Blame

Clone Chronicles lays the NW loss at Greg's feet.

My only quibble is it is November- some of the players are still wearing "Hello, my name is" stickers. This can be fixed.

Peter

Tempo

I suspect we will see others use Northwestern's slow-down strategy to try and take the Cyclones out of their comfort zone.

I expect the Iowa game will be hard to watch. First team to 50 wins.

Better do some work on your half-court sets, boys.

Peter

CU and the Spread

There is much chatter on the Interwebs about CU's TD as time expired to cover the spread. One poster recalled how Hawkins, with a win over ISU locked up in '02, threw to the end zone to run it up. Up 5 at the time, an pick 6 would have lost the game for him.

It brings back memories of the Neuheisel tenure at CU, and how he made sure to cover, even when winning by a pile.

Some things never change.

Peter

Developing Situation

We may have something fun on our hands.

In dispatching the Billikins ISU continued its undefeated start, and overcame a bad first half where the offense wasn't in sync.

The 13-0 second half run that won it was driven by salty defense. SLU failed to score on 9 straight possessions during the run. D like that will win games in conference play.

An SLU follower concurs.

This continues to be interesting. TV of these games would have made it even better.

Peter

Expectations

Before we allow ourselves to get glum over having to accept a trip to Shreveport, let's review where we were in August:

- ISU had a rookie head coach
- Was coming off a 2-10 season
- Owned a 9 game conference losing streak
- Owned a 9 game losing streak to the Big 12 South
- Owned a 13 Big 12 road losing streak
- Hadn't won in Lincoln since '77

My over/under in August was 4, and I was the norm. Only the wild-eyed thought a bowl game was possible.

I think by any measure 2009 is a football success.

Peter

Thumping

Its nice to end an ugly streak with an emphatic win.

We don't know if Iowa State is good, but I'm pretty sure they aren't bad.

Kudos all around. Wish I could have watched it.

Peter

Mangino Out?

Choking a player is a serious charge.

It's a long way from "He makes us run too many laps".

Peter

Alarms

I'm never one to pull a fire alarm after a basketball game in November, but I am very curious to see how things play out tonight.

Given the infusion of athleticism our Cyclones have received, a win at Drake should probably happen. But funny things happen in November on the road.

A good performance may not mean anything down the line, but a bad performance may be a sign of further trouble ahead.

Peter

Memories

Remember the UNLV coach who wouldn't leave the field after losing to ISU a few years back?

He gone.

Peter

Reference

ISU is the same dog to Mizzou that Meeeshigan is to Ohio State: +12.

Peter

Buff Thoughts

Ralphie Report summarizes the thinking on the front range.

It's not looking good for Hawkins.

Peter

Halfhearted

It's a weak effort- nothing like the classic "FireRonZook.com" in his Florida days, which is still active BTW - but it is worth noting.

http://firedanhawk.blogspot.com/

Peter

Gigs for Hawkins

The best line of the day:

While Hawkins was having a time-out chat with the officials, some clever fans yelled out:

"Coach- they ain't hiring!"

Peter

20

Before the season started, the defense stated its goal was to average less than 20 points per game.

So far, the math is pretty simple- the 6 ISU wins have held the opponents under 17, but in losses have given up 24+, usually 35+.

It seems that either the schemes work or they don't. Today they did.

CU's Hansen seemed to make his best throws on the rollout, which also gave him the option of running. The last few series the defense seemed to focus less on pressure and more on containment, which Hansen was unable to convert as well.

Considering ISU's offense never got into a good rhythm (6 3-and-outs), the win gets bigger. If one more second half possession turns into points the game ends early.

Bowl-eligible has a nice ring to it.

Peter

Helpful

Iowa fan reminds us that it is hard to win football games when your QB isn't 100%.

They are so helpful.

Peter

Check Ourselves

Yes, today was disappointing, but in a "We aren't as good as we hoped two weeks ago" way.

Remember, in August most of us were predicting 4 or 5 wins total. We're already a little ahead of schedule.

Yet after today, CU looks a little tougher, and Mizzou a little easier. Crazy.

Peter

Bummed About The Weather

I was secretly hoping for horizontal snow this weekend to play with Okie State's head.

Instead the Cowboys will be enjoy shirt-sleeve weather in Ames this week.

There goes one potential home field advantage. Perhaps a full noisy stadium will make up for it.

Peter

Modern Medicine

When I heard Reggie had his appendix out, I didn't expect him back until the bowl game, if ISU got to one.

He's coming back a bit sooner.

Medicine has improved a bit since I was last paying attention.

P

Ruh-Roh Buffs

When your highly rated recruits start leaving the program, things won't be getting better anytime soon.

Peter

TV Thoughts

It's nice that we get a date with ABC this week, and the extra cash that comes with it. The rest of the Big 12 can check us out.

While I wish the CU game was televised, it also happens to be one of the weakest games on the B12 slate that week:

Saturday, Nov. 14
Texas at Baylor
Colorado at Iowa State
Nebraska at Kansas
Missouri at Kansas State
Texas A&M at Oklahoma
Texas Tech at Oklahoma State

Really, those are ranked in order of increasing watchability. Or put another way, the bottom four deserve to be on TV; thus, the top two don't. If I'm a TV exec, no games involving Baylor or CU get on my network. Deal with it.

Winning more games will fix the long-term problem for ISU.

Peter

Two bits from NU/Baylor

The Husker offense managed 249 yards of offense in Waco. That's weak.

A Waco writer calls out Baylor fans.

Hat tip: the Wiz of Odds.

Peter

Changes in Boulder

Since CU can't afford to can Hawkins, an outside the box suggestion.

I always thought Dan M. should have brought in Earle Bruce just to play with the heads of the players. His teams were tough.

Peter

Changes

Not athletic enough this week. Tell us something we don't know. Sometimes raw guts just isn't enough.

Peter