This is what happens when you strive for mediocracy

[nj829]

Hoping those of you complaining have endzone seats that you won't be renewing next year. been kicking myself for 3 years for giving mine up due to living 7 hours and 2 states away.

 

[cyatheart]

I don't see anyone calling Rhoads head, that would be assanine, but he has got to step back and look at this offense. I expected 3 or 4 wins this year, I knew it wasn't good, but what happened last night....wow...what happened and how it happened could set us back 5 years. Lot of damage was done last night, and beating iowa wont make up for it, not even close.

 

[atlantacyclone]

The truth is that just about any football coach could take an ISU team and beat UNI. I'm not sure how CPR was caught with his pants down like that. I do believe that it won't happen again.

 

[ISUAlum05]

"mediocracy"? Is that when the media calls all the plays? You need to strive for literacy.

I was wondering if anyone would point this out. The word is 'mediocrity'.

 

[Dryburn]

I expected the defense to struggle given inexperience, 2 linebackers lost to the NFL, and UNI's good and experienced qb and running back.

I did not expect the offense to suck so badly. Remember....no qb question this year. New, energetic OL coach. Stable of quality running backs. Lots of hype. So, I expected that whatever the defense gave up to UNI, the offense would overcome by out-scoring them or at least keeping the UNI offense off the field more. Didn't happen.

This is CPR's 5th year. He has unprecedented fan support. He has the facilities. It is time to deliver, but instead ISU is "rebuilding" from a 6-7 season. That is not very exciting for ISU fans.

Earle Bruce was 8-3 by his 4th year at ISU, 8-4 and 8-4 the next 2 years before leaving. Johnny Majors was 8-4 in 4th year, then 5-6-1 and left for Pitt. Dan McCarney was 9-3 his 5th year and had 4 more seven win seasons after that before he was dismissed. Hell, even Criner was 6-5 by his 4th year. Maybe ISU should have kept Dmac after all, despite a couple of poor seasons. Does anyone think this team will top 4-8?

I thought the "re-building" had to take place after Chizik, and it did. Did not really expect it to be taking place in year 5 after a 6-7 season.

 

[ShopTalk]

To me, CPR should have the program at a point where we're not "building" anymore.

At an Engineering school, one should realize that stasis is not consistent, but rather is consistently fluctuating. Therefore, a program or substance is always in flux either up or down.

In nature, few things go in straight lines. A little up, a little down. Are things trending up or down over time?

 

[im4cyclones]

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.

Look at our history objectively. Mediocre is good for us. We have as many bowls as Texas has 10-win seasons. And how many bowls have we won in our entire history?? Hell, Rhoads is the best coach we have had since Earl Bruce.

Get your expectations in line, man. The day we run off Rhoads is the day ISU football dies.

 

[BigLame]

All I know is the last 2 times UNI has come to Ames, they were more prepared and executed their game plans much better and executed much better than the Cyclones did.

They had new players in starting/playing roles last night too. Yet, they performed better than the home team.

Their strategy on offense was: occasionally take a shot on a seam route/skinny post in early downs. This opened up running lanes which looked to be off-tackle plays or stretch plays where their OL collapsed on the D & Johnson bounced the runs outside & we had no containment or shoddy tackling.
They also took what was given them - the soft cushion by 1 of our corners. To me, it was apparent they planned to do this against or most experienced corner. Didn't matter Watson was out.

On defense, the clogged up the middle with stunts & run blitzes. This made inside runs difficult and it caused zone-reads to turn into QB-runs. Did have occasional passes on the outside, but for the most part we did not attack the middle of the field very often with throws. Do recall Coleman's pattern being in a 'seam' type route, but don't recall many others, in particular from TEs which, I believe, are usually the position running these sort of routes.

What transpired & what people think are the reasons why has been repeated ad nauseum, but my main point is this: I can easily transcribe UNI's strategies on both sides of the ball from last nights game. I cannot do the same for ISU's strategies. To me, this all comes back to coaching. UNI most definitely won that.

 

[im4cyclones]

I expected the defense to struggle given inexperience, 2 linebackers lost to the NFL, and UNI's good and experienced qb and running back.

I did not expect the offense to suck so badly. Remember....no qb question this year. New, energetic OL coach. Stable of quality running backs. Lots of hype. So, I expected that whatever the defense gave up to UNI, the offense would overcome by out-scoring them or at least keeping the UNI offense off the field more. Didn't happen.

This is CPR's 5th year. He has unprecedented fan support. He has the facilities. It is time to deliver, but instead ISU is "rebuilding" from a 6-7 season. That is not very exciting for ISU fans.

Earle Bruce was 8-3 by his 4th year at ISU, 8-4 and 8-4 the next 2 years before leaving. Johnny Majors was 8-4 in 4th year, then 5-6-1 and left for Pitt. Dan McCarney was 9-3 his 5th year and had 4 more seven win seasons after that before he was dismissed. Hell, even Criner was 6-5 by his 4th year. Maybe ISU should have kept Dmac after all, despite a couple of poor seasons. Does anyone think this team will top 4-8?

I thought the "re-building" had to take place after Chizik, and it did. Did not really expect it to be taking place in year 5 after a 6-7 season.

Nice job cherry-picking you stats. Forgot to mention that Majors only had one winning season (the one you mention), made two bowls, and finished with something like a 24-30 record. And don't forget Mac's 2-10 campaign in year 8 or 9 and 4-8 in year 10 or 11.

