Is Cy-Hawk a "must win" for I-State's morale?

troy · 09-05-2011, 08:33 AM

Since I-State's AD took over, the Cyclones have gone 18-32 overall in football and 1-3 against the Hawkeyes. Iowa State has shown a lot of improvement the past two years, but they still have not been able to regularly crack the upper echelon of the Big 12. The Cyclone faithful took an immediate liking to AD Pollard, especially so, it appears, because he seemed to be more of an "anti-Iowa" guy than the previous AD, Vande-Whatever. Pollard didn't appear to treat Dan McCarney very well either, especially at his farewell press conference. Coach Mac took the jabs right on the chin and didn't flinch, showing a lot of class in the process. Pollard's sales pitch to the Cyclone faithful was a vintage one of "Hope and Change," and they bought it with enthusiasm.

So, four years down the road, why are the Cyclone faithful still so faithful to their AD? Are they really better off without Dan McCarney? Rebuttals are welcome, but please, feel free to focus on performance on the football field, not fundraising and facilities.

DwayneTwill · 09-05-2011, 08:36 AM

Jamie Pollard: The buck stops ......where? - CycloneFanatic

DwayneTwill · 09-05-2011, 08:38 AM

They think Pollard is a god...

Quote:

I've seen and heard enough from JP to know that if there's a way to get ISU into a new BCS level conference, he'll do it.
...
If BVDV were still here I'd probably be hoping we could go MWC/CUSA instead of the MAC. I don't know if I'd rather have anyone else as AD than Pollard in this situation, I'd rather have him than Gene Smith.

ShadasRevenge · 09-05-2011, 09:06 AM

Slightly misleading thread title.

MisterLucky · 09-05-2011, 09:39 AM

I think the billboard buttered a lot of buns in Cloneland. Easily impressed they be.

imported_ankle23 · 09-05-2011, 09:41 AM

karma. what is the saying about that word?

troy · 09-05-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterLucky

I think the billboard buttered a lot of buns in Cloneland. Easily impressed they be.

Your point is spot on. The AD is anti-Iowa, therefore he's great!

DesMoinesHawki · 09-07-2011, 10:08 PM

Pollard is a good rah-rah guy and gets people to donate money. That being said, you need to put a good product on the floor or the donors will eventually get restless. Signing Cheezeit was a mistake from the beginning. I specifically remember watching the hyped introduction "concert" when they announced the hiring of Chizik and said to my friend: "This won't last more than two or three years." There was no way a coach like that (with absolutely no ties to ISU) would stay at ISU. Chizik simply needed to be able to put "Head Coach" on his resume. Pollard played it safe when he hired Hoiberg because the Cyclone faithful will never turn on Freddy even if he turns out to be a flop. It was a good PR move for Pollard because Hoiberg is God in Ames. That being said, I think Pollard painted himself in a corner because if the Hoiberg experiment does flop he will be the one who has to rid of him. The previous AD (Vandervelde) was not a rah-rah, hate Iowa AD ... Pollard is better at marketing than the previous AD, and I am still convinced he would he would be on the first plane out of Ames if offered a better job. Only problem is ... nobody is knocking on his door ... Have to give Pollard some credit because he hired two home-town boys to lead basketball and football ... But again, that could also work against him if either coach does not succeed ... And, I think hiring Kevin Jackson as the wrestling coach was a mistake. Jackson was a tremendous wrestler but I see the Cyclone wrestling program slowly slipping ... These are his coaches. The next two years or so will have a lot to do with how long Pollard keeps his job ...

TecmoBowl · 09-08-2011, 06:20 AM

The problem is the perception that McCarney would continue to win 7 games, and go to bowls. His recruiting went downhill in 04-06. Lots of guys leaving the program, and not turning out to be difference makers. Chizik was awful, but Dan in reality only wins a few more games during that span. MAYBE Dan goes 9-15 instead of Gene's 5-19. Going 4-8(2006), then 9-15 won't cut it anywhere.

