THE MAGIC IS STRONGER THAN THE MAN

First off, Cyclone basketball fans, let’s acknowledge our collective pain.  We’re all hurting, whether you’re the outspoken Twitter rant type, or the more reserved type who suffers quietly.  We all hurt following home losses like those we’ve experienced recently, particularly the one that concluded 2019.  Why do we hurt?  Because something we love and take pride in appears wounded, and gravely so.  As fans of Iowa State athletics, there are few precious things that we would collectively consider definitive points of pride.  Hilton Magic is one of those things, and its proud reputation has been damaged (arguably, defiled) over the past three seasons of college basketball.

As I’ve applied my own personal coping method following losses of this nature, probing the temperature of Cyclone Nation on various message boards and social media outlets, I’ve noticed a frequent refrain among the calls for a new coach: Hilton Magic is dead.  Such a statement generates significant emotion from the Cyclone fanbase; a rallying cry for some, and blasphemy to others.

Regardless of your personal reaction to such claims, the origin is typically the same: a home loss that was either universally unexpected (this past New Year’s eve) or carried significant emotional implications (the recent loss to rival Iowa). Such a reaction is expected and, arguably, rational following such uninspiring performances in the hallowed arena that is Hilton Coliseum.  I don’t seek to downplay or minimize those reactions as I’ve experienced and expressed them myself over the years.  Rather, I want offer some reassurance.

This isn’t the first time that Hilton Magic has been pronounced dead.  Look no further than the McDermott era, when such proclamations came early and often.  (And, again, with good reason.)  Those were desperate times, which I experienced up close as a season ticket holder for each and every season.  Yet the fate of the Magic wasn’t held by one man or one era.  I posted the following to this generally dormant personal fan blog in March of Hoiberg’s first season: BELIEVE IT.

On the heels of the demoralizing McDermott era, the Cyclones finished in last place that season, yet you could feel the Magic!  What that transition proved to me is that the ultimate fate of Hilton Magic is not at the mercy of the Iowa State men’s basketball head coach and the performance of his team.  Yes, the physical expression and on-court manifestation of the Magic may ebb and flow with each season.  But there is not a man, a roster, nor a season that can extinguish the Magic.  Why?  Because the Magic does not exist within the persons who set foot on the hallowed hardwood.  The Magic exists and emanates from us, the fans.

How do I know that?  I know that because I’ve been in Hilton Coliseum to experience the Magic.  I know that because I’ve felt it spontaneously originate in my belly, fill my lungs, and erupt across my vocal chords at decibel levels I’ve only experienced in that majestic concrete structure.  I’ve then felt the goosebumps and the surge of energy as it reverberates off of the rafters and onto the arena floor.  I’ve then seen the manifestation of the Magic in the players, as they respond with seemingly impossible comebacks and victories against hated foes.

Hilton Magic is not dead, no matter how little the current collection of coaches and players seem to cherish and respond to it.  I know that because I feel it in my belly with each keystroke, and I know you feel it in yours.  Those who have experienced the Magic likely feel a lump of pride in their throat as they evoke memories of games and seasons past.  Hilton Magic is a point of pride that can never be extinguished as long as we, the Cyclone Nation, hold it dear.  And I KNOW WITH CERTAINTY we hold it dear.  Take heart, Cyclone fans.  Hilton Magic is stronger than the man.

WHOSE FLOOR IS IT?

I figured a basketball season that exciting warranted dusting off the ol’ blog.  Check out CycloneFanatic.com for my take on eventually naming the Hilton Coliseum floor.  GO CYCLONES!

–psychlone99

IOWA STATE, THE FRANCHISE

It’s clearly been awhile since I was last inspired enough to hammer out a blog update.  Well, the mood finally struck again, and my latest update has been posted over at CycloneFanatic.com.  I enjoyed writing it, so I hope you all enjoy reading it.  GO CYCLONES!

–psychlone99

SLEEPING GIANT

CycloneFanatic.com recently posted my latest blog update to their front page.  It’s a quick and dirty take on the growing number of basketball transfers that have decided to call Ames their home.  Enjoy!

