Perspective and Reality Check
- Thread starter Jer
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And if/when that happens, they will still sing songs about how he was the greatest thing to ever happen to Iowa State.
Have you ever heard the sad tale of Forest Evashevski? He was the University of Iowa athletic director and former successful football coach who allowed his ego to relegate the Hawkeyes to total futility in football for two decades. It is not a tale a Hawkeye fan will tell you.
Where have you been? The team last year was one of the biggest disappointments in ISU history. You obviously haven’t been around long enough to remember Johnny Majors or Earle Bruce who were both doing better than this prior to leaving. You can go back further in history and find other great and successful coaches. Now…if you want to call Campbell one of the best coaches in the last 40 years I’m with you. Just don’t use the “all time” moniker. That’s laughable.
We'll Bruce's winning percentage at ISU was .529 and Majors' was .445. Campbell's is .535, so yes I'd say he's the best coach in ISU's history.
As to whether I've been around long enough to know, I attended games at Clyde Williams Field when I was a kid, and I've worked directly with each of our football coaching staffs since 1984.
Yes, but in fairness, with more games there are more chances to win and having winning percentage. Of course the opposite is also true if you are losing...
Last year IMO was a massive under achievement and step back as a program and now its been followed up by - likely- missing a bowl game. We're 11-12 in our last 23 games. That's a step back as a program. And sadly, I don't know that I see it getting a great deal better given our two most obvious difference makers are both leaving - McDonald and X
We return 4 offensive linemen but I can't say they've developed and not sure if I call that a good thing
RB's - should be solid but I don't know if we have a "dude". Norton has flashes, Brock has moments but are either a dude? IDK.
WR's - yikes. We're not deep now and next year - again, its a position where you just don't see a ton of young players playing and given our lack of production other than X and Noel - thats somewhat troubling.
TE-s I like them and in theory, could be a strength.
QB- right now a big ?
DL - I think will be solid because it has been for a long time but losing Mac hurts
LB - I think will be good - really like our young LB's
DB's - if everyone sticks around - could be really good
K/P - youngsters have had their issues but overall I see promise
But on paper that again looks like the defense will be good and the offense will be..... IDK.
You are taking things out of context in everything you say. Winning percentage isn’t everything. Making bowls back then was much more difficult. The Big Eight was the premiere conference in the country then…not third or fourth as it is now. Majors and Bruce both did more with less as recruiting was more difficult then than now. I stand my my previous post 100%.
A much as I hate to say this, winning percentage IS everything when it comes to measuring a coach's success. But not only does Campbell come out on top in that regard, he also comes out on top in integrity, the degree to which he cares for his players off the field, or just about any meaningful measurement I can think of.
Bottom line, Campbell is a rare commodity in the college coaching profession and I believe our university is fortunate to have him.
Look, you have every right to your opinion, but please don't call my opinion "laughable". Hope you don't feel any of the comments above were taken out of context.
you're right in what you said...and the sad part of you being right is that Campbell is the best coach we've had...statistically. While you may have worked with all coaching since the mid 80s, I'd argue your opinion on integrity is subjective at best and based on your own standards. That makes it nothing to some people. I mean, CPR was about as good as human beings come. The stats don't lie, however.
CMC is a good person...much like Prohm in that way...he simply has some flaws that I believe will keep him from being a great football coach unless he adapts and works on being a better version of himself. Is he great for kids turning to men...you bet, and I'd want my son to play for him. Will he ever win a BIG 12 title...I highly doubt it.
What I have learned from CMC the past few years is that we're never going to be a contender. Ames, Iowa won't ever put a team like fans want on the field...at least not consistently. Our coaches and our recruiting will always be JUST a bit short, IMO...and that's ok. Expectations have to be adjusted...but in today's society where immediate gratification is king, the frenzy of frustration will remain. Now, we've added NIL to the whole thing and it will only make it worse...a la Tyrese Hunter...
I'm 50 or so...so I've seen a few things myself. I used to drink beer with Walden at Tradewinds...but right now, no matter the coach, we're an average football program with good people at the helm and great kids in the uniforms.
Why not allow Campbell the chance to make the changes? IMO we need to chill and allow CMC to address our issues. The changes will not take take place until the season is over. Chill.
Here's my frustration - these issues were present last year and nothing changed. Many of this years issues are not new. things in terms of the offense. And after seeing a very experienced roster struggle to various degrees - we asked a more inexperienced team to run it back and do the exact same thing for the most part.
We've had these ST for years now. Other than when we changed strength and conditioning coaches following the Notre Dame whooping - I can't think of a signature change or adjustment even when it would appear they are needed.
I would give the staff A+ in:
Developing culture
Caring for the young men and staff members
Being great leaders and models
Having a philosophy and believing in it
Having buy in from the players in the program
Developing defensive players for our system
I'd probably give them a C- or D+ in however
In-game adjustments - as much as I love Heacock till this year it was a running theme or discussion point that it'd take us a half to adjust to what the opposition was doing in several games and offensively.... well....
