The fat lady isn't singing yet...

[Yellow Snow]

I'm a glass is half full kind of guy. I can't help it. I'm just wired that way. I'm also really fine with everybody being pissed off about last Thursday night. I was.

This was my first post in the gameday thread... post 55. Before the game even kicked off.

"I just hope that Manning doesn't try to get to cute with play calling and adapts with what works and what doesn't."

Well... that didn't happen.

All of that said.

Last year:
UNI - 20/25 loss
Iowa - 3/42 loss
TCU - 20/41 loss
SJSU - 44/10 WIN

This year:
UNI - 42/24 WIN
Iowa - 41/44 loss
Akron - 41/14 WIN
Texas - 7/17 loss

We are better than we were last year. I believe we have talent on the team that is B12 worthy. We have some really good young guys. We are better. What stings is the fact that we had Iowa on the ropes.

Look at the pre-season prediction thread. 3-1 was probably the optimistic majority opinion. Heck... just beating UNI was a concern. Seriously.

There are wins out there this year. We don't suck.

 

[CycloneErik]

I doubt we go bowling from this point, but I think we'll rebound and look a lot better than last year.

4-5 total wins is still a big step up for a program that went as low as we did.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Blowing the Iowa game bugged me more than the Texas game. We had the Iowa game won and pee'd it away but it never felt like we were going to get a lead in the Texas game let alone get it and hold it.

 

[Yellow Snow]

Blowing the Iowa game bugged me more than the Texas game. We had the Iowa game won and pee'd it away but it never felt like we were going to get a lead in the Texas game let alone get it and hold it.

Exactly how I feel.

But the fact that we have these feelings is because it wasn't 42-3 or 27-7.

We are improving.

 

[Storkenheimer]

Moral victories and Kool Aid for everyone!!

 

[CyCloned]

Blowing the Iowa game bugged me more than the Texas game. We had the Iowa game won and pee'd it away but it never felt like we were going to get a lead in the Texas game let alone get it and hold it.

As badly as we played, there was still some very close plays that didn't go our way that could have allowed ISU to steal the game. The kickoff fumble at the 5 could have changed the entire game. The stupid unsportsmanlike penalty was a killer too.

Poor coaching was the biggest correctable thing, that and getting Park to settle down. Again, I am confused why a coach would see his QB struggling and continue to put it all on him to win the game. Especially when there is a great running back that you are using for pass protection.

Not going to give up on this team, but they are going to have to get a lot better to get to a bowl game. The one thing they have going for them is that they get the annual pounding from the Sooners out of the way quickly. There really isn't another team in the conference that looks scary to me. Unfortunately, the 3 teams that seemed like easy wins are showing a pulse at this time, but if you can't beat the worst teams in you conference, then bowl games are a pipe dream.

 

[Rural]

As badly as we played, there was still some very close plays that didn't go our way that could have allowed ISU to steal the game. The kickoff fumble at the 5 could have changed the entire game. The stupid unsportsmanlike penalty was a killer too.

Poor coaching was the biggest correctable thing, that and getting Park to settle down. Again, I am confused why a coach would see his QB struggling and continue to put it all on him to win the game. Especially when there is a great running back that you are using for pass protection.

Not going to give up on this team, but they are going to have to get a lot better to get to a bowl game. The one thing they have going for them is that they get the annual pounding from the Sooners out of the way quickly. There really isn't another team in the conference that looks scary to me. Unfortunately, the 3 teams that seemed like easy wins are showing a pulse at this time, but if you can't beat the worst teams in you conference, then bowl games are a pipe dream.

Only the ultimate here we go again trendsetter, other then that didn't mean anything.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Exactly how I feel.

But the fact that we have these feelings is because it wasn't 42-3 or 27-7.

We are improving.

I am open at this point to either being optimistic or pessimistic, depending on how the next few games after the Sooners go. Unless we are insanely good at Norman I'm just going to toss that out as not a real good indicator. Haven't been down to a game in a few years but leaning towards making a homecoming run this fall.

 

[CyCloned]

Only the ultimate here we go again trendsetter, other then that didn't mean anything.

But that kind of stuff affects the team and the fans. There are very few times that ISU has given up that first 1st down that they have been able to stop the other team on downs later in the drive this year.

