Cyclone Morning Report

ISU Wins Ugly

2011-11-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

For whatever reason, blogspot is having troubles tonight, so this post will take a bit to recreate.

Long story short, the Cyclones are who we thought they were, not the flash in the pan we saw last week, but a patchwork of players and schemes that will again take time to build.

ISU throttles Tx Tech

2011-10-31T10:17:00.000-05:00

From beginning to end, ISU dominated every phase of the game in Lubbock. The O line, even when Tuftee got hurt and his backup came in, OWNED the line of scrimmage.

My father wondered aloud if ISU is better prepared to handle D lines that are big/strong/slow vs. small/fast d lines. I'm not sure he's wrong. Either way, ISU won the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Sans a late sack for a loss of 8, ISU had 3 100+ yd rushers against Tx Tech. Reviewing the statistics from the game may not look like dominance:

Comp/Att yds Avg TD INT


J. Barnett	14/26	144	5.5	1	0

Until you get here:

368 yard of rushing.
Carries Yards

White, James 31 141
Hollis, Duran 4 101
Barnett, Jared 19 112
Woody, Jeff 11 38
ISU TxTech

TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS 512 290
Total offense plays 93 64

Possession Time 40:09 20:0

Wow boys. ISU also allowed Tx Tech NO passing touchdowns. When you take away an offense's best weapon, you'll win that ball game.

In fact, in the 3rd Quarter, I was starting to tire of ISU having the ball and in really no danger of losing this game at all.

Barnett made good decisions, White and Hollis were quite the duo slashing the Tx Tech defense, and the ISU defense had 2 takeways (one interception was returned 73 yards to put the Cyclones near the red zone!).

It was a great game, best since at least 2002 NU game.

Bring on the J-Hawks!

Again, Long Time no Update

2011-10-31T09:56:00.000-05:00

I was totally heartbroken after the Texas game. I think we all were. ISU didn't play inspired after their bye week, they looked tired.

Then the 'Clones went on to lose to Baylor, and the worst loss at Missouri. Mizzou wasn't on TV, but based on my text updates, ISU played less than exhilirating football.

Texas A&M was at home and at least from my seats, I saw better football plays. Less stupid penalties, still too many turnovers, but the defense held until the Offense was totally ineffective. What we did see, was Jared Barnett come into the game and really "handle" the offense. Good things to come from this!

Gameday Central Hit Tape vs. Texas

2011-10-01T13:12:00.000-05:00

Go Cyclones - Unique journey led Jantz to ISU

2011-10-01T03:37:00.000-05:00

Go Cyclones - Unique journey led Jantz to ISU

ISU vs. Texas

2011-09-30T10:50:00.000-05:00

If your blood isn't pumpting for this one, you're not alive.

http://www.youtube.com/user/isuvideo#p/u/0/8hccPKDvG2c

ISU will walk into Jack Trice +9.5 dogs to Texas, after starting 3-0 in come from behind wins this season.

I do not think ISU can win this game if the 'Clones don't win or tie the turnover margin.

If I'm Wally Burnham, I'd load 8 men in the box and make a young McCoy in his inaugural season beat me through the air. Do NOT let TU run all over the field.

Line play is important, but it will be critical to the offensive success if the O Line can push the TU dline off the ball. I'm nervous here, due to the injuries so far this year, but I think we have "revenge" on the mind.

Jack Trice is officially sold out of anything but a few hundred "singles" throughout the stadium, so expect 56K raucus fans making it possibly louder and bigger than Iowa.

Oh, and if ISU wins, expect a top 25 ranking by Tuesday!

Conference Realignment Must Read

2011-09-22T14:49:00.001-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/09/21/sports/ncaafootball/AP-FBC-Big-12-Texas.html?_r=2&ref=sports

Keys to beating UConn

2011-09-16T08:56:00.003-05:00

1) Win the trenches, especially against a good UConn front 7. If ISU's backs aren't running for their lives or Steele is forced to throw before he's ready, ISU should have a decent offense. I'm looking to the O Line to continue pushing their considerable weight around.. I do not care if we pass to open up the run, might be a good strategy out of the gate, but ISU must establish a run game.

2) And not to talk out of both sides of my mouth, but if ISU can have over 200 yards passing, ISU will roll in this game. I'm hoping ISU puts this game "away" early, as ISU has struggled winning outside of Jack Trice. Getting that monkey off of ISU's back is possible this week, with a win on national tv!

3)This week, again, don't give up the football. ISU needs to start WINNING the turnover battle. Take care of the damned ball! 3 turnovers was too many against Iowa and we had to have home field heroics to win.

Watch the offensive line play, and if ISU can win the field position battle through special teams. If ISU gets traction on offense, ISU will win handily against UConn's lethargic Offense.

Geeking out on Iowa State Football and Basketball - current and past: The Preview: UConn

2011-09-16T08:30:00.000-05:00

Geeking out on Iowa State Football and Basketball - current and past: The Preview: UConn: I have waited until the 11 th hour to put my final thoughts on paper for this game against UConn. The win over Iowa in one of the most ...