–psychlone99

CHANGES

I wanted to pass some news along to those of you who subscribe to my blog (and there’s more of you than I ever thought there would be).  You may be seeing less material from me here, but not because we’re entering the long layoff between the college basketball and college football seasons.  Instead, I will be contributing occasional pieces to CycloneFanatic.com, an opportunity that I’m very excited about.

While this material will be exclusive to CF and will not be posted here, I will not be completely abandoning Eye of the Storm.  There will likely be things that I will want to discuss here that may not be the type of material that Chris Williams (CF Publisher) is looking for on his site.  And, quite frankly, some of the pieces that I submit may not make the cut.  In that case, I will probably post them here.

I’m pumped to have an opportunity to contribute to a site that has such a large following of Cyclone fans.  As I understand it, my pieces will be posted to the front page, which is the case with my first contribution, “Opportunity Knocks.”  (Believe it or not, I wrote this and sent it off to Chris last night.  You’ll understand why that is ironic once you read the piece.)

I’m sure many of you are already familiar with CycloneFanatic.com.  If you aren’t, check out the site after you jump over to read my latest piece.

–psychlone99

BELIEVE IT.

If you’ve been inside Hilton Coliseum in the past week, you may have noticed something- something that may have caught many of you off guard.  It starts with a buzz and then quickly grows to a roar.  You may even notice the hairs on the back of you neck standing up just a bit.  There’s been a hint of electricity that has returned to the atmosphere inside of that majestic concrete structure at the corner of Lincoln Way and University Boulevard.  Could that be what some of us think it is?

By now you probably know what I’m about to ask, so I’ll just get on with it.  Is the Magic returning to Hilton?  To answer that question, I think we first need to define what the Magic really is.  Some have argued that it would never return- that it was, in fact, dead.  These folks are the ones that I would categorize as the traditionalists- the ‘Keepers of the Magic’.  They define Hilton Magic as those memorable happenings where an underdog Cyclone squad is willed to victory by the energy and atmosphere generated by a frenzied crowd.

While I agree that these are the very circumstances that created the Magic in the first place, I refuse to believe that these are the only circumstances under which the Magic can exist.  And, frankly, if Iowa State needs to be the perennial underdog for the Magic to be present, I’ll go ahead and pass.  I’d rather cheer for a talented team that’s expected to win on their home court more often than not.  But it’s a moot point, as I believe you can define Hilton Magic in more generic terms.

In my mind, there is a modern-day Magic, which is more about an electric atmosphere than an overachieving underdog.  Of course I’m not talking about just any college basketball atmosphere, but one that is feared by opponents, respected by the national media, and cherished by the Cyclone fans and players.  We’ve had that, even without the underdog status.  I respect the Keepers of the Magic and their borderline stubbornness when it comes to applying the Hilton Magic tag to anything beyond its original roots.  Those were special times in Cyclone basketball history, but this Cyclone fan is unwilling to declare dead something that we all take such great pride in.

For those who were in Hilton this past week, did you not sense a hint of something special in air?  Granted, it was fleeting.  But, even with a team sitting in last place in the conference, there were glimpses of an arena and its inhabitants that are clawing their way up off of the canvas.  Cyclone fans are hungry, and our once-feared coliseum is ready to explode again.  Look no further than this year’s attendance figures, where Iowa State trails only two Big 12 schools- perennial powers, Kansas and Texas.

Cyclone fans believe in Fred Hoiberg and the future of Cyclone basketball.  This team plays an exciting brand of basketball and they never stop fighting, which, combined with improved talent, are two ingredients that will eventually lead to the rebirth of Cyclone basketball and Hilton Magic.  That rebirth is nowhere near complete, and it may not be completed next season, even with the debut of the All-Transfer Team.  But it will happen.  Believe it.

–psychlone99

SMALL VICTORIES

Winning is everything, or so they say.  Under normal circumstances, I would agree with this all-or-nothing stance.  And by ‘normal circumstances’ I mean those that don’t involve a BCS conference team going from the brink of the Final Four to almost complete irrelevance within the span of a decade.  But those are exactly the circumstances that Iowa State basketball finds itself in.