 

[kentkel]

If we could somehow upset OU, that would completely take away the sting of the EIU and UT games. I know - ain't gonna happen - but I would immediately forget those two losses if we pulled off the upset.

 

[Tornado man]

I'm a glass is half full kind of guy. I can't help it. I'm just wired that way. I'm also really fine with everybody being pissed off about last Thursday night. I was.

This was my first post in the gameday thread... post 55. Before the game even kicked off.

"I just hope that Manning doesn't try to get to cute with play calling and adapts with what works and what doesn't."

Well... that didn't happen.

All of that said.

Last year:
UNI - 20/25 loss
Iowa - 3/42 loss
TCU - 20/41 loss
SJSU - 44/10 WIN

This year:
UNI - 42/24 WIN
Iowa - 41/44 loss
Akron - 41/14 WIN
Texas - 7/17 loss

We are better than we were last year. I believe we have talent on the team that is B12 worthy. We have some really good young guys. We are better. What stings is the fact that we had Iowa on the ropes.

Look at the pre-season prediction thread. 3-1 was probably the optimistic majority opinion. Heck... just beating UNI was a concern. Seriously.

There are wins out there this year. We don't suck.

No problem with your view - props to ya. The entire season will tell the tale.
But I see Purdue looking instantly much better than last year, and this is Brohm's first season. And he has less to work with than Campbell.

 

[jdoggivjc]

Moral victories and Kool Aid for everyone!!

Yup. Can't discuss how the team has improved since last year. If you don't win, you suck, end of discussion.

 

[Bryce7]

OU, OSU, TCU, KSU will get us to six losses. Have to win the rest.

 

[jdoggivjc]

OU, OSU, TCU, KSU will get us to six losses. Have to win the rest.

Likely, but not sold. Either TT is legitimate and we're screwed either way, or OSU is a fraud - and we almost beat them at their house last year.

As far as K-State, they lost to freaking Vanderbilt and didn't have an easy time with Baylor, not to mention 9 of the last 10 years we've been within one score of them. Not ready to put that in the L column yet.

 

[CyCloned]

As far as K-State, they lost to freaking Vanderbilt and didn't have an easy time with Baylor, not to mention 9 of the last 10 years we've been within one score of them. Not ready to put that in the L column yet.[/QUOTE]

At this point in time all you can do is look for progress, and team improvement. Beating KSU would be a great start, as somehow ISU has mystically found ways to lose to those guys over the last decade. After the Iowa game, this is the one I would really like to see ISU win, even if it is on a fluke play that breaks the curse.

 

[HGoat]

Baylor appears to be improving rapidly as the season goes on. I'm not comfortable counting that as a victory for us, especially on the road.

At this point, I think we can beat everybody on on our schedule outside of OU (spoiler alert, we won't) but we could also lose to everyone remaining on our schedule outside of KU.

I'm really down on this team after thursday. It was a huge opportunity to showcase our program on a national stage, and we **** the bed. I think 4-8 is most likely and 5-7 is optimistic. Regardless, I'll be at the rest of the home games crushing busch light and screaming in the stands, like always.

 

[norcalcy]

I think the defense we saw Thursday could keep us competitive with anyone. It amazes me that D line development is ahead of O line development, but that seems to be the case. Until the O line takes a step or two forward, I think it's going to be a struggle. Having said that, Manning and Campbell are prideful, competitive people who intend to make a name for themselves in the coaching business. I don't think they are going to just "collect paychecks" at Iowa State and retire in their 40's. I expect to see us compete with Oklahoma Saturday. Probably not enough to hang with them for four quarters, but not embarrassing either.

My group had a great time at the Texas game in spite of the crappy outcome. There's nothing better than seeing 50,000+ people decked out in Cardinal and Gold. Props to the fans who continue to show up and create an amazing atmosphere for a program that is 8-21 AT HOME since its last bowl appearance. When this thing gets turned around, it's going to be great.

 

[awd4cy]

Yes we are better than we were last September. Hard for anyone to convince me we are a better than last October or November though. I'm hoping we make a jump again this month like we did last year at this time.

 

[cyclones500]

So far, we know this:
* No losses to bad teams
* No good wins.

 

[hoosman]

Add Iowa to the list for 4th quarter blown leads. UNI, KSU, BU, OSU, EIU. That's what bothers me the most.