Perspective

Land Grant

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This would be my inclination as well. We all want to treat 2020 like it was representative but I'm not sure that's true. We were 5-4 in 2019 and 8-1 in 2020 (in conference). For 2021 I would've split that and said we lose 2 or 3 in the conference. We might still hit that or that might even be a little optimistic.

CMC's records at ISU are:
3-9
8-5
8-5
7-6
9-3

Before 2020 we had clearly settled in at 7-8 wins. I don't think 2020 was ISU suddenly becoming a top 10 team that would hit 9 wins every season. I think we took advantage of some good circumstances... and good for us! But now we're settling back to where we were, 7-8 wins (and "settling" there is fantastic in the context of ISU football).

The idea you propose above seems to be that we should be happy to be habitual 7-5/8-4 team. And on the whole, sure, why not.

But many of us also think that such "settling" could be complemented by a periodic outstanding season. I think that's a reasonable expectation. If you can't occasionally have high hopes, why do this at all?

Problem is, this should have been that year -- senior laden, top tier in the skill positions, positive momentum, etc, etc. If not now, when? Even (and perhaps especially) the coaching staff seemed to be hyping this. That's why our disappointment is reasonable and the whole "perspective" thing rings hollow.
 

norcalcy

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Oct 20, 2010
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Which is why Iowa is referred to across the country as the fake ID of college football.
I'll take their fake ID status all day long. Truth is they are very consistent and they put a TON of guys into the NFL. They own us over the past decade. If we could sustain their level of continuity, I would be very happy.
 

gordocyclone

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I just shake my head when I read posts like this. Campbell is probably the most sought after college coach in the country. His name is on the short list of every college that's exploring a new hire, but you have determined he's failed in a number of areas. You must be smarter than all the experts across the country who do this for a living.
I bet he is not one of most sought after coaches after this year! I am not an expert just a fan with an opinion. I don't believe Campbell has coached well this year. I guess we are not allowed to criticize our coach.
 
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Cyched

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Seriously, where did you expect the media to rank us? We went 8-1 in conference last year, were 1 play away from winning the CCG, and crushed our opponent in one of the 4 most prestigious bowl games.



Name me another team that had this much firepower returning from a BCS Bowl win then was this bad the next year. The only one I can think of is Iowa after their Orange Bowl and that was over a decade ago.

The comparison to 2010 Iowa is an interesting one.

The way KF runs the Iowa program has produced a lot of modest success and consistency that I think we all would like for ISU. But that method also leaves very little room for error. You'll be in most games, but one aspect like defense or ST being off, or losing the turnover battle, and you can easily lose.

Their 2010 team had all that talent and experience returning and were rightfully a top 10 team at the beginning. But they had their share of underwhelming performances and bad breaks and went 7-5. Sound familiar?
 

CNECloneFan

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The comparison to 2010 Iowa is an interesting one.

The way KF runs the Iowa program has produced a lot of modest success and consistency that I think we all would like for ISU. But that method also leaves very little room for error. You'll be in most games, but one aspect like defense or ST being off, or losing the turnover battle, and you can easily lose.

Their 2010 team had all that talent and experience returning and were rightfully a top 10 team at the beginning. But they had their share of underwhelming performances and bad breaks and went 7-5. Sound familiar?
yes, that rings a bell
 

KnappShack

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It's hard after crushing losses to maintain perspective, but I find it becomes a little easier as I get older. I was reminded this morning that things can always be worse when I was reading comments from a die hard Texas fan who has to begin his colonoscopy prep today.

Considering how you made Twitter last night it's good to see

 

StLouisClone

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Apr 16, 2006
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We have played well enough to be 8-2 but Campbell hasn't been good in close games. He often wastes timeouts and mishandles the clock at the end of halves. We aren't aggressive on offense at the end of halves and our defense is too conservative in those situations. Special teams sometimes make a key mistake.
 

Neptune78

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Those were just horrible misses by the media, not teams that had a ton of talent returning like us.

Clemson lost Lawrence and Etienne, would be like us losing Hall and Purdy after last .......
We are the biggest bust by far of these four.

If we had 5 star QBs and RBs sitting on the bench (like Clemson did) losing Hall and Purdy would not be a problem. Or so the voters putting Clemson at #3 thought.
 

isucy86

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Apr 13, 2006
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Is Campbell over hyped?:campbell:

Campbell is a great coach, especially at a school at ISU where culture, detail and player development are key to success on the field.

We have 3 games left that will define the success of this team. We go 9-4 and that is a heck of a season.

