BLUM: Paul Rhoads deserves another climb

GWad

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Aug 22, 2013
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I would approve of this. He'd have to hire a perfect staff, but he'd be cheap and knows how to do something different.
Hire the most highly respected high school football coaches in Texas, Florida and California as a start.
 

Clonefan32

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Nov 19, 2008
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So if part of my job entails hiring competent staff and recruiting solid players, and I've had multiple failures at this over the course of my career, I should get one more year because we had bad staff and under-qualified players. To do what? More of the same?

I guess I'm in the "I don't get it crowd."

Exactly. I can stomach him having another year. I really can. I understand financially it might make the most sense. I also understand the pieces are there next year for a "make-or-break" year.

The thing I can't comprehend is rationalizing it any other way than "meh, what's another year hurt, and we can't afford to buy him out anyway." I don't like JP's comments about being "closer than we are far away". We aren't closer to anything but the bottom. We have been absolutely pathetic the last two years. I also can't support blaming it on the very people CPR employs. "Well, Messingham was a bad hire, and Klenakis, and we lack depth, and we've had some bad years of recruiting." That literally list literally encompasses a failure in some of CPR's most important duties-- hiring and overseeing a staff and bringing in good players.

Again, if he gets another year, fine. But people need to quit with the "rah-rah", we're only a few missteps away from being a good program crap.
 

Aclone

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Dec 14, 2007
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So if part of my job entails hiring competent staff and recruiting solid players, and I've had multiple failures at this over the course of my career, I should get one more year because we had bad staff and under-qualified players. To do what? More of the same?

I guess I'm in the "I don't get it crowd."

Just because several members of the staff have been vilified and served up as scapegoats, doesn't make them "incompetent". Matter of fact, considering that the offense hasn't changed much over the course of three different OC's, pertty much proves that the OC wasn't the problem.

And as far as recruiting, it's pretty well documented not only how the struglles of the Big 12 affected recruiting. but how the last two or three classes have been much improved. That is the reason CPR deserves another shot.

That doesn't even factor in the rash of injuries and defections, which have similarly affected other programs (TCU '13, OKState '14, Missouri '12, as some few examples) in similar manners. Some factor's are simply beyond a coaches' control.

I guess everyone has a right to their own opinion.
 

brentblum

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Thanks for writing!

Can you punch up another one with names left blank? **** is hitting the fan here at work and I just might need something to email the boss

Ha! I should start a business.
 

ISUKyro

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Oct 28, 2006
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Ok, just one more climb. But if it ends like this I say no more climbs!
[video=youtube;75mhgg-kee4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75mhgg-kee4[/video]
 

DiehardClone

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Jan 29, 2014
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Exactly. I can stomach him having another year. I really can. I understand financially it might make the most sense. I also understand the pieces are there next year for a "make-or-break" year.

The thing I can't comprehend is rationalizing it any other way than "meh, what's another year hurt, and we can't afford to buy him out anyway." I don't like JP's comments about being "closer than we are far away". We aren't closer to anything but the bottom. We have been absolutely pathetic the last two years. I also can't support blaming it on the very people CPR employs. "Well, Messingham was a bad hire, and Klenakis, and we lack depth, and we've had some bad years of recruiting." That literally list literally encompasses a failure in some of CPR's most important duties-- hiring and overseeing a staff and bringing in good players.

Again, if he gets another year, fine. But people need to quit with the "rah-rah", we're only a few missteps away from being a good program crap.

I'm sorry but this doesn't make any sense. I will give you a lot of credit, you are one of the few in the Fire Him Now contingent who are willing to openly acknowledge that this is not an easy call, reasonable minds can disagree, etc. At least I think you're acknowledging that.

But if I'm understanding you correctly, you want Pollard to essentially say, "We're sticking with Rhoads because we don't have any better options. He sucks and our program is in the gutter. But we're gonna give him one more chance, even though there's no way we'll be any better next year and we're just prolonging the agony."
 

Clonefan32

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Nov 19, 2008
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I'm sorry but this doesn't make any sense. I will give you a lot of credit, you are one of the few in the Fire Him Now contingent who are willing to openly acknowledge that this is not an easy call, reasonable minds can disagree, etc. At least I think you're acknowledging that.

