Did the high expectations kill this season?

[cyhiphopp]

I am as frustrated as anybody and I want as all you and the team, coaches and players are definitely frustrated. But is it that the teams are better prepared because it is Iowa State, is it that we are shooting ourselves in the foot, combinations of both, we are so uptight with trying to force things that we are playing right into their hands. Would love a discussion in a more positive light instead of fire this person, get rid of that person and how we need to fix this. As of now I see this team losing to Ok State, Texas, and Oklahoma for sure with a record 7-5. Not what we expected we know but will still support this team. Again thoughts..

Late to the party, but to answer the original question, "Did high expectations kill the season?"

In my opinion, no, they did not.

To come to this conclusion I had to ask if the high expectations in and of themselves are what has caused the disappointment. To me that's also a no.

We imploded on offense against Iowa and lost. Even if we were expecting an 8-4 season coming into the year, that would still have been just as disappointing considering how we lost it.

We imploded on special teams against Baylor and lost. That game is a win if we just have underwhelming special teams and not disastrous. Also has nothing to do with expectations.

We can still salvage a great season, but it will require a lot of work by the team. The expectations have nothing to do with it.

In summation:
If we were expecting just an 8-4 season this year, we would still be disappointed with a 2-2 start. So the expectations didn't ruin anything. The performance so far has.

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

ISU's game @ 'Vegas was great for the fans, but comes at a cost
~ travel day, then post-game, players get in at 6am to Ames Sunday morning >>a practice day/prep is burned
~ turnaround and travel to god-forsaken Waco--another practice day/prep is burned
~ ISU home & home series w/ UNVL and others--gives us only 6 home games/season which drives me crazy
~ The last two Saturdays--Trice is empty w/ perfect weather

Ca

 

[StPaulCyclone]

Didn’t CMC have the highest rated kicker/punter signed, but then he flipped to Colorado. This is the process, but this wasn’t the plan.

 

[quasistellar]

Didn’t CMC have the highest rated kicker/punter signed, but then he flipped to Colorado. This is the process, but this wasn’t the plan.

Yes he did, but he should have pulled Dunn from punting duties far sooner, or never allowed him to punt at all.

 

[t-noah]

I am as frustrated as anybody and I want as all you and the team, coaches and players are definitely frustrated. But is it that the teams are better prepared because it is Iowa State, is it that we are shooting ourselves in the foot, combinations of both, we are so uptight with trying to force things that we are playing right into their hands. Would love a discussion in a more positive light instead of fire this person, get rid of that person and how we need to fix this. As of now I see this team losing to Ok State, Texas, and Oklahoma for sure with a record 7-5. Not what we expected we know but will still support this team. Again thoughts..

Did the high expectations kill this season?
Yes, but not really. We ain't dead yet, but a couple of hard shots to the neural command center, ala Joe Frazier/Ali. I can't really remember what happened last Saturday? Somebody fill me in?

 

[tolfbfan]

and thus far he does not seem like he's just chasing the money because he would have left by now

I am 100% certain that money will never drive or even be important in his decision making process.

 

[JM4CY]

I am 100% certain that money will never drive or even be important in his decision making process.

If tolfbfan has a take like this, then it's very very likely true. (I am not being sarcastic)

 

[stewart092284]

That actually has me more scared than anything. I think without Heacock the last few years are 6-6 or sub .500 type years. The defense has been carrying the offense for a while now. Sure, the O has moments, but the D has had to save their (and ST) ass time and time again.

Agree, this is probably my fear which - logically, even if dreams come true and Campbell stays for 15-20 years or more - Heacock will likely retire at some point in that time frame if not possibly sooner.

And I don't know who, if any on staff would be the logical successor? Usually its a DB or LB's coach. I love what coach Rasheed has done with the Defensive Line - especially considering there is only 3 of them generally on the field to get the production and depth out of that unit has been amazing -

but you just don't generally see a lot of Defensive line coordinator's. Veidt? He might be the logical in-house candidate as of now or maybe Caponi? Unless it was a out of house hire. Love Deon, loved him as a player too but he'd seem a bit young potentially for that role.

