I said before Gene Chizik does NOT have to win games this year its only his second year...But 2010 is coming and when that year comes Chizik needs to win at least 8 games and go to a good bowl game or else he will be let go..

Until 2010 enjoy the wins that Chizik provides and enjoy the tailgating!!

**kgreeny** · 10-23-2008, 08:46 AM

ISU22...

I don't disagree with you. On the fence with 100% agree or not. Anyway, now that you have indentified the problem, how do we fix it. We need the fix, so as to not keep repeating the same mistakes.

**tejasclone** · 10-23-2008, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by CyBobby

ISU 22...I think what happened was that the team lost its confidence and mojo in the second half against Kansas and has never gotten it back.

Ben Bruns this morning said that the team was still suffering from the KU game.

Like I said before Gene Chizik does NOT have to win games this year its only his second year...But 2010 is coming and when that year comes Chizik needs to win at least 8 games and go to a good bowl game or else he will be let go..

Until 2010 enjoy the wins that Chizik provides and enjoy the tailgating!!

Sat, Sep 04 Northern Illinois Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Sep 11 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa TBA

Sat, Sep 18 Utah Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Sep 25 Northern Iowa Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Oct 02 Texas Tech * Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Oct 09 Kansas State * Kansas City, Mo. TBA

Sat, Oct 16 Oklahoma * Norman, Okla. TBA

Sat, Oct 23 Texas * Austin, Texas TBA

Sat, Oct 30 Kansas (Homecoming) * Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Nov 06 Nebraska * Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Nov 13 Colorado * Boulder, Colo. TBA

Sat, Nov 20 Missouri * Ames, Iowa TBA

If we are going to win 8 games with this schedule, we will have to be light-years better than we are right now. I have faith that it can happen, but that's no small task.

**kgreeny** · 10-23-2008, 08:53 AM

Originally Posted by cardinal&gold

Sat, Sep 04 Northern Illinois Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Sep 11 Iowa Iowa City, Iowa TBA

Sat, Sep 18 Utah Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Sep 25 Northern Iowa Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Oct 02 Texas Tech * Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Oct 09 Kansas State * Kansas City, Mo. TBA

Sat, Oct 16 Oklahoma * Norman, Okla. TBA

Sat, Oct 23 Texas * Austin, Texas TBA

Sat, Oct 30 Kansas (Homecoming) * Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Nov 06 Nebraska * Ames, Iowa TBA

Sat, Nov 13 Colorado * Boulder, Colo. TBA

Sat, Nov 20 Missouri * Ames, Iowa TBA

If we are going to win 8 games with this schedule, we will have to be light-years better than we are right now. I have faith that it can happen, but that's no small task.

Yeah, That's a rough schedule unless some of those teams start to slip. Hard to tell what team is going to fall off big time. Damn this conf. Lets move to the big 10 that year

**The_Architect** · 10-23-2008, 08:57 AM

Holy crap we play UTAH? Wow

**candg4ever** · 10-23-2008, 09:01 AM

[quote=ISUFan22;686117] At any rate, not really looking to discuss our W/L chances - but instead how this team handles adversity and why ISU FB can seemingly never overcome it. [quote]

If anyone has the answer to that question, I would suggest an interview/appoitment with the coaching staff. Chances are, if you have answers, you might get a job, as a consultant at least. You can't bottle inspiration and belief in the system, it just has to happen, and that takes time.

It is true that we generally lose the games we're supposed to and then a few we're not supposed to, but that's the breaks. It's hard to break that also-ran mentallity. I think a lot of it has to do with the caliber of the athletes you recruit, some just don't see losing as an option. We get a few more of those, and a couple of 350 lb. defensive tackles, and we'll be all right.

Look at it as evolution. We hopefully are evolving into a football program that will be respected and well thought of nationwide. Remember, you have to crawl before you can walk, (usually).

**CyBobby** · 10-23-2008, 09:02 AM

Did any of you guys hear Jamie Pollard when discussing Dan McCarney...Pollard: If I had been AD after the 4th year there wouldnt have been a 5th year.

A general rule of thumb is that if a fb coach doesnt make it to a bowl game after the 4th year there usually wont be a 5th year!!

Its 2010 or bust!!!

**ajk4st8** · 10-23-2008, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by The_Architect

Holy crap we play UTAH? Wow

Some people complain when we play creampuffs... some complain when we play competition.

I would rather play 4 VERY soft teams at teh start of the season. Get your 4 automatic wins. Win 3 other games and go 7-5.

Wins and bowl games attract recruits. Look how TT was built up.

**Landshark** · 10-23-2008, 09:05 AM

A win will cure all that ails this team. I do agree alot of it is between the ears right now. I feared that the most after the KU debacle, hell, I'm still not over that....