Good break down I found this morning

ISU Looms Large on UCONN Radar

2011-09-13T11:32:00.000-05:00

Comments from UConn Fans
http://the-boneyard.com/threads/cmon-huskies-official-iowa-state-vs-uconn-prediction-thread.1216/

Found this tidbit on espn

Season Leaders
ISU
PASS:Jantz 43-77, 466 yds, 5 tds
RUSH:Johnson 27 car, 135 yds, 0 tds
REC:Horne 11 rec, 163 yds, 0 tds

UCONN
PASS:McEntee 18-39, 212 yds, 0 tds
RUSH:McCombs 51 car, 259 yds, 4 tds
REC:Griffin 7 rec, 144 yds, 1 td

So UConn runs the ball more than we do and their QB has no passing TD's on the season with 3 int's. Think this is the game where the D gets some big takeaways? Can ISU take away the run to force McEntee to throw? I think this is a key to the game!

Rest of the stats here:
Connecticut Huskies 2011 Statistics - Team and Player Stats - College Football - ESPN

ISU WINS THRILLER!

2011-09-10T18:19:00.000-05:00

1) ISU won the trenches, which is why ISU outgained the Hawks with a massive 479 yards of offense. The O line played the game of their lives to this point, and if they can maintain, ISU will win a number of football games here.
2) As I said before the game, if ISU can keep the turnovers to +2, they have a shot. If ISU didn't give up that weird bad QB Center exchange on the first drive (in the red zone), ISU would have won this game outright.

ISU played their tails off, and it showed. The coaches had prepared the boys for a dog fight and they wanted it more. Tom Herman may have called the game of his life! ISU's offense was exciting and powerful, hopefully they can maintain against UConn next week!

http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205269670&DB_OEM_ID=10700

http://www.cyclones.com/pdf8/783925.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10700

Keys to winning the ISU vs. Uof I Matchup

2011-09-09T11:10:00.000-05:00

1) Win the trenches, or even stalemate in the trenches. If ISU's backs aren't running for their lives or forced to throw before they're ready, ISU could have a decent offense. I'm looking to Kelechi and Hayworth to shore up the left side of the line this week. I'd love to see a chart of how many plays go left of center this week....
2) Rhetoric, but still true, don't give up the football. If ISU has less than 2 turnovers total for the game, ISU has at least even odds.

Sounds simple, but gosh darn it, we haven't done it in the last 2 head to head contests!

Watch the line play, and all else will settle in. If ISU gets beat off the line, it'll be a long day in Ames.

What it means to play AMERICAN FOOTBALL

2011-09-08T20:57:00.000-05:00

"We are being held hostage right now," Texas A&M president R. Bowen Loftin told the Associated Press. "Essentially, we're being told that you must stay here against your will, and we think that really flies in the face of what makes us Americans for example and makes us free people."

A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties with mutual obligations, which may or may not have elements in writing. The remedy at law for breach of contract is usually "damages" or monetary compensation. In equity, the remedy can be specific performance of the contract or an injunction. Both remedies award the damaged party the "benefit of the bargain" or expectation damages, which are greater than mere reliance damages, as in promissory estoppel. (wikipedia, not perfect but what blog citations are?)

Free Americans, using the terminology Presiden Loftin uses above, having a free market economy, have the ability to enter into agreements or "contracts" with vendors of services, goods, for delivery at a "free" price. Free in this case means free from governmental interference or regulation of the price. So, as "free" American Universities, the Big XII member schools all signed a contract to provide a good (college athletics) for a price (that TV contracts buy rights to and fans buy tickets for).

Now, this "good" is threatened to have lesser supply and arguably lower quality, due to no fault of any of the member institutions that would remain in the Big XII (at least for a week or two). Thusly, the "harm" to institutions like Baylor or Iowa State, is established. The negotiated TV rights and athletic schedules are diminished due to Texas A&M's (aTm hereafter) attempt to join the South Eastern Conference.

So I have to ask what President Loftin really means by "free Americans" above. aTm signed a contract to provide a good and that good has value to the Big XII member institutions. Baylor has reserved it's right to litigation, to protect the value of that good. That's one of the great things about this country, the ability to protect one's interests through an impartial judiciary system.

We all know that aTm wants out, but the most offensive part of their argument is that they want to leave a signed, legal, binding contract, without suffering any of the protective penalties the contract had wrapped into it. Have you ever heard the phrase "no such thing as a free lunch"? Why does aTm think they're able to walk away from a contract that they signed, of sound mind and body without any undue pressure or coercion? This speaks to the whole problem with NCAA football. This is NOT about football, competition, academics, research dollars, or the "right" to associate with anyone you wish to.

This is about the almighty dollar. As you're reading articles about the conference realignments, look for the money. That's where the truth is today. It's about bigger and better contracts, it's about the payday and how to expand your athletic's budget. I'm not about to argue if this is good or bad, that's another day, but aTm is all about it.