If winning was everything, it wouldn’t be possible for me to feel any better about this current team than I did about any of the previous four.  But it is possible, and I do feel better about this team- at least better than I felt about McDermott’s final two squads.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not jumping for joy over a team that currently sits at 1-12 in conference.  But when a program has bottomed out, a part of you shifts from hoping for the highly improbable W to looking for the smaller victory- that w within the L.

First and foremost, this team is competitive, even as the losses have mounted.  Some may consider this loser talk, and it probably is.  That’s the reality that is Iowa State basketball.  But a silver lining in this reality is that this current group of Cyclones fights like hell more often than not, and does so with the most limited rotation in the Big 12.  Of Iowa State’s 14 losses, only four have come by double digits, and those losses were at #14 Mizzou, at Colorado, at #2 Kansas, and at #5 Texas.

Another reason to feel good about this team is the freshmen, namely, Ejim, Godfrey, and Railey.  Many had high expectations for Ejim, but, as a whole, this trio has overachieved.  Not only have they performed well for first-year players, but they carry themselves with a little swagger and don’t seem to be intimidated on the court.  With everyone looking forward to next season and the debut of the All-Transfer Team, it’s nice to know that these sophomores-to-be will be able to contribute… or more.

Also encouraging is the fact that this team seems to respond well to Hoiberg and his staff.  Clearly they haven’t quit, competing deep into a very difficult season.  And, anecdotally, the coaches seem to get a lot of bang for their buck when it comes to coaching this group up during timeouts.  I’ve never seen a Cyclone staff that convenes a shorter huddle, which would be worrisome if the team flopped more often than not following the break in action.  But, typically, it’s just the opposite.

Finally, I’ve mentioned the freshmen, so let’s talk about a senior: Diante Garrett.  The very mention of his name will ignite a heated debate any time two or more Cyclone fans are gathered.  For the record, I would just like to say LAY OFF!  The guy has put in four full years as a Cyclone, something that hasn’t happened since… Jared Homan???  I’m guessing, but the point is that, during a turbulent period when player after player has decided to leave Ames with eligibility remaining, Garrett has gutted it out with little reward.  But he doesn’t complain and, believe it or not, he’s actually turning in one hell of a senior season.  This has a lot to do with Garrett’s dedication, with a little assist from a coaching staff that lets him do what he does best.

This wouldn’t be an honest post without acknowledging those things that have given us all a reason to be concerned.  I think it goes without saying that this year’s Cyclones have displayed a gut-wrenching inability to seal the deal in close games.  When only four of 14 losses have come by double digits, that means you’ve lost a slug of close contests.  In fact, Iowa State has won just three games decided by single digits, and we did everything we could to give away the Creighton game before dodging OT with an illegitimate “game-winner” at the buzzer.

With a limited rotation that is undoubtedly gassed by the time 40 minutes have elapsed, I typically wouldn’t be nearly as concerned.  What has frustrated this Cyclone fan is the coaching staff’s apparent stubbornness in handling late-game situations.  Time after time they employed the same strategy with the same frustrating result.  Going to your best player made sense the first few times, but eventually it falls into the definition of insanity that is commonly attributed to Einstein: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Throughout the season, these failures in close games have haunted the Cyclones, and have continued to be my greatest concern.  But, as we all know, Hoiberg is a highly-intelligent man, and I’m confident that he will find a way to correct this deficiency.  While a comfortable win may be just what the doctor ordered for this team, part of me is hoping for some nail-biters down the stretch to see if we can discover the winning formula yet this season.

Ultimately, the 2010-2011 Cyclones have proven to be exactly what most experts predicted them to be: talented enough for last place in the Big 12.  But there are many reasons for hope, and I honestly believe that I’m not grasping at straws when I say that.  Here’s to next season, a return to relevance, and the rebirth of Cyclone basketball.

