How many games do we have to win....?

[madguy30]

He needs to be better than a competent game day coach. You don't beat the big names in this conference by being just competent.

Although Rhoads running back fumbling cost him last year, he beat Texas how many times? (Should have been 3 but for officials). Nebraska at Nebraska with nobody on offense, etc..

Prior to Rhoads ISU never won those games. Never.

I hope Campbell is the real deal. I hope we still see wins over top talented teams or upsets on the rhoad.

Then I hope he can do more than rhoads, by having better recruiters on staff so that we won't see the down years like we have the last two.

I am hoping that's the case.

Rhoads's running back fumbling is a non-issue if he doesn't rely on a chart to tell him what to do, than just doing some quick math and making as few of ball transitions as possible.

Jim Walden beat a much better Nebraska team than Rhoads ever faced. I'll give CPR credit for some really nice wins but those are matched by some of the worst football I've ever seen.

No matter how many wins come next year, I'm sure there's going to be some Rhoads' colored glasses in the mix of acting like the CPR era was stacked in glory.

 

[aeroclone]

It has been how long since ISU beat K State and people still pencil it in as a must win.

This is practically an annual CF tradition. Like uniform threads or ******** about Sweet Caroline. As long as Snyder is still above ground, this game is an L unless the team proves otherwise on the field. Bet the farm on the cats.

 

[DhaCheann]

If we don't win (get to) a bowl game this year, I would consider this season, and every season we don't make it to a bowl game, a failure.

 

[Cyclonic1]

4 would be an improvement but I actually expect 5-6 and maybe even 7.

 

[RustShack]

We've got some pretty decent players at every position almost. The OL is where there's the most concern, but you can breath a little easier when the HC an OC both excell in that category.

Finally having an offensive minded HC is exactly what a Big12 school needs, and being in Iowa having said coach be an OL guy is also perfect.

 

[RustShack]

Read your post again. "Almost". Pretty decent players at every position except the most important one. Having a mediocre to bad offensive line is a killer at this level of football. Doesn't matter who you have at other positions. That and the fact Lanning hasn't proven he can consistently win at this level. It's not going to help his cause having a poor offensive line in front of him. There's only so much coaches can do. If they don't have the players then they can't magically make new ones appear.

Personally, I'm hoping for 5 wins. Anything less than that is disappointing. Anything more is a pleasant surprise. With this offensive line though I wouldn't be shocked to see another 3 win season. Campbell just wasn't given a whole lot to work with up front.

You're acting like there's no chance at a decent line.

We have a HC and OC who know how to improve that position group, and how to mask its weaknesses.

Campos, Philbert, Scroggins, Fett, Good-Jones, Udeogu, Green... There's some potential there.

You forget that every team loses players every year, and goes into every season with "questions" and "weaknesses", not just Iowa State.

 

[CyFy]

I am ok with 5 wins. Coching changes are not easy. This has the potential to be a lot harder than people seem to think.

 

[RustShack]

I am ok with 5 wins. Coching changes are not easy. This has the potential to be a lot harder than people seem to think.

Usually new coaches inherit a team they have to fully rebuild, and you bring in a bunch of new guys. Campbell brought over coaches he's previously worked with, and inherited a team that just went through rebuild mode and is primed to go Bowling.

Kind of similar to CPR's first year, but a lot more talented.