Public opinion of Coach Rhoads

**RotatingColumn** · 01-10-2009, 11:44 AM

We'll fall in love with Rhoads after he goes 7-5. Then after five 7-5 seasons we'll decide he can't get it done. At that time we'll type his name "Rodes" on the message board.

**Bobber** · 01-10-2009, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by unionized45

come on anyone that is a fan of ISU knows that Pollard is an idiot he fired a coach that wanted to be here (Big Mac) and that took us too bowl game after bowl game!!!!!!! Lower tier bowls at best...And last two years were lousy...Come on, I liked Mac too, but it was time for an upgrade...Then too see the ISU iowa game had to be a season ticket holder lol give me a break!!!!!Which was nearly sold out and made the athletic department a lot of money.. Very smart decision. what has he done for our team since he has been here will someone please telll me because i have no idea so i hope someone will fill me in on it Upgraded football stadium, New basketball facility, the department is in the black and not in the red....

**CycloneErik** · 01-10-2009, 11:51 AM

Don't forget the huge increase in the athletic budget.

**Wesley** · 01-10-2009, 11:54 AM

Gene's biggest contribution to the program was new USC uniforms.

**Swanson10** · 01-10-2009, 11:55 AM

+1 to Bobber

**MontyBurns** · 01-10-2009, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

I sensed the same thing. What confuses me is why Jamie didn't pick up on this during his interviews with Chizik prior to hiring him. He looked reluctant even at the intro/pep rally at Hilton.

Probably because Jamie doesn't know what he is doing.

There was nothing more pathetic than his press conference where he threw Chizik under the bus after Gene's departure. I just wish one of the reporters would have had to stones to remind Jamie that he was the one who found Chizik and sold him to us as our football savior in the first place.

**CyCloned** · 01-10-2009, 12:32 PM

I think it is fair to blame JP for GC leaving. JP honestly thought GC was the guy for the job, and even though he didn't set the world on fire, I still thing he was heading in the right direction. GC made a couple of bad hires at coordinator and he knew it. It looked like he was going to make changes and carry on at ISU. I really can't imagine what the Auburn guys were thinking by hiring GC, but he was smart to take the job. JP was very upset about GC leaving, not because the guyu took a better job, but because GC told him that he was staying. If there is one think GC talk about the most it was having character, and he showed very little.

PR has a tough job ahead of him, but it feels like there is a least some young talent to build a team with.

**Bobber** · 01-10-2009, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by CyCloned

I think it is fair to blame JP for GC leaving. JP honestly thought GC was the guy for the job, and even though he didn't set the world on fire, I still thing he was heading in the right direction. GC made a couple of bad hires at coordinator and he knew it. It looked like he was going to make changes and carry on at ISU. I really can't imagine what the Auburn guys were thinking by hiring GC, but he was smart to take the job. JP was very upset about GC leaving, not because the guyu took a better job, but because GC told him that he was staying. If there is one think GC talk about the most it was having character, and he showed very little.

PR has a tough job ahead of him, but it feels like there is a least some young talent to build a team with.

Jamie made a great hire two years ago(on paper at least). He was as dissapointed as the rest of us when Gene left so soon. I have no problem with a A.D. who shows a little emotion.

Jamie has the "stones" to make decisions. I like that about him and I also know that not everything is going to go fine. If ISU keeps doing things the same as it always as, we'll get back what we've always gotten(not much). JP's changing that culture and I support it.

**CYKOFAN** · 01-10-2009, 12:48 PM

I like JP's emotion and he seems to have passion for ISU, but it scares me that he would offer Chiz another two years on his contract after what we saw on the football field this year. I don't think JP knows much about football or basketball, but I think he just may have found a gem in Rhodes (or maybe Rhodes found JP when he made it a point to meet him several years ago). Obviously JP's future is linked to Rhodes, and time will tell, but I'm optimistic.

**Tornado man** · 01-10-2009, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

I like JP's emotion and he seems to have passion for ISU, but it scares me that he would offer Chiz another two years on his contract after what we saw on the football field this year.

Beat me to it. Not to mention we found out first from Gene and Auburn, and Jamie had to confirm it...

**kingcy** · 01-10-2009, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

Probably because Jamie doesn't know what he is doing.