–psychlone99

BIG BOY PANTS

Word spread on Thursday that a big announcement had been made by Coach Rhoads at a recent Cyclone Gridiron Club event.  The announcement was one that many Cyclone fans, including myself, have been waiting to hear for quite some time.  Without an official release from the athletics department, many details remain unclear, but here are the basics: According several who were in attendance at the event, Rhoads announced that the new score/videoboard structure will be completed before the coming season and, most importantly, that the south endzone and football-only complex will be constructed not long thereafter.

It’s unclear what was actually said regarding the construction schedule for the south endzone and football complex, but this is excellent news, regardless.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that this news is second only to the hiring of Rhoads and Hoiberg in recent years.  In my preseason football write-ups, I identified this announcement as the number one thing that I would be watching for during the season.  I put this announcement above all potential on-the-field happenings because, in my mind, it is that important for Iowa State football and Iowa State athletics in general.  Here’s why.

As I’ve mentioned before, this isn’t just about the stadium.  Pollard has spearheaded many much-needed facilities improvements, but this is about making a big leap towards bringing our facilities to a level more comparable to some of the ‘haves’ in college football.  This announcement is about no longer being little ol’ Iowa State and, instead, acting aggressively to improve our position in the college football pecking order.  And, most importantly, it’s about impressing Joe Recruit and finally having a stadium worthy of the Big 12.

With signing day not far in the rear view mirror, the importance of attracting high-caliber athletes should be fresh in the minds of Cyclone fans.  Drive by Jack Trice on a Saturday night after football season and you may wonder why the stadium is lit up like a Christmas tree.  The season has been put to bed, but some important business is taking place down on the field.  With the lights glowing, potential future Cyclones are strolling the field as the coaching staff helps them envision playing on that surface next fall.  The recruits soak it in, recalling other football stadiums they’ve recently visited.  And, if they’re the caliber of athlete that Iowa State needs to win in the Big 12, those young men have seen several stadiums that are significantly more imposing than Jack Trice.  That is the current reality, but it’s a reality that Coach Rhoads and Jamie Pollard are working hard to change.

So what of the naysayers who continue to insist that Iowa State doesn’t need to increase the capacity of it’s football stadium?  For starters, we’re not yet sure if this initial phase will include an upper deck in the south endzone.  If it does not, overall capacity will not be increased by any notable amount.  The grass corners will simply put on their big boy pants and become permanent seats.  If an upper deck is eventually constructed, then we’re looking at a nominal increase in overall capacity.  Either way, this Cyclone fan has no concerns that this is an unwarranted investment.

For some perspective, let’s take a look back at when the Cyclones moved from Clyde Williams Field to Jack Trice Stadium.  In the final five seasons in Clyde Williams, the average attendance was just over 30,500.  The capacity of the old stadium was 36,000.  In the Cyclone’s first season in Jack Trice (1975), Iowa State averaged just shy of 40,000 per game.  This was a substantial bump in attendance, but this single season doesn’t mean much by itself.  Looking further, average attendance continued to grow at a healthy clip, reaching almost 52,000 in 1982.

So do these numbers prove that if you build it, they will come?  Not necessarily as Cyclones had a nice run of success under Earl Bruce over the three seasons following our nation’s bicentennial, winning eight, eight, and eight before Bruce left Ames and went on to win four Big 10 titles in nine seasons at Ohio State.  Clearly, winning puts butts in the seats, and that responsibility will fall on Coach Rhoads and his staff.  What the attendance figures do prove, however, is that a school isn’t forever relegated to certain attendance ‘bracket’.  Teams can and do move on up, but the seats have to be in place or it’s a moot point.

Iowa State has made tremendous strides on Pollard’s watch when it comes to improving facilities, but everything that’s been done to this point will pale in comparison to these improvements.  Football is king in college athletics.  It pays the bills and brings in the big bucks.  As a result, die-hard Cyclone fans like myself will be anxiously awaiting an official announcement from the athletics department.  Until then, we will continue our quest to explain this to those fans who (shockingly) fail to grasp the significance of this news.

