BLUM: Paul Rhoads deserves another climb

[Incyte]

I'm not sure 5 wins would be enough. The expectation has to be six or more IMO.

I'm not sure this is right from JP's perspective. As long as we are trending up for our new "climb", he might keep CPR around.

 

[brentblum]

I'm not sure this is right from JP's perspective. As long as we are trending up for our new "climb", he might keep CPR around.

Depends on how season unwinds of course. With the way the schedule sets up, a senior QB, skill guys and a year older defense, six wins is certainly achievable.

 

[mustangcy]

Impact JUCO's - if you look back at the years ISU has had some success you can always count a solid number of JUCO guys that came in and made an impact. That needs to happen next year whether it's Harris, Ayeni or a couple of guys coming in this spring. Really none of the JUCO's made an impact this year...if that is the case again next year we might be in trouble. I don't think it will be the case though as I think Harris makes good impact along with several others.

 

[Section110]

Depends on how season unwinds of course. With the way the schedule sets up, a senior QB, skill guys and a year older defense, six wins is certainly achievable.

Fair enough. I'll say the same thing I said last year... the success or failure of the 2015 season will heavily depend on the performance of the guys up front on both sides of the ball. I agree that the fact ISU will have a senior QB with some decent weapons and a nice schedule is going to help them out, but it won't help them enough if the offensive and defensive lines continue to play poorly. This is the main reason ISU has struggled against FCS opponents in my opinion. The lines should be the biggest areas of advantage when a Power 5 conference team is going up against an opponent from a class below them. That hasn't been the case for quite some time, and the elite FCS teams usually have some playmakers at skill positions so if you are unable to beat them up front then they are entirely capable of pulling off an upset.

There isn't enough evidence at this point regarding either the offensive or defensive line that makes me believe the results will be much different a year from now. Certainly not 4 wins different in my opinion.

 

[Senolcyc]

Keeping Rhoads is the default best option due to the complete void of any other realistic options.

 

[BoxsterCy]

 

[Nuts4Cy]

Brent, honest question. If Iowa State loses to UNI and goes 1-4 or 2-3 for the first 5 games of the year during the easiest part of the schedule - do you keep Rhoads around for the 2nd half?

 

[brentblum]

Brent, honest question. If Iowa State loses to UNI and goes 1-4 or 2-3 for the first 5 games of the year during the easiest part of the schedule - do you keep Rhoads around for the 2nd half?

I'm never a fire mid-season person, so yes. Let's hope for the sake of everyone's sanity, that isn't a scenario we live through!

 

[Wesley]

I had a university fundraiser tell me at an ISU function over the weekend that if Pollard and Leath needed $5.5 mil to buy out CPR, "they could that amount in the sofa."
This is all about Pollard's loyalty to Rhoads.

Who could turn this situation around in the current condition? Paul or Dan? Probably neither. Nice coach, nice player coach, but not a great recruiter.

 

[Wesley]

I enjoy reading Blum’s columns. He is perhaps my favorite CF columnist.

OK, not “perhaps.” He is. But this one? I have no idea what went wrong.

Well-written, as usual. However, major flaw, almost immediately:

"Winning five games in two years is never acceptable, but right now it is reality."

(My italics).

If it’s “never” acceptable, how can you argue that a coach deserves another season? It doesn’t help that what follows that is an extensive list of excuse-making — that's a separate topic.

A better choice of words might have helped.

"Winning five games in two years does not inspire confidence... (etc.)”

This has nothing to do with my opinion of the state of ISU football or the retention/dismissal argument for Rhoads. I’m as patient as possible with ISU football coaches — it isn’t the easiest gig in college sports — but this actually makes me less inclined to be optimistic.

Even Ego Gene could win five in two seasons in absentia as a coach.

 

[joefrog]

Brent, honest question. If Iowa State loses to UNI and goes 1-4 or 2-3 for the first 5 games of the year during the easiest part of the schedule - do you keep Rhoads around for the 2nd half?

If he loses to UNI, first game of the year and 3rd FCS loss in 3 straight years, he should be fired before he leaves the field.

 

[Wesley]

UNI is a MUST WIN for him.

 

[Cycopath]

Can we hire Bo Pelini as a new coach? Please. I really want to pick him up and have him be a success here while the huskers fail with Riley.

 

[CYKOFAN]

If he loses to UNI, first game of the year and 3rd FCS loss in 3 straight years, he should be fired before he leaves the field.

There are some teams schools just can't lose to in football and for ISU it's UNI. Our excuse has been that they had David Johnson, who has easily been the best player on the field. Next year we won't have that excuse and we have to win that game or the comeback year could end before it can start.

 

[weR138]

If he loses to UNI, first game of the year and 3rd FCS loss in 3 straight years, he should be fired before he leaves the field.

I want Paul to be here and I'm glad he'll be here next season but if we lose to UNI he should be removed - that day.

 

[CYKOFAN]

I'm not sure this is right from JP's perspective. As long as we are trending up for our new "climb", he might keep CPR around.

I think you may be right. JP may sell even a 4-5 win season as improvement and not make a move. That might be justifiable if recruiting is somehow going well, but that will be even more tough coming off the season's we've had. We'll also be losing Sam. And will JP, with no football background, really be able to evaluate the condition of recruiting and the program.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

I'm not sure this is right from JP's perspective. As long as we are trending up for our new "climb", he might keep CPR around.

That is what has me concerned. What is JP's definition of "trending up"? Because the bar has been set so low that one conference next season could be considered a sign that we are "trending up".

 

[ameslurker]

If money is an issue, I know someone who has a Trillion dollar bill

 

[clonedog]

The problem is PR has led us into this "valley". The trend is downward and recruiting has been an issue despite better records in the past. PR has a mighty tough sell to fans and recruits that despite leading us into a box canyon, he is the man to lead us out. JP has become a banker who has loaned a farmer more money than the farm is worth. JP and PR have become inseparable partners on this hike and JP is ready to follow PR right off the cliff. JP has no choice and they both should be gone. Nebraska lets Bo go in the search to find the coach who will get them to the peak. ISU is stumbling around in the valley and no one even wants to talk about the peak. We know where Nebraska wants to go. What is the message to the football world about where ISU wants to go??

 

[CycloneErik]

I'm a basketball official, I can never admit when I'm wrong!

That may deserve some hate.