It is appropriate that Iowa State now plays Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" at the 3rd quarter break, as it describes the attitude of the football program under Coach Campbell.
Given Iowa State's lack of both football budget and tradition, the CSJ staff has low expectations for Cyclone Football. All we ask is to get yourself within one score in the 4th, and find a way to win half of those games. So far this season they are 2-2 in those games, and the second half has been the better half for this team.
Don't back down.
Sunday, November 05, 2017
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Don't Blink
This football team has had plenty of moments to fold, to collapse, to blink.
The last three games, they have not.
On physical ability, this team scores above average for Iowa State football.
Schematically they have the right mix of matching players abilities to the jobs that needs doing.
But it's the mental stability of this group has been most remarkable. Press on in the face of adversity. Run your stuff. Find a way.
I don't recall an Iowa State football team this patient with itself. It's putting Cyclone fan in unknown territory, walking a new road. This may not be the fool's errand a few other season have been.
Enjoy the ride. We've waited a while.
The last three games, they have not.
On physical ability, this team scores above average for Iowa State football.
Schematically they have the right mix of matching players abilities to the jobs that needs doing.
But it's the mental stability of this group has been most remarkable. Press on in the face of adversity. Run your stuff. Find a way.
I don't recall an Iowa State football team this patient with itself. It's putting Cyclone fan in unknown territory, walking a new road. This may not be the fool's errand a few other season have been.
Enjoy the ride. We've waited a while.
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Business
That's what a serious, focused football program should do.
A wet track and bad opponent deserved a vanilla offensive plan, and the offense looked it. But KU bumbled their way into the least impressive blowout you will ever see. The stats don't describe how much of a mismatch the game was.
The next four games- Tech, TCU, WVU, Okie State- are a serious upgrade in quality, and provide four opportunities to break through to the middle of the conference standings.
Being able to say maybe is a great change of pace.
A wet track and bad opponent deserved a vanilla offensive plan, and the offense looked it. But KU bumbled their way into the least impressive blowout you will ever see. The stats don't describe how much of a mismatch the game was.
The next four games- Tech, TCU, WVU, Okie State- are a serious upgrade in quality, and provide four opportunities to break through to the middle of the conference standings.
Being able to say maybe is a great change of pace.
Saturday, October 14, 2017
Tradition
A typical Cyclone football team of the past would follow an epic win with an inexplicable loss.
The 1990 team followed their win in Norman with a blowout loss at home to Nebraska and a horrid loss on the road to Kansas State. The next year KSU went 7-4 and went to a bowl game, so that win was an early sign of progress for Snyder.
The great 2005 team allowed Baylor to break a 37 game B12 road losing streak in Ames.
I expect a long slog on a wet track against KU. Here's hoping we aren't too grumpy at the end.
The 1990 team followed their win in Norman with a blowout loss at home to Nebraska and a horrid loss on the road to Kansas State. The next year KSU went 7-4 and went to a bowl game, so that win was an early sign of progress for Snyder.
The great 2005 team allowed Baylor to break a 37 game B12 road losing streak in Ames.
I expect a long slog on a wet track against KU. Here's hoping we aren't too grumpy at the end.
Sunday, October 08, 2017
Worst/Best
If the Oklahoma press is calling it "The worst loss in Sooner history", then it has to be the best win in Iowa State history.
Given the premise before kickoff, agreed.
Here's hoping it's not an outlier.
Given the premise before kickoff, agreed.
Here's hoping it's not an outlier.
Sunday, October 01, 2017
Just Good Enough To Not Get Blown Out
In Normal Times of Cyclone Football, Texas beats the Iowa States of the world 45-10.
Apparently we are not living in Normal Times, as Texas is ordinary and some believe Iowa State improved- which explains losing 17-7 and not 45-10.
Considering that Texas spending on football probably exceeds Iowa State spending on sports, keeping it interesting into the 4th quarter can be considered an achievement.
Progress can be odd sometimes.
Regardless, without a win against Iowa or Texas, the bowl math gets very difficult, and would be a triple-bank-shot of some kind.
Just keep grinding and hopefully the improvement becomes real.
Apparently we are not living in Normal Times, as Texas is ordinary and some believe Iowa State improved- which explains losing 17-7 and not 45-10.
Considering that Texas spending on football probably exceeds Iowa State spending on sports, keeping it interesting into the 4th quarter can be considered an achievement.
Progress can be odd sometimes.
Regardless, without a win against Iowa or Texas, the bowl math gets very difficult, and would be a triple-bank-shot of some kind.
Just keep grinding and hopefully the improvement becomes real.
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Gap Closed
It was nice to push The Team From Out East to their limit for a change. The talent gap has closed, and the knowledge of what the plan is has clearly improved from 12 games ago.
But the Cyclones still found a way to lose a game they should have won.
Horseshoes and hand grenades is ISU's strength under Campbell. At some point they have to push through.
But it's more fun to be standing at the corner than looking for a corner ahead.
But the Cyclones still found a way to lose a game they should have won.
Horseshoes and hand grenades is ISU's strength under Campbell. At some point they have to push through.
But it's more fun to be standing at the corner than looking for a corner ahead.
Monday, September 04, 2017
Measuring Sticks
The benefit of starting the season with the same opponents as last year is that it's easy to measure progress.
The solid win over UNI was a vast departure from 2016. Improvement.
CSJ staff still isn't convinced that the ISU defense can stop a quality running game, and they will see a quality running game this week.
CSJ also isn't convinced the offense can score against a quality defense, and they will see a quality defense this week.
CSJ thinks the Cyclones lose by 14. So it goes. You get what you pay for.
The solid win over UNI was a vast departure from 2016. Improvement.
CSJ staff still isn't convinced that the ISU defense can stop a quality running game, and they will see a quality running game this week.
CSJ also isn't convinced the offense can score against a quality defense, and they will see a quality defense this week.
CSJ thinks the Cyclones lose by 14. So it goes. You get what you pay for.
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Somehow They Find Six
Clearly, the Cyclone's Bowl Cake will be baked in September.
Find 3 wins out of the first 4 and they are in good shape. Several winnable games out there against teams with question marks.
Football trended up from week 3 of 2016, and 2017 has plenty of yardsticks to measure if the trend is still positive.
There will be an upset along the way, and at least two "should have won that" losses. It's The Cyclone Way. But six wins will be found, and a bowl trip to perk up the holidays.
Find 3 wins out of the first 4 and they are in good shape. Several winnable games out there against teams with question marks.
Football trended up from week 3 of 2016, and 2017 has plenty of yardsticks to measure if the trend is still positive.
There will be an upset along the way, and at least two "should have won that" losses. It's The Cyclone Way. But six wins will be found, and a bowl trip to perk up the holidays.
Review
The further away we get from basketball, the more I think we won't see a run like that again.
So entertaining, so maddening, so close to new heights.
It wasn't that they won so many games, it was how many they pulled out of the fire with ridiculous finishes. That's what made the 6 year run so remarkable.
Cherish it.
So entertaining, so maddening, so close to new heights.
It wasn't that they won so many games, it was how many they pulled out of the fire with ridiculous finishes. That's what made the 6 year run so remarkable.
Cherish it.
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