–psychlone99

POLLARD’S PICKS

Now that Cyclone fans are starting to feel like we know a little bit about Fred Hoiberg, Head Coach, I thought it might be a good time to revisit the hires that have been made in the ‘big two’ sports on Pollard’s watch.  Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Pollard has had the opportunity (if you want to call it that) to hire two basketball coaches and two football coaches.  Athletics directors who have done the same in a single tenure are probably as rare as it is to see a well-officiated college basketball game these days.

More often than not, an AD usually finds himself out of a job before getting a do-over in one of the two revenue generating sports.  But Pollard has found himself in a unique and strange situation.  Even after his initial hires in basketball and football turned out to be busts, it was hard for the honest fan to light the torch and grab the pitchfork and go beat on Mr. Pollard’s door.  Why?  Because it’s dang near impossible to criticize the hires given the information that was available at the time.  Let’s take a look back.

GREG MCDERMOTT

Background: Iowa State was coming off of Wayne Morgan’s third season (16-14, 6-10), which was a disappointment following a NCAA 2nd round appearance the season prior.  The general consensus among fans was that Iowa State had been underachieving given the talent at hand.  Another common belief was that Iowa State, on the whole, was an undisciplined team.  These were debatable, but certainly not unreasonable, opinions.

It’s also important to note that Iowa State was just a handful of seasons removed from back-to-back conference championships.  After all, fan mindset and expectations, both of which can fluctuate wildly, are important considerations.  Meanwhile over in Cedar Falls, Greg McDermott’s Panthers were coming off of three consecutive NCAA appearances.  Given Northern Iowa’s lack of historical success, this was reason enough to take a good look at McDermott.  Add to that the fact that many viewed the Iowa native as the anti-Morgan – leader of highly disciplined, overachieving teams – and the Panther head man seemed like a no-brainer.

Pros:

• Highly successful head coach at multiple levels
• Coached well-disciplined, overachieving teams
• Defeated Iowa State’s last NCAA tourney team by 17 points
• Native Iowan

Cons:

• No guarantee that coaching success would translate to Big 12 level
• Concerns related to devotedness given UNI ties

Verdict: McDermott was 59-68 over four seasons with an aura of negativity hanging over the program for most of his tenure.  Frankly, Iowa State was bailed out by some bold folks over in Omaha.  That said, the failures of McDermott’s four seasons can’t rewrite history prior to March 2006.

GENE CHIZIK

Background: When it comes to Chizik, there’s a large number of people who like to play the “I told you so” card.  Funny, I don’t recall hearing these warnings shortly after Iowa State shocked the college football world and hired him out of Texas.  Iowa State was coming off of Dan McCarney’s most disappointing season since the 2003 debacle, going 4-8 in 2006.  While 2006 may have sealed Mac’s fate, it was the way that the 2004 and 2005 seasons ended that amplified the failures of his final year.

With the Big 12 North up for grabs in those seasons, Iowa State failed to secure a berth in the title game in back-to-back season finales against a couple of mediocre opponents.  The fanbase never really recovered, and 2006 was nothing but salt in an already gaping wound.  As Pollard would famously (and correctly) state, Cyclone football could no longer sell hope.  Enter Gene Chizik- the defensive coordinator from Texas who was widely viewed as an up-and-comer in the college football coaching ranks.  The hire shocked observers around the nation, most of whom couldn’t believe Iowa State was able to nab such a quality candidate.

Pros:

• ‘Splash’ hire who could re-energize the fanbase
• Big program guy who could bring that ‘big time’ mentality to Ames
• Southern recruiting connections

Cons:

• Limited understanding of the challenges that face an Iowa State
• No local ties that would keep him in Ames if offered other opportunities

Verdict: Chizik was an embarrassing and inexcusable 5-19 over two seasons.  With the Iowa State program going nowhere but down, some generous folks down at Auburn did us all a favor by taking Mr. I-Won’t-Stoop-Down-To-Your-Level off of our hands.  But again, as bad as the Chizik ‘era’ turned out to be, the hire could only be criticized in hindsight.

