What If…?!

[rednrdy]

What if…the gambling probe did not happen and the subsequent suspensions…

Does Iowa State still enjoy such a historical season…?

I’ve pondered this question quite a bit since last years game at BYU…

Thoughts? Look forward to comments and opinions.

 

[Letterkenny]

Yes

 

[cycloneworld]

I think a bigger lightbulb moment was the Ohio game loss. Feels like the staff finally got it though it’s head that we cannot lineup and play “normal” football. The offensive philosophy changed dramatically after that game. We still see signs of it from time to time (WAY too many first down runs up the middle), but think this had a bigger impact on the program than the gambling probe - although we did get Rocco from it.

 

[Cyclonepride]

What if…the gambling probe did not happen and the subsequent suspensions…

Does Iowa State still enjoy such a historical season…?

I’ve pondered this question quite a bit since last years game at BYU…

Thoughts? Look forward to comments and opinions.

Impossible to say, but for all the physical edges that Hunter probably had over Rocco, Rocco had the mental edge, the leadership edge and the clutch edge. So I'm going to guess no, as Rocco's advantages outweigh Hunter's advantages in winning football games.

 

[chuckd4735]

I never really thought Dekkers was the guy. Maybe that's not fair because he followed Purdy, but I just feel like Rocco would of beat Dekkers out eventually.

 

[DSMCy]

Impossible to say, but for all the physical edges that Hunter probably had over Rocco, Rocco had the mental edge, the leadership edge and the clutch edge. So I'm going to guess no, as Rocco's advantages outweigh Hunter's advantages in winning football games.

Don’t remember which game, but there was one that showed Campbell and Hunter yelling at each other on the sidelines.

If that’s happening during a game, don’t see how that relationship would have been sustainable.

 

[ClonesFTW]

Dekkers threw for 3,000 yards with 66% completion rate in his first season starting, the guy was oozing with potential once the game slowed down for him and he cut down on INT's. I truly believe he would have been a very very good QB. Water under the bridge, wish him the best in his path to play professionally.

*Rocco went 3,500 at 59% completion wtih 2 additional games for reference.

 

[Max57]

I never really thought Dekkers was the guy. Maybe that's not fair because he followed Purdy, but I just feel like Rocco would of beat Dekkers out eventually.

i'm repeating what someone else told me ... if Dekkers was dumb enough to do what he did, he was dumb enough to make a bunch of mistakes in his QB role.

 

[BCClone]

Don’t remember which game, but there was one that showed Campbell and Hunter yelling at each other on the sidelines.

If that’s happening during a game, don’t see how that relationship would have been sustainable.

I thought hunter would be solid because of the tools he had. Then when he was the starter I was told by inside people he was a tool but kept hearing glowing praises about Rocco when he redshirted. Why I wasn’t as worried when hunter was bounced. I knew the leadership was there but didn’t know if he could perform. He proved he could.

 

[madguy30]

Something tells me he wouldn't be at ISU by now for some other reason so maybe the gambling was just getting out ahead of future problems.

 

[ClonesFTW]

i'm repeating what someone else told me ... if Dekkers was dumb enough to do what he did, he was dumb enough to make a bunch of mistakes in his QB role.

Tough to say, we only had 1 maybe 2 seasons of legalized betting at that time. If he hadn't been caught I would bet (not literally ) that it would have been a rampant issue everywhere. He was unfortunately just the first to get caught and made example of for the rest of the country.

 

[Bigman38]

Some layers to the gambling probe stuff but overall I saw it as a culture problem taking care of itself. I don’t think the team losing all those players and then exceeding expectations the next two years is a coincidence.

 

[SCNCY]

Dekkers threw for 3,000 yards with 66% completion rate in his first season starting, the guy was oozing with potential once the game slowed down for him and he cut down on INT's. I truly believe he would have been a very very good QB. Water under the bridge, wish him the best in his path to play professionally.

*Rocco went 3,500 at 59% completion wtih 2 additional games for reference.

If I recall correctly, during that season, the main issue was that we couldn't run the ball. The OL was rough and couldn't open any holes for our running backs. That made us one dimensional and putting more pressure on a younger WR corpse. I agree that he would have probably worked out alright, assuming everything else in the program during that time remained the same. But the only question mark would have been his attitude and how that would have affected the team.

 

[NENick]

Some layers to the gambling probe stuff but overall I saw it as a culture problem taking care of itself. I don’t think the team losing all those players and then exceeding expectations the next two years is a coincidence.

I can see this line of thinking.

My initial thought was CMC would have had a big impact on Dekkers and he would have been a 4-year starter. Rocco would've transferred after a year in the backup role.

 

[EnkAMania]

Reading between the lines of players and coaches comments, I don't believe Dekkers was a team first type.

 

[SCNCY]

I can see this line of thinking.

My initial thought was CMC would have had a big impact on Dekkers and he would have been a 4-year starter. Rocco would've transferred after a year in the backup role.

Additionally in this scenario, I think Kohl would have stayed because if Dekkers was a 4-year starter, Kohl would have been a Junior or sophomore after Dekkers graduated, giving him two or three years to play.

 

[HFCS]

I never really thought Dekkers was the guy. Maybe that's not fair because he followed Purdy, but I just feel like Rocco would of beat Dekkers out eventually.

We can’t have a qb with feet as slow as Dekkers. I don’t care about his straight line speed or 40 time, his scrambling was so slow he’d have needed a world class arm to make up for it.

 

[acoustimac]

I’ve heard some of the same stories as others that Dekkers attitude and personal characteristics were a detriment to the locker room. What I hope is the experience changed him in a positive way. Most of us have humbling moments like that. It’s what you do afterwards that defines your growth and life path.

 

[ClonesFTW]

But the only question mark would have been his attitude and how that would have affected the team.

I certainly agree that Rocco is likely sharper between the ears and a better leader than Dekkers.

 

[rosshm16]

It's a really interesting what-if.

I don't know anything about the off-field stuff but my impression of Dekkers' on-field issue was he was a step slow in reading the defense and checking down. We were fortunate that "just throw it to X" was an option that year. This was compounded by a weak running game allowing defenses to key in on stopping the pass. The poor reads is a very addressable issue, and obviously the line play and running game has improved.

Hunter was obviously talented, I love Rocco but I don't know if it's a sure thing he eventually beat out Dekkers.