Winning at ISU is tough. If you can't handle being a fan, get the hell out. Cause it will never be any easier. No matter who is the head coach.

 

[cayin]

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.

Nebraska WAS NOT DOWN the year we beat them. They were the Big 12 North Champ and had won 10 games, that is not a down year. So don't discredit that win. Beating ranked Tech team in 2011 and a ranked Texas team in 2010 were not that big of a deal as both teams did not end up ranked at the end of the year.

 

[cayin]

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.

I'm sure a lot of us knew we had a lot to replace this year, But, UNI had more to replace more experience than we did, so how do you explain that? Shouldn't we expect to beat an FCS team that played more knew guys all over the field than we had to?

 

[Cychl82]

"So proud" I bought 8 season tix this year. Feeling Embarassed

I bought 4 and upped my donation this year....and i can do right now is question that. i love the cyclones and will go to games regardless but im questioning all the extra money spent was worth it now....hopefully come end of the season i wont be so perplexed as to what i should do for next year

 

[SyracuseCyclone]

The schedule was set up with a buy week before and after Iowa (and the teams been bad off byes) add in the instate factor and there is no excuse for poor play. Furthermore I think the coaching staff probably didn't want to open up the playbook and show too much. I think they assumed they'd start the year 3-0 like last season automatically and the only moderately tough game was Iowa.



Defense OC and QB let the team down. I am shocked that Richardson looking competent against an FCS team is good enough for most fans. Jantz and Barnett had already won huge games by this point in their ISU career. All he did was play well against KU and WVU two awful Ds and then show zero leadership in the bowl game or against UNI. Of course hes gonna complete short passes against UNI and have decent numbers, does he have to throw 3 picks to be bad?

There is no easy win on the horizon. Iowa and Tulsa will be tough games and then its 9 Big 12 ones. 1-11 or 2-10 is possible and it comes down to leadership and not preparing the team to play UNI. More aggressive down field play calls would have won the game.


Here is what Rhoads should have done: Told Richardson and Messingham that he expects to run 80 plays and score 50 points and while they can keep the trick plays in the bag for later on the rest of the playbook is open. You change your offensive mindset and run as many plays as possible against UNI for a few reasons. 1- to prepare from playing from behind in the Big 12. 2- To pad the stats of and keep the WRs and RBs happy. 3- So you can get a lead and put in your backup QB to get some experience. If they don't at least score 40 points there is going to be a QB competition for Iowa and CPR will be calling plays himself. But he didn't do that he let his below average QB and OC show up fat and happy like a win was guaranteed.

 

[Tre4ISU]

The schedule was set up with a buy week before and after Iowa (and the teams been bad off byes) add in the instate factor and there is no excuse for poor play. Furthermore I think the coaching staff probably didn't want to open up the playbook and show too much. I think they assumed they'd start the year 3-0 like last season automatically and the only moderately tough game was Iowa.



Defense OC and QB let the team down. I am shocked that Richardson looking competent against an FCS team is good enough for most fans. Jantz and Barnett had already won huge games by this point in their ISU career. All he did was play well against KU and WVU two awful Ds and then show zero leadership in the bowl game or against UNI. Of course hes gonna complete short passes against UNI and have decent numbers, does he have to throw 3 picks to be bad?

There is no easy win on the horizon. Iowa and Tulsa will be tough games and then its 9 Big 12 ones. 1-11 or 2-10 is possible and it comes down to leadership and not preparing the team to play UNI. More aggressive down field play calls would have won the game.


Here is what Rhoads should have done: Told Richardson and Messingham that he expects to run 80 plays and score 50 points and while they can keep the trick plays in the bag for later on the rest of the playbook is open. You change your offensive mindset and run as many plays as possible against UNI for a few reasons. 1- to prepare from playing from behind in the Big 12. 2- To pad the stats of and keep the WRs and RBs happy. 3- So you can get a lead and put in your backup QB to get some experience. If they don't at least score 40 points there is going to be a QB competition for Iowa and CPR will be calling plays himself. But he didn't do that he let his below average QB and OC show up fat and happy like a win was guaranteed.

haha. Wow.

 

[dualthreat]

Our team will be drastically better in game 2. Especially the pass protection. Mark it down.

 

[Rogue52]

The truth is that just about any football coach could take an ISU team and beat UNI. I'm not sure how CPR was caught with his pants down like that. I do believe that it won't happen again.

He's basically been beat by UNI two times in a row now.

 

[Daserop]

the thread title is incorrect, replace mediocrity with laughing stock of the big 12.

 

[CyScoop]

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

Name another school that would tolerate four straight losing seasons I conference, three straight losing records over all, and getting dominated by a 1AA in state rival?

Any respectable schools fanbase would be demanding action. Ours runs out and sets records for season tickets.

We are ONE, ONEidiot.

 

[Judoka]

Name another school that would tolerate four straight losing seasons I conference, three straight losing records over all, and getting dominated by a 1AA in state rival?

Any respectable schools fanbase would be demanding action. Ours runs out and sets records for season tickets.

We are ONE, ONEidiot.

We set records for season tickets before the UNI game. Not yesterday.

 

[dirtyninety]

"One Direction" is a boy band. I think that should be our football program poster. Hell, they should suit up and play. The cute one with the big hair could at least do the offensive play calling.....he could throw his bottle of hair gel at a target board to randomly call plays.