 

[AuH2O]

Campbell teams lose in the margins.

I think the thing this staff has really done is rather than making us good at details, is that they've brought in a whole step up in talent from what we've seen before. We're absolute dog **** at the little details, but for the first time ever we have more talent than most of the teams we play. Which is a HUGE credit to this staff, it's just not the thing they preach or get credit for.

I guess it's the good and bad, and to me mostly good. The big difference between the Campbell era and past eras is ISU can have a really sloppy game, lose the TO margin, and still win and compete against top 10 teams. That idea would've seemed crazy a few years ago.

So the sloppiness and ST mess are very frustrating. It's especially frustrating costing a team that started the season in the top 10 two games already. But let's not forget the staggering elevation in talent, depth, and the ability to hang in games when not bringing their A or even B game.

 

[Klubber]

I just simply don’t think we are as good as we thought. Last year was fun, but we judged this team too much on a pandemic year that wasn’t even close to normal. At times last year we faced a team like KSU who was barely able to field a team with how many guys sat out. Glad we beat Oregon to cap off the year, but they were 4-2 and lost to Cal and Oregon State. Currently this team is on track for this year to play out similar to 2019.

Yeah, sorry but this "great season due to the pandemic last year" argument just doesn't hold water.

Where do you get that KSU was barely able to field a team? That's not my memory at all from that game or any of the others either.

And BTW, the KSU game was a blowout as was the WV game. Both were supposed to be close and many pundits had WV upsetting us in that one.

We made plays during crunch time last year. We are not making those plays thus far this season. It's really just that simple. COVID did not magically help us but hurt all the other Big XII teams. And yes, we handled that situation better than a lot of teams because we have a great coach. OU handled it well too FWIW.

 

[awd4cy]

Yeah, sorry but this "great season due to the pandemic last year" argument just doesn't hold water.

Where do you get that KSU was barely able to field a team? That's not my memory at all from that game or any of the others either.

And BTW, the KSU game was a blowout as was the WV game. Both were supposed to be close and many pundits had WV upsetting us in that one.

We made plays during crunch time last year. We are not making those plays thus far this season. It's really just that simple. COVID did not magically help us but hurt all the other Big XII teams. And yes, we handled that situation better than a lot of teams because we have a great coach. OU handled it well too FWIW.

Our game last year against KSU was nearly cancelled because KSU had so many players out due to injuries and covid.

Also, I’m gonna have to disagree with you. Covid did affect teams differently. Some programs were much better at handling it than others. A lot of weeks last year the headline was whos out this week because of covid? Sorry, but it was far from a normal season.

 

[Klubber]

Our game last year against KSU was nearly cancelled because KSU had so many players out due to injuries and covid.

Also, I’m gonna have to disagree with you. Covid did affect teams differently. Some programs were much better at handling it than others. A lot of weeks last year the headline was whos out this week because of covid? Sorry, but it was far from a normal season.

None of our games last season were won or lost 'cause of COVID. We beat teams with our on-the-field play, period. K-State down a couple of starters on D didn't swing the game by 6 TD's.

Why diminish what was a great, memorable season? I don't get why fans do that.

As for this year? There's a lot of season left, and nobody knows how it's all going to shake out. I remain optimistic.

 

[NWICY]

If ISU wants to be the football standard-bearer for the the Big 12, which is now a position that needs to be filled due to the impending departure of OU, then results have to start being a focus. The media basically put ISU in the position to take this role this season, and the team has so far wet the bed with poor offensive/special teams performances against UNI, Iowa, and BU, resulting in two losses. It's not a good look, and good looks matter now with the impending renegotiation of TV deals.