But if I'm understanding you correctly, you want Pollard to essentially say, "We're sticking with Rhoads because we don't have any better options. He sucks and our program is in the gutter. But we're gonna give him one more chance, even though there's no way we'll be any better next year and we're just prolonging the agony."

I expect Pollard to say I understand it's been a difficult year, and I don't blame people for being mad, but I believe CPR is the right man for the job. That I can handle. It's all this "climb the mountain" "closer than we are far away" crap that just is the wrong tone right now. We got run up and down the field by BU and OU. We lost to lowly Kansas. We lost to an FCS team. TCU is going to do the type of things to us I wouldn't even wish on Iowa.

I get he should get another year, and really it comes down to finances and giving him another year with Mangino, but it's time to call a spade-a-spade a little bit. This "rah-rah" crap just wont play well with this fan base, now with what we've endured the last 2 years.
 

aeroclone

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Oct 30, 2006
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Just because several members of the staff have been vilified and served up as scapegoats, doesn't make them "incompetent". Matter of fact, considering that the offense hasn't changed much over the course of three different OC's, pertty much proves that the OC wasn't the problem.

And as far as recruiting, it's pretty well documented not only how the struglles of the Big 12 affected recruiting. but how the last two or three classes have been much improved. That is the reason CPR deserves another shot.

That doesn't even factor in the rash of injuries and defections, which have similarly affected other programs (TCU '13, OKState '14, Missouri '12, as some few examples) in similar manners. Some factor's are simply beyond a coaches' control.

I guess everyone has a right to their own opinion.

Okay, I see this repeated all over this site with some people treating it like a well known fact. But to me, it seems more like a lie that gets repeated enough that it becomes truth. Do you have a link that would provide any strong indicator that we are making much improvement in recruiting? Here is what I could find from Rivals rankings nationally and in the B12:

2015 - 84, 10
2014 - 56, 10
2013 - 58, 9 (ahead of KSU)
2012 - 88, 10
2011 - 51, 9 (ahead of KSU)
2010 - 60, 9 (ahead of KSU)
2009 - 74, 9 (ahead of KSU)
2008 - 62, 9 (ahead of TCU)

Sure, we have had some splash recruits like Lazard, but it looks to me like our classes top to bottom have been pretty consistent over the years. Where are the indicators of improvement here?

Also interestingly enough, the big movements in conference realignment were the summers of 2010 and 2011. Our 2010 and 2011 classes were actually two of the stronger ones by the numbers. Perhaps the 2012 dip is due to some of that uncertainty, but I'm not sure there is a strong case to be made there either.
 
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Section110

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Apr 4, 2014
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Just because several members of the staff have been vilified and served up as scapegoats, doesn't make them "incompetent". Matter of fact, considering that the offense hasn't changed much over the course of three different OC's, pertty much proves that the OC wasn't the problem.

And as far as recruiting, it's pretty well documented not only how the struglles of the Big 12 affected recruiting. but how the last two or three classes have been much improved. That is the reason CPR deserves another shot.

That doesn't even factor in the rash of injuries and defections, which have similarly affected other programs (TCU '13, OKState '14, Missouri '12, as some few examples) in similar manners. Some factor's are simply beyond a coaches' control.

I guess everyone has a right to their own opinion.

So if it wasn't their fault then who's was it? Ultimately it is all CPR's fault. He certainly got plenty of praise when things were on the up and up, and he's getting rightfully criticized right now because the program has been flushed back down the drain. I was saying that it is circling the drain, but the more I think about it I believe it's fair to say that it has been flushed. A 2 win season including a loss to an FCS team is pretty much as bad as it can get for a Power 5 conference team.

Anything, I repeat ANYTHING, that you say to try to make it sound like it isn't CPR's fault is simply an excuse. Every single team has injuries and defections. The fact ISU has had a bad run with both is unfortunate, but ultimately that is still CPR's fault. That's why he gets paid the big bucks. The buck stops with him both good and bad. He's a big boy and he's handling it like one. If he's not making the excuses then why are you?
 

