The players need to know....

[livinthedream]

That it was not the coach that brought us to the stadium the last 2 years. It was them, and their hard work. They need to know that our support does not go away because the head coach left. They didn't come here because one man talked them into it, Its much bigger than that. Iowa State has a way of working its way into your soul (weird sounding I know) but it does. If they decide to stay, they will be heros....Just ask Johnny Orr or Fred Hoiberg what thats like....We will make sure you know that your fanbase didnt walk out on you ......I have my seats and I want to see you succeed here with a coach that can do it....ok I am done ranting...but this needed to be said.

 

[scottie33]

Very much agree!!

That is why I stayed all 4 quarters of the games, because I knew they would never give up no matter the score and were out there knocking heads around!

Nothing better than watching young kids grow into men on that football field and aside from the sports aspect of it, learning how to be a man when faced with adversity...this coaching change is tough on every single one of them, and every one of their fans! But once all this gets sorted out, they will be better people because of it....keep your heads up players!

 

[cyclonedave25]

Very much agree!!

That is why I stayed all 4 quarters of the games, because I knew they would never give up no matter the score and were out there knocking heads around!

Except for the Missouri game, right?? :wink: But, I agree with OP!!

 

[Wesley]

I think we have potential to be much better next year. We were not given a fair chance this year the way things played out. We can play with some purpose and make a cause out of it if we do well in nonconference season. Then who knows. The North is not that awesome.

 

[Walo]

The players had something to do with it, but Mr. Pollard is the one who really drove people into the stands.

 

[HandSanitizer]

There are a ton of young talented players on this team. They have plenty of opportunity to win games next year. Just take a quick look...

North Dakota State
Iowa
@ Kent State
Army
Kansas State - Arrowhead
@ Kansas
Baylor
@ Neb
@ A&M
Colorado
@Mizzou

If our staff was still here with all these redshirts coming in and the younger players involved I would have thought at least 6-7 wins next year. But there not so we need to find someone that can lead this team asap.

 

[ajk4st8]

That looks like a really fun schedule. I wouldnt care if Wayne Morgan was coaching these guys, I would be excited to watch those games.

 

[scottie33]

The players had something to do with it, but Mr. Pollard is the one who really drove people into the stands.

I think Pollard convinced people to buy tickets and marketed the team well...however, if people showed up and seen a lack-luster team that showed no emotion, gave up, didn't care what the fans did...I think at the end of the year we have 30k fans in the stands and not 50k or whatever the number was.

But the fans saw fire, emotion, hard work and determination in the players that led them to stand up for our student athletes and show them our full support no matter the record.

I think someone mentioned that buffalo averaged 17k and they are going to a bowl...I don't know what we averaged but I'm going to say between 45-50k and we WERE 2-10!!!

Our fans are the best in the nation, and will follow our team if they give it their all and they have done so thus far!

 

[livinthedream]

The players had something to do with it, but Mr. Pollard is the one who really drove people into the stands.

Really? Beacuse I have never seen Mr. Pollard put on a helmet and lay someone out....As much as I respect him and the job that he has done here, I don't show up at the stadium to see him. I see the young men that decided to attend the same University that I did and represent us on and off the football feild. I know our history...for god sakes I lived the Walden years....The current players have a vision of better things...as do I ....I have read books from other coaches that coached in the big 12( big 8 at that time) and even back then this was not the job to take if you wanted to succeed. I dont think thats the case anymore. If boise state can do it... by god so can Iowa state. Pollard is a huge asset, but its not the reason I attend games....nuff said

 

[ajk4st8]

The only reason I attend games is to watch the guys on the field. I really enjoy games now more because the tailgating is more fun and the stadium is a lot nicer, but its all about what goes down on the grass.

 

[GracefulCyclone]

I definitely agree. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but there is something special when I'm at an Iowa State game that I have not experienced at any other sporting event. I'm originally from St. Louis, so I grew up with the Cardinals and Rams. While I love the Cardinals and Rams, they do not compare to the excitement of Iowa State. The camaraderie and loyalty of Iowa State fans is like nothing I have ever seen. I always show up hours before the game to get that perfect front row seat and do not leave until the players have left the field for the locker rooms. This loyalty is the reason many fans might be a little critical of the players. We really want you to succeed and we might go a little overboard with some of our comments, but we always respect those that wear the Cardinal and Gold. I will show up to every game next year and will always support the Cyclones. By the way, I was at the Mizzou game the entire time and I know that Iowa State fans are better than Mizzou fans. Mizzou is the only bcs football team in Missouri and they don’t sellout their stadium when they are ranked in the top 10. Missouri is also double the population of Iowa.

 

[ISU4Life]

I think Pollard convinced people to buy tickets and marketed the team well...however, if people showed up and seen a lack-luster team that showed no emotion, gave up, didn't care what the fans did...I think at the end of the year we have 30k fans in the stands and not 50k or whatever the number was.