What happens if ISU wins out this year? That would likely eliminate the Big 12 from any chance to be in the CFP, because 2-loss teams from the Big 12 don't go to the CFP. So yes, process-wise ISU can have still have a great season, but it doesn't really help the Big 12, and the Big 12 money pays ISU's AD bills. ISU doesn't exist in a vacuum. ISU needs to start representing well in the pre-conference games.

In any case, a process that in year six results in mediocre special teams and an offense that struggles to score TDs is concerning in its own right.

Shortsighted I know but I'll take the money cut to beat OU and Tx in their last yr of being in the B12.

 

[madguy30]

None of our games last season were won or lost 'cause of COVID. We beat teams with our on-the-field play, period. K-State down a couple of starters on D didn't swing the game by 6 TD's.

Why diminish what was a great, memorable season? I don't get why fans do that.

As for this year? There's a lot of season left, and nobody knows how it's all going to shake out. I remain optimistic.

WV's game vs. ISU was after their Covid break.

Oregon was in the Fiesta Bowl because of Covid.

It made a difference and influenced ISU's record. ISU also played some nice complimentary football which they really haven't this season.

 

[TruClone]

Season isn't dead yet. This team always plays poorly in September, only to flip a switch in October and play like a completely different team. We literally had a similar conversation last year. In other words, talk to me after Columbus Day.

Haven't read past this post. Hopefully we will be 3-2 as we don't play next weekend. Kansas will not give us much of an indication of how October will play out.

 

[TruClone]

Didn’t CMC have the highest rated kicker/punter signed, but then he flipped to Colorado. This is the process, but this wasn’t the plan.

He is a kicker, not a punter.

 

[Klubber]

WV's game vs. ISU was after their Covid break.

Oregon was in the Fiesta Bowl because of Covid.

It made a difference and influenced ISU's record. ISU also played some nice complimentary football which they really haven't this season.

After a break, which is like a bye week. So they had more time to prepare and heal up before they played us. How exactly is that a hindrance?

The line on that game was close. I think we were like a 4 - 6 point favorite. And as I said, it was a trendy upset pick in Vegas. So, apparently they didn't feel WV was decimated, nor did the pundits who all thought it would be a close, potential upset for WV.

Oregon getting to the Fiesta because of UW's situation has no bearing on that game either. If anything, Oregon was the better team from the PAC. They're proving that this season.

 

[deadeyededric]

If ISU would have went to Iowa last year they would have gotten beat and we wouldn't have even been invited to the Fiesta Bowl to play a very average Oregon team.

 

[madguy30]

After a break, which is like a bye week. So they had more time to prepare and heal up before they played us. How exactly is that a hindrance?

The line on that game was close. I thinks we were like a 4 - 6 point favorite. And as I said, it was a trendy upset pick in Vegas. So, apparently they didn't feel WV was decimated, nor did the pundits who all thought it would be a close, potential upset for WV.

Oregon getting to the Fiesta because of UW's situation has no bearing on that game either. If anything, Oregon was the better team from the PAC. They're proving that this season.

ISU's rhythm was a big reason they did what they did last year. Give them a 3 week break from games and see how it goes.

 

[SeaClone]

I am as frustrated as anybody and I want as all you and the team, coaches and players are definitely frustrated. But is it that the teams are better prepared because it is Iowa State, is it that we are shooting ourselves in the foot, combinations of both, we are so uptight with trying to force things that we are playing right into their hands. Would love a discussion in a more positive light instead of fire this person, get rid of that person and how we need to fix this. As of now I see this team losing to Ok State, Texas, and Oklahoma for sure with a record 7-5. Not what we expected we know but will still support this team. Again thoughts..

If a few close games hadn’t bounced our way last year, we could have easily went 7-5. It’s why I said a few times before the season started that we needed to take a step back. It was frustrating to see so many act like Nebraska fans based on a couple of decent seasons. Some wanted to call us a top ten program and talk down other members of the conference during realignment based on our one good season. It’s not a good look.