This is what happens when you strive for mediocracy

alarson

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Yep, the Fire Rhoads brigade has begun. So predictable.

I dont think many are on the 'fire rhoads' campaign. But when you look at it objectively, we've been incredibly mediocre. We've made it to some bottom tier bowls (and not looked that good in any of them). We've had some big upsets, but aside from OSU, by the end of the season they proved not that big of a deal in the bigger college football picture as both NU and UT were way down those years. And then we've had the times we've just laid an egg, like last night, and in several other good opportunities when we had chances both to build on prior wins or to build on great showings from the fans.

Now, is it time to make a big change at the top? No. I dont know that it would do us any good. However, it certainly is fair to start evaluating things when it is now year 5. I also think it is certainly fair to question whether its time to clean house on the offensive side. Tom Herman's offense was definitely lacking, and instead of taking the opportunity to make a big improvement, we promote a guy from within a failed offense with little on the resume to suggest he's great for the job. Ultimately however, the decision to stand by this offense or try something new will be on CPR. If he refuses to do something about the offense that has been a failure since day 1 of the job here, that's on him.
 

ISUAlum2002

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I actually dont think this melt-down is bad at all. Im kind of surprised.

I think some people are probably still stunned at what transpired last night. I know I am. Not much that can be said other than its going to be a long season, and we'll be lucky to keep that 50K attendance streak going after the Iowa game.
 

BoxsterCy

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I actually dont think this melt-down is bad at all. Im kind of surprised.


Calluses man, some of us have built up some thick ISU fan calluses over the years! I have 44 years of them.

I do envy my ISU buddies Paul, Todd and Steve who probably didn’t even know the score till they read the paper today.
 
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InCytful

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My take:

Offense:Mess's playcalling sucked in the second half. O-line was ok until Farniok went down. Receivers were ok, but not great. Bundrage did not have a good game. Richardson in 2nd half looked like he was holding the ball too long and line was not blocking. They did only have 2 penalties that I recall and no turnovers, so at least that was good. Richardson was fairly accurate and not too many drops by receivers/backs. 5 sacks to FCS team? Not good.

Defense: D-line in first half was getting beat every play. Outside linebackers were non-existant and didn't look ready for playing. George was a non-factor and missed a tackle on one TD. Washington missed a tackle on another TD. No Watson? Where was he? If you don't tackle and they do, you're going to have a long season. No penalties and two turnovers is pretty good, but tackling was terrible. Luke Knott is a good player, but man is he small for that position.

Special teams: They did better after replacing Bundrage on KR, and replacing Arceo on FG. Kirby needed a bit more distance on those punts and Arceo did ok on kickoffs but not great.
 

alarson

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I think some people are probably still stunned at what transpired last night. I know I am. Not much that can be said other than its going to be a long season, and we'll be lucky to keep that 50K attendance streak going after the Iowa game.

I think that streak is guaranteed through the season just because we've sold that many already regardless if people use those tickets. At worst that streak ends for Kansas, but i'd bet our sales are still above that 50k mark.

If we have a true disaster season next year may have issues in that area though
 

Wesley

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It still comes down to scoring 20 points against a team that surrendered more than 20 points eight times last year. Until we can score, we will remain mediocre. Really looks like the zone read/pistol needs a revamp. If we cannot get a Woody more than a yard a carry, what will we do against the Big Boys?
 

Skidoosh

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News flash. We aren't the only BCS team to lose to an FBS team. It has happened before and it will happen again. Jesus ****** people.
"we should never lose to an FBS team". Why? Because we are world beaters? Because we are infallible? Goddamn. Temper your expectations.
Was it a badly played game? yes. Does that mean that cyclone football is over and we might as well drop the sport altogether? no. Calm the **** down.
 

ISUKyro

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News flash. We aren't the only BCS team to lose to an FBS team. It has happened before and it will happen again. Jesus ****** people.
"we should never lose to an FBS team". Why? Because we are world beaters? Because we are infallible? Goddamn. Temper your expectations.
Was it a badly played game? yes. Does that mean that cyclone football is over and we might as well drop the sport altogether? no. Calm the **** down.
I'm not sure I want to Temper my expectations to the point that we lose to an FCS school. Dropping some to some lower FBS teams sure but FCS, I kinda have a problem with.
 

Skidoosh

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I'm not sure I want to Temper my expectations to the point that we lose to an FCS school. Dropping some to some lower FBS teams sure but FCS, I kinda have a problem with.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is UNI not supposed to be one of the best FCS teams this year? Ranked 3rd I believe.
 

alarson

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News flash. We aren't the only BCS team to lose to an FBS team. It has happened before and it will happen again. Jesus ****** people.
"we should never lose to an FBS team". Why? Because we are world beaters? Because we are infallible? Goddamn. Temper your expectations.
Was it a badly played game? yes. Does that mean that cyclone football is over and we might as well drop the sport altogether? no. Calm the **** down.

We arent the first one nor will we be the last. But you damn well better believe nobody is making excuses for it anywhere else.

It wouldnt be acceptable to lose to a MAC\other lower FBS school at home either.
 

tjh1984

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News flash. We aren't the only BCS team to lose to an FBS team. It has happened before and it will happen again. Jesus ****** people.
"we should never lose to an FBS team". Why? Because we are world beaters? Because we are infallible? Goddamn. Temper your expectations.
Was it a badly played game? yes. Does that mean that cyclone football is over and we might as well drop the sport altogether? no. Calm the **** down.

Unreal, I guess some people don't think its a big deal losing to an FCS team....

I expect to beat UNI every time we play them and I think you should too.