But the fans saw fire, emotion, hard work and determination in the players that led them to stand up for our student athletes and show them our full support no matter the record.


Our fans are the best in the nation, and will follow our team if they give it their all and they have done so thus far!

Very True

 

[scottie33]

The only reason I attend games is to watch the guys on the field. I really enjoy games now more because the tailgating is more fun and the stadium is a lot nicer, but its all about what goes down on the grass.

Sexy grass to say the least :wink:

 

[Jonecy]

I honestly and truly believe that if this group can stay together and keep working hard that they can be something special and I just hope they feel the same way.

This is one of the crossroads in their lives where they can take a chance on what's out there for them at another school with another group of guys and another coach or they can take a chance on sticking it out with their guys - the family they've come to love and go to work with day in and day out. I'm not saying it's any easy choice, but one of the things I'm most proud of as a Cyclone fan is our loyalty and ability to come together during tough times. JP will bring in another great coach, but he still needs these players to get the job done at the end of the day.

A team that believes in themselves can win anywhere - don't believe the you can't win at ISU BS. Coaches come and go in life, but it's what you do with the lessons they teach you and how you adapt to new situations that really matters. There will be better days ahead for Iowa State and I hope every single Cyclone going through this right now will be around to share them.

 

[Walo]

While the hardcore fans, which make up about 90% of this website, do indeed show up for the players, the reason the stands have been filled the last couple of seasons is Jamie Pollard and his genius marketing plan for the ISU athletic department. He brought the coach that brought the players to this university... so I guess it can all link back to the players, but the ball started rolling when JP took the reigns.

 

[cyclonedave25]

While the hardcore fans, which make up about 90% of this website, do indeed show up for the players, the reason the stands have been filled the last couple of seasons is Jamie Pollard and his genius marketing plan for the ISU athletic department. He brought the coach that brought the players to this university... so I guess it can all link back to the players, but the ball started rolling when JP took the reigns.

JP sparked ticket sales and excitement. But, it's the fans choice to show up to the stands or not. (i.e. mens basketball. Our announced attendance is 13,000 but only 8-10,000 show up to the games... (at least for the first few games))

 

[Wesley]

Here is some hope. We may be on the dawn of having one of most explosive offensive teams in the next three years if things hold together. We may not win much, but it could get real exciting. That is why Bg 12 football is getting fun. No humdrum defensive steyggkes of Ohio State versus penn State...

 

[Walo]

You can't really compare basketball with football, but OK. If someone buys football tickets they're going to show up for the game... There are fewer games, they're traditionally on the weekend, and it's a bigger financial commitment to attend a football game.

 

[cyclonedave25]

You can't really compare basketball with football, but OK. If someone buys football tickets they're going to show up for the game... There are fewer games, they're traditionally on the weekend, and it's a bigger financial commitment to attend a football game.

Good point. But, for the Missouri game last season, when it was 15 degrees out and windy, and a team that is 2-9, there were plenty of excuses not to show up. But, the stadium was dang near full, by choice of the fans. Had that of been most other places, it would have been half full at the most.

 

[jsmith86]

I think Pollard convinced people to buy tickets and marketed the team well...however, if people showed up and seen a lack-luster team that showed no emotion, gave up, didn't care what the fans did...I think at the end of the year we have 30k fans in the stands and not 50k or whatever the number was.

But the fans saw fire, emotion, hard work and determination in the players that led them to stand up for our student athletes and show them our full support no matter the record.

I think someone mentioned that buffalo averaged 17k and they are going to a bowl...I don't know what we averaged but I'm going to say between 45-50k and we WERE 2-10!!!

Our fans are the best in the nation, and will follow our team if they give it their all and they have done so thus far!

Not only are our fans there, they are there sometimes days ahead of the game waiting for our team to be there. I remember from living in willow hall a couple years ago that on thursday you could always tell there was a game that saturday by the noise from some of the 'early' tailgaters who would stick around for 2 days waiting for the game. I also know that we have not just several, but several hundred or several thousand fans who stick around until the players, band, cheerleaders and every other student who is on the field for gameday has left the stadium. Especially this year, there was a large contingent of people who would come to the corner where everyone leaves the field to congratulate everyone, no matter if we had won or lost. Yes, we may not always win, but that group of fans has been, and I believe allways will be, there to support the team. I haven't ever heard them yell out "go chizik" or "go mac" at the end of the games, it has always been "go Brett" , "go Ryan" ,"go Shaggy", "go Austen" . I personally couldn't care if we decided to let whichever freshman gets stuck with the job be the coach. We aren't there for the coach to whom this may be just another job, we are there for the team, we are there for those who know what it is to be a Cyclone.