DiehardClone

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I expect Pollard to say I understand it's been a difficult year, and I don't blame people for being mad, but I believe CPR is the right man for the job. That I can handle. It's all this "climb the mountain" "closer than we are far away" crap that just is the wrong tone right now. We got run up and down the field by BU and OU. We lost to lowly Kansas. We lost to an FCS team. TCU is going to do the type of things to us I wouldn't even wish on Iowa.

I get he should get another year, and really it comes down to finances and giving him another year with Mangino, but it's time to call a spade-a-spade a little bit. This "rah-rah" crap just wont play well with this fan base, now with what we've endured the last 2 years.

Well spoken, thank you.
 

SerenityNow

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Dec 4, 2009
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I honestly don't know which way I feel about it - probably the dreaded apathy.

However, Brent does as good a job as I've seen articulating the "keep Rhoads" stance. Well written as always.
 

IAStubborn

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Aug 16, 2012
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Agree 100%. I still think Rhoads can be successful but he made a bad choice, a learning mistake for a first time coach. As an executive I have been their but
The question is does he have the right assets to get us there. I think he does and if pollard does he should keep him and not cave to fan pressure. If he can't raise us out and turn the tide of momentum then fire him. Next year we will be able to see if we are on the right path or not.
 

Tre4ISU

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I agree with Blum to a point. My problem is that the inadequacies presented by this regime leads me to believe 6-7 wins is as good as it gets. Yes, that's better than our average but it's not good enough to me. I am a firm believer that anywhere can be a great program. Sure, your coach may leave ISU if it happens but it still happens.

I have no reason to believe this staff can get us in position to win 10 games or better and that is what our good years should be. I'm not saying every year. I'm saying maybe twice a decade we come to the last half part of the season with an opportunity to win the conference. We don't have to win it. That's not what I'm asking for. What I'm asking for is that every once in awhile there is hope that little ol' ISU can do something great in college football. If our down years are 5 wins and missing a bowl, that's fine. I just want the good ones to be something better than the Totinino's Quilted Northern Dawn Dishsoap bowl. I just don't see that ceiling right now and to me, 6 wins next year almost does us more harm than good as I look at it today.
 

clonedude

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Apr 16, 2006
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Nowhere in Blum's writeup did he mention anything about the financial aspect of the situation. So I'm assuming he is not considering the financial aspect of this and just feels Rhoads deserves another chance no matter what, right?

If so, that is complete nonsense and is just an obvious homer being a homer. Nothing more.

You cannot justify Rhoads getting more time as head coach here without bringing up dollars. You just can't. We've been in steady decline since he's come on board. There has been no other "climb". None. We've steadily gotten worse basically every year, with this year being the worst of them all.

If this would have been Rhoads' last year of his contract, he would be gone, no question. And if not, then JP would need to be shown the door as well IMO. And if you believe that isn't correct, then you're living in some kind of Paul Rhoads lovefest land that is not part of reality any longer. Sorry.

We do not even have the talent to compete with the NDSU's, UNI's, and KU's of the world right now folks. But that isn't Paul's fault somehow? Really? And if we do have the talent to beat them, but we don't, then who's fault is that? Please enlighten me.

I agree that Rhoads will get another year for sure, but ONLY because of financial reasons and nothing else. If he was in his last year right now and JP signed him to another extension, then they both would need to go immediately IMO. And if you don't realize that, then you know literally nothing about how big college athletics has become as a business these days. It is not for the weak. It is not about keeping your friends on the payroll at the expense of wins.

All of Iowa State's athletic teams depend on a healthy football program. We do not have a healthy football program right now. And if you can't blame the head coach, them I'm at a loss.

Keeping Rhoads is something that JP HAS to do right now. He is financially strapped. There is no other reason. Any attempt at rationalizing keeping him on board, without mentioning finances, is simple minded at best.... and screams of homerism BIG time. We all know that. So quit sucking up to Rhoads. You don't get paid 2 million a year to fail at your job miserably. You just don't. Not in this day and time in college football.
 

brentblum

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Regarding Clonedude's post, of course Rhoads is to blame for last two years. It is just my belief he can still be successful. I respect your opinion to disagree and call me a "homer."
 

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