There was nothing more pathetic than his press conference where he threw Chizik under the bus after Gene's departure. I just wish one of the reporters would have had to stones to remind Jamie that he was the one who found Chizik and sold him to us as our football savior in the first place.

So its JPs fault he hired the hot name at the time to be ISU's FB coach. A guy that most thought was to good to want to come to ISU. How was JP to know you couldnt trust the guy? Sure JP took a risk hiring GC, because he knew once the program got turned around GC was gone. But he figured GC would get it turned around before he left, leaving ISU in a better place. I mean how often does a 5-19 coach get a different job? I do think ISU FB is in a better place from a talent standpoint thanks to GC. The way I look at it GC was here keeping things going, getting talent, so PR could get more experence and get his ducks in order, so he could become the true coach that leads ISU FB to bigger and better days.

**Wesley** · 01-10-2009, 12:57 PM

Looks like we have our own stimulus package this year: We are going to rebuild better Rhoads at Ames to fix those cavernous Chizholes in the pavement.

**CyinCo** · 01-10-2009, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Jamie made a great hire two years ago(on paper at least). He was as dissapointed as the rest of us when Gene left so soon. I have no problem with a A.D. who shows a little emotion.

Jamie has the "stones" to make decisions. I like that about him and I also know that not everything is going to go fine. If ISU keeps doing things the same as it always as, we'll get back what we've always gotten(not much). JP's changing that culture and I support it.

When somone you trust based on all the others you have talked to about his character and integrity, etc. decides to pull the rug out from under you, exactly how is that your fault? The other option is to trust no one. I believe JP had every reason to trust what Chizik had told him. He came to ISU with a pedigree. But to do what Chizik did is slimy and completely self serving.

So A) I don't see how that is JP's fault
and B) Chizik had no history that would have lead one to believe he would pull something like this.

Hindsight is 20/20 and I think it is laughable how many now think that this was a bad decision. JP was declared a god by most when he landed Chizik. Now we have a large segement of fans saying "I can't believe he let Kelly get away". Wow. And for the record, JP even said he would hire Chizik again given the same situation. 100 times of 100 times, he would have done the same thing.

**CyinCo** · 01-10-2009, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

I like JP's emotion and he seems to have passion for ISU, but it scares me that he would offer Chiz another two years on his contract after what we saw on the football field this year. I don't think JP knows much about football or basketball, but I think he just may have found a gem in Rhodes (or maybe Rhodes found JP when he made it a point to meet him several years ago). Obviously JP's future is linked to Rhodes, and time will tell, but I'm optimistic.

We don't know what the fine print was with this extention. JP may have been given the short list of OCs and DCs and Chizik may have earned himself the extention. Certainly, 2 years wasn't enough and given the changes Chiz was making, things could have gotten better. So if you are the AD, you give the guy a 2 year extention. This really isn't that long of an extention and recruits at least know their coach isn't on the hot seat.

**Wesley** · 01-10-2009, 01:12 PM

Originally Posted by CyinCo

When somone you trust based on all the others you have talked to about his character and integrity, etc. decides to pull the rug out from under you, exactly how is that your fault? The other option is to trust no one. I believe JP had every reason to trust what Chizik had told him. He came to ISU with a pedigree. But to do what Chizik did is slimy and completely self serving.

So A) I don't see how that is JP's fault
and B) Chizik had no history that would have lead one to believe he would pull something like this.

Hindsight is 20/20 and I think it is laughable how many now think that this was a bad decision. JP was declared a god by most when he landed Chizik. Now we have a large segement of fans saying "I can't believe he let Kelly get away". Wow. And for the record, JP even said he would hire Chizik again given the same situation. 100 times of 100 times, he would have done the same thing.

Good point. When you hire a person who went undefeated as a DC at two championship schools, you expect mopre than an 18 month effort from here. That would be the normal AD thought. You are paying him a million and you did let him hire his good buddies. You know he does not smile much, but you believe he has true passion about winning. You just do not think you are being used like a Muslim prayer rug. You do not expect that he can just quit like the next train to Clarksville is leaving soon. You do not think he so soon uses you for his next great job hop. Sometimes you gamble on people and you lose. These people usually move back to their roots at the drop of a hat. Gene must have real roots in Alabama. Our coach has Nevada roots.