Just like he made the decision to change S&C Coaches a couple of years ago. IMO some honest reflection needs to occur this offseason.
  • Our defense has struggled on the road this season in Big12 play. We have given up 110 points in our 3 road losses. I tend to believe the issue is more formation than players. Have opposing coordinators figured out weaknesses in the 3-3-5? IMO the best pass defense is a pass rush.
  • How can our o-line become more dominate? Part of this is our o-line seems to struggle early in the year. Look at our struggles against UNI & Iowa. But even later in this season we have struggled to run in the first half against Texas and pretty much all of yesterday's game.
  • Special teams. This year we have been better, mainly because of Mevis on FG's and kick-offs. But our punting, punt returns & punt coverage has been spotty. We were fortunate TT's long punt return didn't result in points yesterday.
  • On offense our WR pass game has struggled. Other than production from Hutchison, it has been inconsistent.
 

isucy86

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Those were just horrible misses by the media, not teams that had a ton of talent returning like us.

Clemson lost Lawrence and Etienne, would be like us losing Hall and Purdy after last year.

North Carolina lost 2 running backs that are currently starting in the NFL right now.

Florida only had 9 starters back compared to 19 we had.

We are the biggest bust by far of these four.

UNC is the biggest disappointment. Sure they lost 2 RB's. But they returned a QB that was projected to be a Heisman candidate and top NFL draft pick. Howell has been solid, but their defense has been horrid.

The Clones issue is our defense can look great at home, but struggles on the road.
 

madguy30

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UNC is the biggest disappointment. Sure they lost 2 RB's. But they returned a QB that was projected to be a Heisman candidate and top NFL draft pick. Howell has been solid, but their defense has been horrid.

The Clones issue is our defense can look great at home, but struggles on the road.

Which is weird since defense is supposed to be the thing that travels well. Especially a good Dline which has been pretty non existent on the road.
 

CyCloned

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Oct 18, 2006
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Is Campbell over hyped?:campbell:

No, he is constantly talking about winning in the margins. That means less talented guys need to play mistake free ball. Sometimes it just doesn't happen, like yesterday. I sometimes question if he needs to make a move at some at the position coaching level. Still not sold on the OL coach, and the DBs have been completely lost yesterday and against WVU.
 
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cysmiley

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The heck with that. Iowa State was supposed to contend for the Big 12, big time bowl bids and possible playoffs. Pre season top 10!!!

Now ISU is giving up 40 pts per game to WVU and Tech. Also lost to a bad Iowa team at home. This year flat out sucks. There is no "keep it in perspective". Total choke job by the entire program.
Well, it has been a rough year, some games we have not been able to get over the hump, for various reasons, most of us have different opinions on those reasons.

But in perspective, I have been a season ticket holder for over 25 years, and can remember my buddies and I, as we walked up the ramp from the lots; legitimately debating whether we had a CHANCE for a possible victory; most of the time coming to the conclusion that the answer was NO.

That debate has not happened for the last 4 years, I always feel we can win, no matter where the opponent is ranked or what school they represent! So there's that!!
 

AlaCyclone

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We need two Big 12 teams in the NY6 or for OSU to make the playoff. That moves everyone up a bow. If OU and OSU get to a NY6. That puts Baylor in the Alamo and opens up Orlando to be a likely 7-5 ISU versus a 8-4 KState.

Two Big 12 into the NY6 and winning TCU gets us into the the Texas bowl at worst.

Winning out and Baylor losing every remaining game (@ksu and home tech). That's a path to the Alamo bowl.. maybe
Why do we want ISU to be bumped up? To be in a punching up Bowl again like Wash. State @ Alamo or Notre Dame @ Orlando? I'd rather ISU win their Bowl Game. Heck, I hope they slide (with an 8-4 record - of course) to the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, so Brock can play in front of the home folks in his last game as a Cyclone vs. a B1G team to boot.
 
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Gunnerclone

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I bet he is not one of most sought after coaches after this year! I am not an expert just a fan with an opinion. I don't believe Campbell has coached well this year. I guess we are not allowed to criticize our coach.

Everyone has just forgotten about Special Teamsgate. Took 5 games to figure out that Mevis had to do everything.
 

madguy30

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Everyone has just forgotten about Special Teamsgate. Took 5 games to figure out that Mevis had to do everything.

And Septembergate.

I know to make ISU somewhat sustainable is quite an accomplishment but which top-tier program wants to start out 2-2 every year especially with almost an entire team back?
 

Stormin

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Apr 11, 2006
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Disappointing season. We will go to a mediocre Bowl. In Seasons past we would be overjoyed at going to a mediocre Bowl. How things have changed. Campbell will use this season as a learning experience and motivation for the future.
 

Acylum

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[QUOTE="isucy86, post: 8017088, member: 1320"
We have 3 games left that will define the success of this team. We go 9-4 and that a heck of a season. [/QUOTE]

Not necessarily disagreeing with anything you said, but nobody was going to be satisfied with 9-4 this season. And we may not get there anyway.
 

madguy30

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[QUOTE="isucy86, post: 8017088, member: 1320"
We have 3 games left that will define the success of this team. We go 9-4 and that a heck of a season.

Not necessarily disagreeing with anything you said, but nobody was going to be satisfied with 9-4 this season. And we may not get there anyway.
[/QUOTE]

I was one feeling like this might happen but I didn't think it would be from looking completely defunct several times.