And adjusting overall off-season wise. Loyalty and continuity are great but when you have some holes IMO - not having a ST coach, not having a WR coach (instead of combining WR with RB's) ...
and an F in
Offensive player development. I can't think of too many offensive players I've seen noticeable improvement in - especially not in ones who are not NFL caliber. Our "average" players seem to hit their ceiling quicker offensively than on defense and seem, IMO, to have lower ceilings.
Blake Peterson was a great example - dude went from being a role player to very very good defensive end for a couple years. Who was the last offensive player to pull that off whose not playing on Sundays or likely will (X).
Who is this "our" that you mention? You on the payroll? You part of the football program? You keep sipping from the cup of promise, hoping the words you hear will manifest into something they won't.
If you think I'm intimating we get rid of CMC, I'm not. He's a good coach and a good person. I will say that he's not shown the ability to make tough decisions though at the adult level. I mean, TM needs to go...and swallowing his pride and hiring a ST coach would be beneficial...but whatever.
You need to tell the NIL donors to chill in a couple years when it's the same thing...I doubt you'll get a friendly response.
But no need to tell me to chill...I'm apathetic after the past two seasons.Who is this "our" that you mention? You on the payroll? You part of the football program? You keep sipping from the cup of promise, hoping the words you hear will manifest into something they won't.
If you think I'm intimating we get rid of CMC, I'm not. He's a good coach and a good person. I will say that he's not shown the ability to make tough decisions though at the adult level. I mean, TM needs to go...and swallowing his pride and hiring a ST coach would be beneficial...but whatever.
You need to tell the NIL donors to chill in a couple years when it's the same thing...I doubt you'll get a friendly response.
Any changes will take place AFTER the season.
Chill. See what Campbell does. You made an accusation that Campbell can not make tough decisions on an adult level. Why not allow Campbell the time during this season and this off season to make those decisions?
Opinions are worth what you pay for them right? Winning percentage out of context is meaningless. Context for a discussion about this topic is everything.
How can winning % be taken out of context? Last time I looked sport is measured by wins or losses.
For me Conference winning % is the best measure of a coaching staff. Campbell's crew has been outstanding over the 2017-2021 seasons at 29-16 in Big12 play. Find ANY ISU coach that comes close.
IMO the level of play over the last 5 years, earns Campbell a mulligan for 2022 and the trust to get the program back on track.
Actually agree with most of this .
I have no idea what “he needs to use his size to create mismatches for the defense” means. Hopefully not that he is going to run over people. If he runs he needs to make people miss occasionally. At least only take a glancing blow. I still think he is poorly equipped to run the ball.
I do agree - he needs to be a legitimate threat. It seems they have actually tried this more recently. Mostly unsuccessfully. A couple speed options have had limited success.
I do not think he can run. I do think maybe some roll outs would be helpful. Hopefully next year his accuracy and touch improve.
Context also matters with winning percentage. Earle Bruce didn't have any kind of "rebuilding season" after 1976. Johnny Majors was a great coach especially after leaving but it's not like he left any sort of foundation for Bruce to build on. Bruce won 8 games in three consecutive seasons and is the only Iowa State football coach to EVER achieve that feat. Matt hasn't achieved that yet and I am hoping he will.
Matt Campbell did some amazing things especially in 2017-2018. I believe the accomplishments in those two years showed more consistency and upward trajectory than what 2019-2021 showed. The only truly questionable thing I felt was not backfilling the OC position when Manning left.
Do we adjust our plan and win these close games or do we keep trying the same formula over and over again hoping for different results? We shall find out.
Matt Campbell did some amazing things especially in 2017-2018. I believe the accomplishments in those two years showed more consistency and upward trajectory than what 2019-2021 showed. The only truly questionable thing I felt was not backfilling the OC position when Manning left.
Do we adjust our plan and win these close games or do we keep trying the same formula over and over again hoping for different results? We shall find out.
Dekkers does not have size.
He HAD size. He was 230-240lbs last year, with what appeared to be decent wheels and almost a “Joel-Lanning” toughness to him when running, which seemed pretty natural.
Our S&C staff then allowed him to lose 30-40lbs in the offseason. He’s now a slender 206lbs, and this weight loss unfortunately did not make him any faster or any more elusive. Perhaps this was health related? If not, it’s one of the more bizarre S&C choices I can recall in recent memory. How does this happen!?
So no, he’s not a threat to run because he does not have great feet or speed or elusiveness, and he now packs no punch as a power runner. He’s Kyle Kempt with a better arm.
Edit: Yes I know he’s “faster” than Kyle Kempt.
Dekker is not a threat to run because the coaching staff has preached to him to stay in the pocket. But with our Oline play, this is not working. The few times he has run on boots and rollouts he has shown plenty of speed, no he does not have Russell Wilson speed, but enough to keep the defense from crashing down and running towards the back, which is what they are doing now.
Did I say any decision should be made DURING the season? At this point, you're talking to yourself because you certainly can't be responding to what I've said. Per usual, your comments drift...
I'll give you that argument...and I hope that some of the glaring changes that need to be made are made...that will tell everyone a lot about CMC's ability to lead grown men, not the college students he controls
