Biggest Letdown in Cyclone History?

[Acylum]

I think the most disappointing thing was that there was no difference in talent level at all.

 

[Clonehomer]

Not even close. We've been terrible the first game of the year since I can remember. Ultimately, the way the game went I don't see much that can't be fixed. So I'm not ready to throw the season away yet. There's been plenty of openers that I left feeling like it's going to be a long year.

 

[CyCrazy]

I’ll admit I’m definitely a lot younger than most on the board, but this is really the first time in my life I thought Cyclone football might be poised to actually make some noise and compete for a Big 12 title

Lol young buck

 

[Big Buds]

The Cajuns are a top 25 type football team. Just stay the course and handle the BIG12. It’s a “upset” but believe me we would beat a lot of P5 teams.

 

[CyGuy5]

Lol young buck

In hindsight, I should have realized that me having any excitement and hope this team could do something was my first mistake

 

[JM4CY]

Might be the biggest special teams letdown or in contention. Idk why we are not talking more about that.

 

[Cychl82]

This is top 3

 

[Crookedhatkid]

2002 OU game holds this distinction and it isn’t going anywhere for a while.

 

[Cy4Lifer]

Just the sheer repetition of disappointments is what is most disappointing IMO!

 

[hawthorncourt]

I’ll admit I’m definitely a lot younger than most on the board, but this is really the first time in my life I thought Cyclone football might be poised to actually make some noise and compete for a Big 12 title

I remember when all we had to do is kick a field goal to go to the BIG 12 championship game, and missed it. Missourri was still in the conference, think them or nebbie went instead.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Not even top 5. Probably not too 10 and possibly not top 15.

 

[cyatheart]

Are we really sure ISU is that talented?

They're returning a lot of players...but it's from a 7-6 football team in a season where the Big 12 won one bowl game.

Defense is fine but offensively there is a huge talent gap now...very very slow and not uniquely skilled on offense anymore

 

[Rogue52]

Not even Top 10 dude.

 

[cyclonepower]

No don’t think it’s even close, feel like at the end of this season we are just a bad football team

 

[CRcyclone6]

2002 at Oklahoma was a much bigger letdown than this.

 

[Rogue52]

If we completely lay an egg this year in conference, you can classify the 2020 season as a whole in maybe the Top 10.

 

[CysRage]

The Cajuns are a top 25 type football team. Just stay the course and handle the BIG12. It’s a “upset” but believe me we would beat a lot of P5 teams.

This may be true but it's not like both teams played a flawless game and UL was just the better team. We had turnovers, poor tackling, poor coaching, awful special teams. ISU would have lost to a majority of FBS teams today playing the way they did.

 

[Trice]

Not to me. I predicted a loss today. I love Campbell. I honestly do. But, and I’ll get heat for this I’m sure, I don’t think he’s as great as we think. We aren’t beating teams we absolutely should this many years in for him. OT nail biter last year. Almost lost to drake. Today was honestly not even that close. We got owned. He’s a better coach for us than any we’ve had in decades I do think that. But I just am not as high on him as many are. Hope he proves me wrong.

Campbell has moved us up a tier in terms of recruiting and our ability to compete with teams at the top. Very little doubt there. But given that, some of our performances are just inexplicable.

There's not a lot of shame in losing today, if it had been in honorable fashion, like a last-second FG or something. ULL is good. But to just be AWOL like that is just inexcusable. And this happens way, way more often than it should.

 

[IASTATE07]

only a letdown for those with expectations
i was worried about 4 things and 2 of them were absolutely a problem and will be all season, wideouts and 2nd rb, then a third issue i was not worried about at all, special teams cropped up.

I'm not sure how you could have watched Iowa State the last few years and not be worried about special teams.

 

[Tommy Cicero]

Not to me. I predicted a loss today. I love Campbell. I honestly do. But, and I’ll get heat for this I’m sure, I don’t think he’s as great as we think. We aren’t beating teams we absolutely should this many years in for him. OT nail biter last year. Almost lost to drake. Today was honestly not even that close. We got owned. He’s a better coach for us than any we’ve had in decades I do think that. But I just am not as high on him as many are. Hope he proves me wrong.

Campbell hasn’t been able to address the two biggest issues with Iowa State football... bad line play (on both sides) and poor tackling. It’s really that simple. The recruiting for offensive and defensive lineman has not improved and the development hasn’t either.