PAUL RHOADS

Background: There’s not much to say following 5-19.  After Auburn’s move left the college football world scratching their collective heads, Cyclone fans now had an opportunity to re-evaluate what it is they really wanted and needed in their next coach.  Look no further than the two bullet points listed as ‘cons’ under Mr. Eugene Chizik.  Iowa State needed someone who really understood Ames, Iowa and the challenges that a coach would face in trying to build a winning football program.  A coach with local ties would have a distinct advantage when it came to this level of understanding, and Paul Rhoads fit the bill perfectly.

Pros:

• Local guy who coached previously at Iowa State under McCarney
• Understood the landscape and had a detailed plan for winning
• Potential longevity

Cons:

• May not energize the fanbase like a ‘splash’ hire
• Some fans viewed him as McCarney 2.0

Verdict: Still out.  After just two seasons, it’s hard to say that Paul Rhoads has definitively proven anything.  But with a bowl victory and a winning record in season one, and a number of impressive victories in his 25 games as the head man in Ames, he certainly hasn’t disappointed.  Add to this his obvious passion for the game and his love for his team and program, and this hire appears to be borderline brilliant.

FRED HOIBERG

Background: There’s not much to say following 59-68.  Just like in football, Cyclone fans were given an unexpected opportunity to re-evaluate what it is that they really wanted and needed out of McDermott’s successor.  However, unlike football, Iowa State needed a change in style of play more than it needed a change in personality.  With the exception of those fans who took McDermott’s failures as a coach far too personally, very few people disliked McDermott the man.  Regardless, the Cyclones’ grind-it-out offensive style combined with consistent losing made Hilton Magic nothing more than an afterthought.  Iowa State’s basketball program needed an immediate boost of excitement and an up-tempo team to re-energize Hilton.  Again, Pollard’s man fit the bill perfectly.

Pros:

• Local hero and Iowa State alum who knew the program intimately
• Intelligence and charisma amplified by his local celebrity
• NBA experience and ability to evaluate college talent
• Potential longevity

Cons:

• No coaching experience at any level

Verdict: Still out.  It’s far too early to make any bold statements about the future under Coach Fred.  That said, the early returns have gone a long way towards inspiring confidence in the fanbase and outside observers.  From the very beginning, the rookie head coach’s squad has performed surprisingly well, all things considered.  With the Cyclones already exceeding expectations in season one,  and the anticipated debut of the so-called ‘best scout team in America’, excitement is certain to be off-the-charts heading into 2011-12.

Looking at each of these four hires, specifically within the context of the unique and often bizarre circumstances leading to each respective vacancy, it’s hard to argue with the men that Pollard tabbed in these situations.  Having said that, I’m hoping Iowa State can avoid the drama and excitement of coaching searches for a long, long time.  And I think we will, at least in the ‘big two’ sports.

–psychlone99

ODDS AND ENDS

It’s been awhile since I last graced this space with a post.  I have no real excuse.  Inspiration has been lacking, I guess.  But while there really isn’t anything burning in my belly, there are a few issues that I would like to touch on.  Consider this a cramming session of sorts.

Basketball:

There’s still a lot to learn about this team, but I can honestly say that I have been pleasantly surprised with Hoiberg’s first squad and the job he’s doing thus far as a rookie head coach.  If someone would have offered me 9-2 through 11 games, I would have taken it in a heartbeat, even with the two losses being of the heartbreak variety.  I’m certainly not saying that the Cyclones have arrived, but the Mayor’s first month in office has been more impressive than I expected, which makes the thought of next year’s talented squad even more tantalizing.

Admittedly, I expected many more stinkers to this point- something we really haven’t seen much of.  With the switch to an up-tempo offense, I expected a lot of mistakes and turnovers.  Iowa State is averaging just 11.2 turnovers per game, which is 327th nationally and second fewest in the Big 12. Defensively, I expected many more possessions marked by mental lapses.  Cyclone opponents are shooting just 36.7%, good for 14th nationally and fourth in the Big 12.  Iowa State is currently the fifth best team in the Big 12 in scoring defense.  Consider me impressed.

