Well, Maybe Next Year...

The 08/09 basketball season for the ISU men's basketball team can only be described as disappointing. I was expecting a record slightly above .500 and now their record is going to be slightly below that mark. I hate to say this, but I'm not seeing a whole lot of improvement over last Head Men's Basketball Coach's (Wayne Morgan's) record so far. I know Coach McDermott had to start pretty much from scratch, but after the third year, we should be seeing a won-loss record trending above .500, not stagnating just below that benchmark. Next season is the time when Coach McDemott's future at ISU will be determined. Nothing less than a significant improvement in the won-loss record will save Coach from being fired.

One thing this basketball team needs are guards who can handle "the rock" no matter what defense an opponent may throw at them. Allowing twenty-plus points off of steals is absolutely unacceptable. Turnovers due to mistakes must end. Along with handling the ball, having tough-minded guards are a must as well. There were too many games in which the team broke down at the end of the game snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Right now, the ISU Men's Basketball team is not mentally tough enough to win anything. Will the incoming recruiting class change the mental make up of this team? We're hoping so for Coach McDermott's sake. Otherwise, it's hasta la vista, baby. TTFN.

A Successful First Recruiting Effort for Coach Rhoads

ISU Head Football Coach, Paul Rhoads somehow retained sixteen of Gene Chisik's nineteen recruits for the 2009 season. A remarkable recruiting accomplishment even if Coach Rhoads wasn't able to add any recruits of his own, which he did by the way. Of Coach Rhoads' own recruits, there is a quarterback prospect from Pennsylvania who seems to be very highly regarded. Sounds like Coach's time at Pitt is paying off. Paul Rhoads initial recruiting class can only be regarded as an unqualified success.

GO CYCLONES!

All Pollard's "Rhoads" to a New Head Football Coach Lead to Paul

Paul Rhoades hire as ISU's new Head Football Coach is old news now.

Here's what I like about this guy:

• Seven years as Defensive Coordinator at the University of Pittsburgh. Paul was the only coach there to survive a coaching change which gives me a positive feeling about his commitment to a program.
• That time at Pitt should give him an inside edge in recruiting the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. Cold weather states that routinely produce stellar football recruits. It'll be nice to have good football players that won't balk at playing in our climate: "Ten below zero? No problem, feels just like home."
• The passion he has demonstrated so far closely resembles that of Dan McCarney. Who, by the way, is laughing all the way to the bank this year after obtaining a national championship ring with the University of Florida. I don't think Coach Mac was truly finished at ISU when Pollard ran him off.

With the positives, come some questions:

• Will his time at Pitt help him bring in stellar recruits from the northeastern states?
• After only one season at Auburn, are his recruiting ties in the southeastern states strong enough to help bolster ISU's moribund football program?
• Will his passion translate to retaining Chizik's recruits?

Only time can answer these questions, but I like his chances. One thing is for certain, as Coach Rhoades' success at ISU goes, so goes Pollard's standing as AD. Jamie Pollard and Paul Rhoades are attached at the hip so to speak. Let's hope this hire turns out the way we want it to.

Yet Another New Football Coach for Iowa State!

Another football season, another coaching hire for Jamie Pollard, ISU's Director of Athletics. In an earlier blog post, I wondered if Gene Chizik would stick around to see the fruits of his labors here in Ames, Iowa. But, Auburn University called and off he went to be their head football coach. In retrospect, even if Coach Chizik's resume was stellar, he didn't have experience rebuilding moribund football programs like ISU's. Obviously, he didn't have the patience as well.

The whole relationship between school and coach was simply a bad fit to begin with and no amount of money, perks, or pleading could fix it. Not only the relationship between head coach and school, but head coach and his staff as well considering the changes going on after only the second year being together. We, as fans, need to move on immediately and forget this past episode as an anomoly. We have to commit to focusing on who will be ISU's next head football coach and give him our full support whoever that may be.