I can't believe people just give a "oh well" attitude with this loss
 

Trice

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Bad coaching and recruiting. I am sick of it. We should never lose to an FCS team. When will this program ever get to the point where we aren't trying to figure out which 6 games we have a chance to win to make it to a bowl game? I'm sorry but Rhoads hasn't been the program savior that he is made out to be on this message board. Its about time that us as fans start getting ****** at this program and start demanding excellence. Not this BS that is trotted on the field every week and we have our fingers crossed hoping we pull out a win.

A few thoughts in response to this and other comments I've seen today...

1. I don't like to talk in absolutes - like we should *never* lose to an FCS team, because every now and then it happens. But it should be a once-in-a-decade fluke type of thing like it is for most teams, rather than what it is now, which is that UNI poses a real threat every time they visit.

2. More concerning than losing to UNI is a trend of laying eggs in big spots. The last two bowl games were complete duds - not just losses but really lackluster performances. Last night we had a great crowd with virtually no purple in the stadium outside of the visiting section - record ticket sales, a new FB building, and a program seemingly ready to take the next step - and we completely waste the opportunity. All that momentum, all the air in the balloon...poof, gone.

3. I also agree that Rhoads has escaped a lot of criticism that he probably deserves because of his big wins and his work in changing the culture of the program. Our offense has never not been completely underwhelming and five years in that's a major problem. In Wally We Trust but frankly it shouldn't require his wizardry to beat UNI, and most of his best performances come later in the year anyway once he's had a chance to figure out what he's got. But Rhoads definitely deserves to feel some pressure after this.

4. But not too much pressure. His job should not in any way be in danger and it's silly IMO to suggest it should be. Programs like ours need stability and continuity, and every college football fan and sportswriter in the country would laugh us out of Division I if we fired Rhoads, even if he went 2-10, and rightfully so.

5. But oh, that offense. Messingham has to show major improvement.
 

VeloClone

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A lot of fail in this thread. Step away from the computer people and get a grip. If you we're paying the least bit of attention you knew that this team had a lot of experience to replace and that this year was going to be a struggle. When was that inexperience going to show up if not at the very beginning of the season? Predictions of 8 and 9 win seasons after clearly being a less experienced team at several positions? You guys were setting yourselves up for major let downs from the very start. You guys can burn your tickets or not renew them next year, but you'll definitely be missing out.
 

Skidoosh

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Unreal, I guess some people don't think its a big deal losing to an FCS team....

I expect to beat UNI every time we play them and I think you should too.

I can't believe people just give a "oh well" attitude with this loss

I never said "oh well". I'm as mad as the next person.

But I also wasn't one of the cocky fans who was has been writing this game off since forever just because we are BCS and they aren't. This is college football. Anyone can lose to anyone at anytime. If you haven't noticed that yet, then buckle up cowboy. You're in for a wild ride.
 

CyBobby

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Same thing happened with Danny Mac. History will repeat itself here again when the boosters get sick of CPR. And it will happen.

You are absolutely right on mr cytown and I quote Mr Lou Holtz: "after awhile they just get tired of me and then they fire me"......Now bros that is the truth and the whole truth. At least according to mr holtz...lol
 

LutherBlue

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Bad coaching and recruiting. I am sick of it. We should never lose to an FCS team. When will this program ever get to the point where we aren't trying to figure out which 6 games we have a chance to win to make it to a bowl game? I'm sorry but Rhoads hasn't been the program savior that he is made out to be on this message board. Its about time that us as fans start getting ****** at this program and start demanding excellence. Not this BS that is trotted on the field every week and we have our fingers crossed hoping we pull out a win.
"mediocracy"? Is that when the media calls all the plays? You need to strive for literacy.
 

ISUCubswin

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LOL. Any of you saying it's time for a change with Rhoads after losing to UNI in a rebuilding year (the least experienced team in the Big 12) need to go back in time and jump on the Fire Ferentz train.

Did last nights loss suck? Yes. Will our support make the team better in the future? Yes.

Rhoads gets through year 7 before ANY person with common sense starts questioning his job on this staff.
 

Chitowncy

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It's pretty ridiculous people are actually calling for Rhoads' head.

It's just one game and the season is 12 games long. Calm down people.

Even if ISU does have a losing year this year, I won't be calling for his head. ISU is a tough place to win. We've been a perenial doormat until the 2000s, so I am more than happy with bowl seasons. I've seen too many horrible teams in the past to get upset about one loss against a solid UNI club.
 

alarson

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It's pretty ridiculous people are actually calling for Rhoads' head.

It's just one game and the season is 12 games long. Calm down people.

Even if ISU does have a losing year this year, I won't be calling for his head. ISU is a tough place to win. We've been a perenial doormat until the 2000s, so I am more than happy with bowl seasons. I've seen too many horrible teams in the past to get upset about one loss against a solid UNI club.

Nobody is calling for Rhoads head.
 

cytheguy

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I'm willing to let a lot of that pass because he's building a program at a place that simply isn't an easy place to win. I know I'm sounding like an apologist - just let me finish.

To me, CPR should have the program at a point where we're not "building" anymore. In year 5, he should have the program at a level where we're wiping the floor with teams like UNI. Year 3 or 4 is when a coach should have a program ready to take the next step. Opening the season with a loss to UNI at home and looking terrible in the process doesn't give me any confidence that CPR is prepared to take us to the next level. And an even scarier thought, I'm not sure if there's anyone out there that can. As we're making strides with facilities and other improvements, so too is every other program in the Big 12 -- and nation.

Still, I'm not giving up on the future of ISU football. Anything can happen. Just feeling down today.
 

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