Coach Chizik vs Coach Mac

[jakemcilroy]

Last year at this time we were 1-7, and all knew that we wouldn't win any more games the rest of the year. I know, I know- different circumstances, schedule, etc, but we still have 4 games left. It's not basketball season yet.

As for identity- new uni's, new logo, traditional colors, facility improvements. Identity is what this whole program is trying to create right now. New uniforms don't equal wins, but I think in 10 years we'll all be talking about the "new identity" the Chiz brought to ISU. If we were a huge traditional powerhouse used to winning a minimum of 8 games a year, maybe it's time to talk about coaching changes, but seriously... new thread please.

Great point.

[ISUFan22]

Please tell Arnaud, ARob, Frere, Lemaak, Jesse Smith, Taylor and all the other starters that Chizik is depending on that they are part of "bone dry" recruiting classes. I'd like to watch that...

In a year or two, other than Arnaud and perhaps Smith - those other guys will quickly be forgotten.

[clonomaniac]

Well, DMac had 5 wins in his first two years, and at this point Chizik has 5 wins 2/3 through his second season. So, your basis for this claim is what exactly???

Call it 2/3 through his second season if that's what makes you feel better. Every damn team in big 12 seems like they have a heisman player in their QB, RB or WR when they played us. How can you not think the season is over? We gave up. Except for Arnaud and LJ, I do not see any of Chizik's players play with fire. There is no leadership. there is no sense of direction in the way Chizik coaches this team any given weekend. Chizik with a national title with Texas is just the opposite as a head coach. So yeah, that's my basis. We expected greater things from Chizik this year.

[BryceC]

Please tell Arnaud, ARob, Frere, Lemaak, Jesse Smith, Taylor and all the other starters that Chizik is depending on that they are part of "bone dry" recruiting classes. I'd like to watch that...

I love posts like this. Of course we wouldn't say that to the guys faces, it's ridiculous. It doesn't make it any less true. Please don' make me dig up my old post.

[cybsball20]

Please tell Arnaud, ARob, Frere, Lemaak, Jesse Smith, Taylor and all the other starters that Chizik is depending on that they are part of "bone dry" recruiting classes. I'd like to watch that...

It takes alot more than six guys to win. Its the depth that Mac failed to build that is costing us now... The depth that is causing us to play a double didgit amount of freshmen.

[Clonefan94]

Yeah, that.

Our fans are absolutely no better than Hawk fans and it's repeatedly put on display each and every week here.

Very little reason or rational thought these days.

Well, next year, after we fire Chizik and switch to the Mo Valley, maybe they can go over there and join them.

[frontrangeclone]

meanwhile Mizzou and KU are enjoying unprecedented success with their programs by giving Pinkie and the Fat Man enough time to establish and develop their programs....

as for this season being lost, yep, but don't count a victory at CU out of the realm of possibility, they aren't very good right now either. They are doing a 2 QB system with a freshman and Hawkins trading snaps.

[Cy Hard]

Please tell Arnaud, ARob, Frere, Lemaak, Jesse Smith, Taylor and all the other starters that Chizik is depending on that they are part of "bone dry" recruiting classes. I'd like to watch that...

Well I would. Sorry other than AA, who let's face it was coming to ISU regardless of who the coach was, and Taylor, the others aren't producing where we need them to. Besides Smith was a walk on originally, not a recruiting coup my Mac. But alas, you need to play someone.

[cycloneworld]

This is the only guy that makes any sense. Remember, both of those teams (Cinny and Minny) will not play the level of competition we are playing. I could see ISU being 6-1 or 5-2 with those schedules.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. We lost to UNLV who is currently 0-4 in the WAC.

[Tornado man]

It takes alot more than six guys to win. Its the depth that Mac failed to build that is costing us now... The depth that is causing us to play a double didgit amount of freshmen.

I agree - our program under Mac the last three or four years was leaking oil. It was not the same program he had built, and some quality coaches who had left for bigger and better things were not replaced with equal quality.
No one would give 2 cents about Mac now if there was enthusiasm and momentum with the new coaching staff. But there is not.

[DaddyMac]

The one major thing I'm questioning right now is our staff's ability to adjust. 2nd half of KU - it seemed like Mangino was in the huddle with our team. Especially in that 3rd quarter, they exploited us on both sides of the ball. 4th was better.

But then it was the same practically the entire game against Baylor and NU. This week against A&M, we never came close to stopping that post pattern deep across the middle, or the drag route beneath it.

A&M was supposed to be this horrible team on the ropes, just like us - but we made their offense look like last year's Patriots.

I don't know if it's poor adjustments, poor coaching, poor play, we don't have the horses or what. But I would have to think we could've shut down that aspect of their offense, even if it exposed something else.

I like alot of what I'm seeing out of the staff. I think game management, for the most part, is light years ahead of what Mac did. But I don't see the discipline we saw our of Mac's squads - i.e. ALOT of penalties (but it's getting better).

My biggest fear is that Chizik is the anti-Alford. In that the knock on his hairdo-ness was that he couldn't deal with or coach talent (Recker, Evans and the like). That he could do alot with over achievers. I'm wondering if alot of Chizik's press clippings are due to the fact that he was coaching elite level athletes, and won't be able to adjust down the notch he'll have to at ISU.

(and before anyone jumps over me about that, face it - we won't be getting the Texas or Auburn level talent here. At least not in the numbers they do).

[Clonefan94]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. We lost to UNLV who is currently 0-4 in the WAC.

Right, until we can prove we can beat a team from a BCS conference or anyone on the road, I wouldn't suspect we'd do any better with anyone elses schedule.

[ISUFan22]

This is the only guy that makes any sense. Remember, both of those teams (Cinny and Minny) will not play the level of competition we are playing. I could see ISU being 6-1 or 5-2 with those schedules.

Not likely - but possible. Until Chizik extinguishes the "when something goes wrong, we mail it in" attitude, we'd be around .500 with that same schedule.

Our team simply does not respond favorably to bumpy spots in a game. And with a young team - those issues are magnified. We've come close (UNLV, KU) - but the young guys have a tough time believing without seeing.

[isuno1fan]

There are many ridiculous posts in this thread.

Some need to have their heads examined. I won't specify so it can't be called an insult directed at any one person, but cmon folks....think with your head, not your hearts.

[Aclone]

Our team simply does not respond favorably to bumpy spots in a game.

realy. So you missed the whole second half, after A&M scored late in the first to take a big lead?

Or that they came back and scored again, after the onside kick debacle that led to an easy score for A&M?

Or the fact that they came back despite losing the right tackle, Lamaak, for a huge hit in pass protection and leadershiP?

Or how they came back against UNLV?

Or how they came back against KU, missing a late touchdown by six inches?

All of those seem like "bumpy roads in game" to me.

Personally, I would take a "first step" of Chris Brown getting healthy to stabilize the safeties once more, as he did last season. that might be an elusive dream, however.