Coaching: Does the road to a national title go through Ames?

[saf]

Did you hear his dad's comments about that?

Care to elaborate for those of us who haven't heard it?

[cyclonesurveyor]

Actually, it was the late 80's. Jimmy's not THAT old.

I wouldn't make too much of it. The coaching profession is a nomadic one. There are many great coaches who've had stops at much more obscure places than Ames. Just by the sheer number that have come thru over the years, there had to be at least a few successful ones, right?

Wasn't jimmy winning a NC at the U?

[usedcarguy]

It actually was the late 60's. Jimmy was one of the outstanding young assistants on Johnny Majors staff.

My bad, I was thinking of John Fox.

[kingcy]

Care to elaborate for those of us who haven't heard it?

He sorta dodged the destenation job question. Said he would honor his current 5 year contact, but going 6-6 wont be good enough for Paul. Thought this is a tough job and time will tell what happens. IMO he wants to win on a reguar basis, and if he cannot do that year in year out at ISU he may look somewhere else years down the road.

[nj829]

He sorta dodged the destenation job question. Said he would honor his current 5 year contact, but going 6-6 wont be good enough for Paul. Thought this is a tough job and time will tell what happens. IMO he wants to win on a reguar basis, and if he cannot do that year in year out at ISU he may look somewhere else years down the road.

We as fans should expect the same as well, if he isn't taking us to the next level and winning, then it will be time to move on. Cecil said the same thing on the KXNO show before the game on Thursday, he'll be here for the length of the contract, but it's hard to win at ISU. I would think CPR knows that and wants nothing more than to change the culture and not have to leave to greener pastures, but you never know...

[cyclonenum1]

We as fans should expect the same as well, if he isn't taking us to the next level and winning, then it will be time to move on. Cecil said the same thing on the KXNO show before the game on Thursday, he'll be here for the length of the contract, but it's hard to win at ISU. I would think CPR knows that and wants nothing more than to change the culture and not have to leave to greener pastures, but you never know...

Precisely...I expect us to win on a regular basis. If our coach can't make that happen then we need to find one that can...even if the current coach "loves ISU". I was impressed with Rhoads this season but I am certainly not ready to see us hand out a long/big extension based upon one season. LSU did that with Miles and they are starting to regret it.

We already tried hanging on too long with one coach that purportedly "loved ISU" and it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I never want to see that scenario again.

Go ask WVU about a "dream / destination job"...Rodriguez was actually an alum of WVU and he left them.

Again, coaching tenures are typically 5-10 years no matter what the coach is doing (winning big, winning a little, losing a little, or losing big). Like I have said before...guys like Spurrier and Devaney were at Florida and NU respectively for only 12 and 11 years respectively and they were winning National Championships.

[Madclone1]

I think in general, ISU coaching staff has consistently been good to great. It goes to show how hard it is to win in Ames.

It is hard to win at Ames? How hard would it be if Majors or Bruce had stayed?

Bowden came within an eyelash of becoming head coach at ISU . . and at the last minute took the HC job at a "back water" school . . Florida State.

So rather than repeating the same old Iowa media propaganda . . .think what might be if CPR stays.

Just wanted to clarify. Thanks.

[flyhighcy]

Well here's the pattern so far:

1. Assistant coach at iowa state
2. Take a job at another school
3. Become head coach
4. Win national title

Paul Rhoads:
1. check
2. check
3. check
4. ??

Coach roads is a great guy. But he can't spin straw into gold. Iowa State national title? Now thats really really funny..

[flyhighcy]

It is hard to win at Ames? How hard would it be if Majors or Bruce had stayed?

Bowden came within an eyelash of becoming head coach at ISU . . and at the last minute took the HC job at a "back water" school . . Florida State.

So rather than repeating the same old Iowa media propaganda . . .think what might be if CPR stays.

Just wanted to clarify. Thanks.

If Majors/bruce or bowden stayed at Ames..NOBODY would know who they are.
Remember you are Iowa State..the football coaching graveyard. NO MONEY+tiny fanbase+no tradition= No success at ever becoming a football school.

[MNCyGuy]

Coach roads is a great guy. But he can't spin straw into gold. Iowa State national title? Now thats really really funny..

Seriously? Today? I usually brush you guys off, but you just won the Orange Bowl. Go enjoy that.

[Knownothing]

Bob Stoops lived in Iowa. Never a Cyclone coach though.

[RotatingColumn]

If Majors/bruce or bowden stayed at Ames..NOBODY would know who they are.
Remember you are Iowa State..the football coaching graveyard. NO MONEY+tiny fanbase+no tradition= No success at ever becoming a football school.

Hock fan displaying his football knowledge. Everyone knows all great football programs just started out that way. None of them were ever bad at any point in their history.

[cyhiphopp]

I really like Paul Rhoads. I think he is a great fit for Iowa State and I hope he has success and stick around for a while. That said, I am not going to expect him to stay at ISU until he retires. There are so many variables that can affect the situation.

If he continues to have success there is a good chance that a bigger school, with more money and tradition, will come calling. ISU is not an easy job, nor do we have enough money to keep the wolves at bay indeffinitely. If, in a few more years, CPR feels like he wants to do more than keeping ISU bowl eligible 3 out of every 4 years, he may decide to move on.

Another scenario is that, if we continue to have sucess both on the field and recruiting, there is a chance that another school comes after our assistant coaches. CPRs Iowa roots may keep him at ISU longer than most coaches, but I have a feeling Tom Herman wants to be a head coach at some point. If so, moving to a power school as an OC is a great resume builder. We may also lose any of our other assistant coaches, especially Ash. If we do lose one or more assitant coaches, that could have a really big effect on our success at ISU. Dan McCarney started having real issues when he had to replace assistant coaches. If CPR misses on his replacement assistants, that could be a real setback.

What happens if the next two years of really tough schedules kills all forward momentum? 7-6 followed by consecutive losing seasons could really hurt the progress of the program.

My point is that anything can happen. I am not counting on CPR being here for 15 years and winning Big12 championships.

However, I sincerely doubt we will get Chiziked again. Winning 5 games in two years does not get you a promotion 99% of the time. CPR seems to actually care about ISU and if he leaves for greener pastures, I think he leaves us in better shape than Eugene did.

[JUKEBOX]

If Majors/bruce or bowden stayed at Ames..NOBODY would know who they are.
Remember you are Iowa State..the football coaching graveyard. NO MONEY+tiny fanbase+no tradition= No success at ever becoming a football school.

You're a ******. Every school was not always a powerhouse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_...ami_Hurricanes
Bob Devaney - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Cydkar]

It is hard to win at Ames? How hard would it be if Majors or Bruce had stayed?

Bowden came within an eyelash of becoming head coach at ISU . . and at the last minute took the HC job at a "back water" school . . Florida State.

So rather than repeating the same old Iowa media propaganda . . .think what might be if CPR stays.

Just wanted to clarify. Thanks.

It's hard to win in Ames no matter who is the coach. This can't be argued. It can be done but it won't be anyhting but hard.