I doubt it was hard for those inside/around the program to see Mac was heading towards some real tough years with players leaving the program at an alarming rate. Thats the hitch that outsiders didn't see.

I don't see how Pollard could re-sell the program coming off a 4-8 season where ISU barely competed while keeping Dan...especially after he and his staff ****** away 2 north titles in 04/05. I think the fan base lost a lot of faith in Dan by the middle of 2006.

Chizik was terrible, but he also generated new ticket sales records and allowed for drastic donation level changes around the stadium heading into 2007. The Chiz was worth millions. That led to nearly 20 new suites, massive concourse renovations, etc. Those increased donation levels, and new suites going forward probably played a large role in the new basketball practice facility, the video board, and the new football facility that opens in 2012.

Dan wasn't going to win **** going forward, while being 15 scholarship players short compared to most everyone else they played. I'll gladly hear arguments the other way though if you can find 12-14 wins for mac in 07/08. Pollard took his lumps, but made strong financial strides in the process. By 2009 ISU would be on the search for a new coach anyways, and wouldn't have dumped 30 million into the program.

BryceC · 09-08-2011, 06:43 AM

If Mac would have won the north in 04 or 05, he would likely still be the coach. Blowing those late games he lost the fanbase. I think we're better off now without him even though we had to "get chizzed" in the meantime.

Frankly the conference realignment thing is completely dwarfing the game. Honestly nobody I know is talking about it. Granted most people I know think we're going to get destroyed so trying to figure out where we're going to end up is much more interesting.

hawkfan340 · 09-08-2011, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryceC

If Mac would have won the north in 04 or 05, he would likely still be the coach. Blowing those late games he lost the fanbase. I think we're better off now without him even though we had to "get chizzed" in the meantime.

Frankly the conference realignment thing is completely dwarfing the game. Honestly nobody I know is talking about it. Granted most people I know think we're going to get destroyed so trying to figure out where we're going to end up is much more interesting.

Bryce, would it help if I talked more smack?

hawkfan340 · 09-08-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryceC

If Mac would have won the north in 04 or 05, he would likely still be the coach. Blowing those late games he lost the fanbase. I think we're better off now without him even though we had to "get chizzed" in the meantime.

Frankly the conference realignment thing is completely dwarfing the game. Honestly nobody I know is talking about it. Granted most people I know think we're going to get destroyed so trying to figure out where we're going to end up is much more interesting.

As for the Mac thing, I think you're right in that if one of those FGs would have went thru, Mac would have stayed the coach. From a Hawkfan standpoint, I was relieved to see him go. From a football fan and a fan of people getting what they deserve perspective, I think it sucked.

I still disagree with many Clone fans about how he would have done going forward in 2007. No one really knows. Chiz brought in a whole new system, and I think the discontinuity made the 2007 players look worse than they were, especially early in the season. Let's say if Dan was still there, they beat Kent St., UNI, still beat Iowa, and Toledo to start the year 4-0. That momentum could have changed everything. Even if they weren't that great, all that would be needed was to steal a few wins in the B12 and there's bowl eligibility.

When people say the Clones would have sucked under Dan, I can't say they're wrong, but the truth is we'll never know.

mj4cy · 09-08-2011, 09:36 AM

I think there was a huge decline in season tickets and donors....so beyond the Ws and Ls, the other factors just weren't there to keep Mac. I love Mac to death, but he just seemed to plateau and never got that success peak. Time will tell if Rhoads can push through and get a couple years of great football.

imported_ankle23 · 09-08-2011, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryceC

If Mac would have won the north in 04 or 05, he would likely still be the coach. Blowing those late games he lost the fanbase. I think we're better off now without him even though we had to "get chizzed" in the meantime.

Frankly the conference realignment thing is completely dwarfing the game. Honestly nobody I know is talking about it. Granted most people I know think we're going to get destroyed so trying to figure out where we're going to end up is much more interesting.

dwarfing the game for clone fan. not iowa.

hopefully your team isn't thinking about it.