With four non-conference games remaining, Iowa State has a very good shot to enter the Big 12 slate at no worse than 12-3.  The game at Virginia on December 30th will be a tremendous test, as the 6-3 Cavaliers recently knocked of then #15 Minnesota in Minneapolis as part of the ACC/Big 10 Challenge.  If the Cyclones can find a way to win a road game of that caliber, I’ll have to check my excitement as we head towards conference play.

Rhoads Rumors:

If you’ve been paying attention to the coaching merry-go-round that always takes place this time of year, you probably heard that Coach Rhoads was mentioned by several media outlets as a possible candidate to replace Dave Wanndstedt at Pittsburgh.  (Rhoads was defensive coordinator at Pitt from 2000 through 2007.)  While it sounds as if Rhoads had little to no interest in the job all along, these rumors elicited all sorts of reactions among the Cyclone faithful.

In my opinion, the most shocking of these was the “if this happens, Pollard should be fired immediately” take.  Huh?  Because he hired a talented and respected head coach?  I’m assuming the logic must have been that if Rhoads were to leave it would have to be because Pollard didn’t do enough to keep him happy, which is laughable, in my opinion.  First of all, Pollard offered Rhoads his first head coaching gig, a gesture that was highly appreciated, I’m sure.  Also, I have my doubts that Pollard has a secret vault under the Jacobson building where he’s hoarding piles of cash that could otherwise be used to bump salaries and improve facilities.

Pollard has done his job.  He has hired talented coaches and has clearly articulated his plan for surrounding these coaches with the resources that they need.  Heck, even Rhoads himself has plainly stated what it is that he would like to see.  He wants butts in the seats of Jack Trice Stadium and a new football-only complex.  Guess who needs to make this happen?  I’ll give you a hint: Pollard and Rhoads aren’t buying season tickets and printing their own money.  If we don’t want to lose Coach Rhoads the next time there’s an opening on the merry-go-round, we fans need to step up and take some ownership.

JUCO QB:

This week Iowa State signed Steele Jantz (helluva name, by the way), a 6’4″ 220-pound JUCO QB out of California who threw for 3,075 yards and 23 TDs this season.  This left many fans scratching their heads- not because Jatz isn’t worthy of a scholarship, but because the roster is already loaded with fair amount of supposedly talented QBs.  I don’t necessarily fall into the camp that believes the coaches wouldn’t sign Jantz if they didn’t expect him to be the starter in 2011.  At the QB position, I think he’s worth a scholarship if he can push a much-needed competition and at least be a quality back-up.  After all, a back-up QB is just a play away from being the man.

What this does signal, in my opinion, is that the staff isn’t all that confident in Tiller’s ability to lead this team next season, and for good reason.  Quickly, name one thing that Tiller does better than Austen Arnaud.  Anything?  Fans were often very critical of Arnaud last season, yet Tiller has a long way to go for the QB position to even be as good, let alone improved, in 2011.  I don’t believe the coaches are giving up on the young guys in the system, but they clearly want another ‘experienced’ QB to push these guys and provide more options if a young buck like redshirt freshman Jared Barnett can’t take the offense run with it.

New Scoreboard:

Sometimes Cyclone fans have to take joy in the little things, which is why I can’t wait to see renderings of the new Jack Trice Stadium scoreboard that is scheduled to be constructed this offseason.  Plans call for the structure to be built over the Jacobson building in the north endzone, opening up the south endzone for an eventual seating expansion.  Pollard has stated that the scoreboard will not be able to utilize the Jake for structural support, meaning it has to go up and over and be anchored into the ground on each side of the building.  Translation: It should be one heck of an impressive structure.

A new stadium sound system is also part of this project.  Couple these much-needed improvements with rumors that the scoreboard design could incorporate tunnel entrances of some sort, and I’m dying to see the plans.  Jack Trice Stadium has come a long way in recent years, but it’s far from a finished product.  Baby steps.

–psychlone99