Candidates for ISU's now vacant head football coaching position must have at least two important qualifications:

1. A resume with experience in rebuilding football programs back to winning more than losing.
   
2. A resume with not many coaching positions as that will indicate a coach's dedication to finish what he starts.

Jamie Pollard must keep those two factors in mind as interviews prospective hires on his short list. Otherwise, we probably see another coaching disaster like the last one. If that happens, Mr. Pollard, more than likely, loses his job as ISU President Geoffrey's patience runs out. Jamie Pollard must get this hire right, or it's his last one.

Speed is Paramount in Today's Game of College Football

How can one explain the Iowa State football team's poor won-lost record? Speed, or the lack thereof. Think back to the large number of 'almosts' during this past season. The number of times the defense almost sacked the opposing quarterback; the number of times the defense almost tackled the opposing running back; the number of times the defense almost intercepted a pass, or made a play on the opposing pass receiver; the number of times of almost winning the game. Yes, this season can be defined by the number of almost made plays; particularly with the defense.

If our players were another step, or two quicker to the play, these 'almosts' would have been 'realities'. If the team made even half of these almost made plays, this season turns around, and those close losses become victories. We'd be talking about going to a bowl game this year instead of scratching our heads and wondering what went wrong. Yes, just being a step, or two faster makes all the difference in the world in college football today.

So, what does this realization portend for our beloved Cyclone football team? From what I've read and heard about who's on red shirt this year, and about the incoming recruiting class, our team will get a major upgrade in speed next season. Even though the team will be young again, having the speed to close upon opposing players will make up for many mistakes young players make. I foresee a major reduction in the number of 'Big Plays' made against the defense and more consistency on offense. Five victories would not be out of the question for next season with maybe a bowl game in sight if the team gets its share of lucky breaks. Won't that be a turnaround for the ages.

What a Long Season for My Cyclones

Well, here we are approaching the last game of the 2008 football season. Who'd a thunk our team would have only two wins by now and not favored to win on the road this Saturday. Not me, no, I felt this team was good enough for at least three wins by now and favored to win their fourth. I know our team is loaded with sophomores and freshmen, but I thought the talent was there not to finish as the worst team in the Big12 Conference. I'm not going to get down on the coaching staff, yet. But, there needs to be a definite improvement on the won-lost record next year, or I will question the AD's decision to hire a new football team head coach when one was in place that had success in the past. If there is any improvement from last year's team, it certainly is not reflected in the won-lost record. We'll see next year how Coach Chizik and staff work things out for a better won-lost record. BTW, in an unfortunate circumstance for my Cyclones, the Big12 is the best football conference in the country this year. I'm sure that fact played a large role in the Cyclone's weak record this year.

925

Dr. Alan Murdoch, Head Coach of Iowa State University's Men's Ice Hockey team, posted his 925th victory last Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Arizona State. This win ties Dr. Al with former Michigan State coach Ron Mason for the most wins in American College Hockey all time and he's accomplished this feat coaching the same team for forty years.
(http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2008/11/08/sports/hockey/doc491541beb6d34397723194.txt)

In this age of big business sports, coaching forty years with the same team on any level is more than remarkable. I'm sure if Dr. Al wanted, he could have been a head coach at any of the more prominent NCAA ice hockey programs. Instead, he chose to stay with an ISU club team (www.cyclonehockey.com), founding the American College Hockey Association (ACHA, www.achahockey.com) and traveling the State of Iowa and the country helping to establish youth hockey nationwide under the control of USA Hockey (www.usahockey.com). Talk about loyalty to a cause. If such loyalty was a commodity, Dr. Al would be rich beyond his wildest dreams.

Since my youngest son started playing hockey about a year and a half ago, I've become a fan of amateur hockey. If you're in the Ames/Des Moines area, Come up to the Ames/ISU Ice Arena and check out a men's hockey game. The cost is $8.00 per adult. $6.00 per student and $4.00 per child under six; and the concessions are relatively cheap as well. You can't beat that entertainment deal with a ball bat. My cousin from the Chicago area, a Chicago hockey fan, took in a game while visiting and was impressed with the quality of play and the number of fans in attendance at the arena. If she can have fun there, so can you.

BTW, check out an amateur hockey game in your area. Whether it's youth, or college, you're guaranteed to have fun family entertainment.