The most surprising thing to me, is that aTm doesn't understand the remaining Big XII schools wanting to maintain that massive TV contract and the attached payday. After all, the remaining Big XII schools are just trying to maximize their income....just like aTm.

ISU Wins Ugly

2011-09-03T23:37:00.000-05:00

I'm so mad right now, I can barely put a list together, let alone paragraphs of blog journalism

I am beginning to hate UNI. For real. They played dirty football tonight with late hits and cheap shots. How #4 for UNI stayed in the game is beyond me. Varmah Sonie is a thug and has no place on any football field. Northern Iowa was flagged for 10 penalties in the first half, twice drawing three penalties on the same play, and had 16 for the game.
ISU's offensive line play is god awful. And I mean lower case g god, because "God awful", would be an improvement. This has to improve, end of story.
Having the large number of players out on "displinary" actions is intolerable. I hope every time their replacement fouled up tonight, during film tomorrow, the starter has to do pushups.
Stop hating on Steele Jantz, his legs are a thing of beauty, and his passes in the 4th quarter showed me that he was the right man for the job. Yes, he threw 3 interceptions and 1 TD pass. That 1 TD was while running for his life in the corner of the end zone when we needed it the most. This kid can play ball. He's not the second coming of Seneca Wallace, but deep down I knew that.
Someone please find ISU's running game. Our QB had 80 yards rushing, the rest of the running backs combined didn't get that.
Turnovers hurt worse when its a Div 1-AA team that has 4 takeaways.
Overall, the Cyclones gutted out a victory and had a "game winning drive" for the first time in my recent memory. They deserved this win, and need to make drastic improvements before next week
I love the new scoreboard, the new team entrance series of sirens and "weather service warnings" :-)
I don't envy the Cyclones this week, their butts are about to get worked over, before the Hawkeyes come calling on the 10th.
When singing the alma mater before the game, I almost made it to the end of the song before choking up, I got to "true and loyal, like the bells of Iowaaaaaa......snifff"

Good night and good luck.

Drew out

It's GAME DAY

2011-09-03T07:54:00.000-05:00

My personal Top 3 of today

1) Cannot wait to see our offense in action
2) Cannot wait to hear the fight song about 6-10 times today
3) Cannot wait to celebrate the Cyclones staring 1-0 on their road for a bowl berth!

Week 1 predictions from ESPN

2011-09-01T14:28:00.001-05:00

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/32531/page/picks/big-12-predictions-week-1

I think Steele Jantz makes a statement in this game

Predictions from ESPN

2011-08-31T09:12:00.001-05:00

http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/32444/ten-fearless-predictions-for-2011

Iowa State will beat Iowa in Ames and start the season 3-0. Seneca Wallace would be proud. Steele Jantz and the Cyclones notch their first victory in the rivalry since 2007, then follow it up with a Friday night road win against a depleted UConn team.

New Depth Chart

2011-08-25T11:18:00.000-05:00

http://www.cyclones.com/pdf8/781362.pdf

Of note, Safety Earl Brooks tore his ACL in practice, done for the season. Jacques Washington better get his groove on this year. Still a battle at Tight End, thats a fun problem to have. Still Zach Guyer is listed ahead of Mahoney at PK, but many arm chair analysts think it's to light a fire in Mahoney to "win back" his starting job.

I also love seeing the STABLE of runningbacks, Johnson, Woody, White, Hollis, we're definitely going to run some 2 back sets this year.

Breaking News

2011-08-21T12:04:00.002-05:00

http://cyclonefanatic.com/football/notebook-jantz-steeles-the-show

Steele Jantz will be Iowa State’s starting quarterback when the Cyclones open the 2011 season vs. Northern Iowa on Sept. 3.
Jerome Tiller is academically ineligible for the upcoming season.
For details on all of the above and the conclusion of Iowa State’s fall camp, enjoy this CycloneFanatic.com football notebook.

Cyclone Pool Party!

2011-08-18T15:24:00.002-05:00

http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205184110&db_oem_id=10700

Board of Regents Approve $20 million in facility updates for Football

2011-06-08T11:14:00.000-05:00

The Football Training Facility project would relocate and expand the
space for football operations from the current location within the Jacobson and Olsen Buildings
to a facility to be attached and with interior connections to the Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility
to provide one consolidated location for the football program. A map showing the location of the
proposed facility is included as Attachment C.
The Olsen and Jacobson Buildings currently house the football operations offices, team meeting
rooms, strength training, athletic training, equipment room, locker rooms and general facility
rooms. There is no longer space available in these facilities to adequately meet the functional
needs of the football program. In addition to housing these functions in expanded space, the
new Football Training Facility will provide a team meeting room to seat the entire squad and a
strength training room setup specifically for time efficient workouts to maximize player potential.
The schematic design booklet is included with the Board’s agenda materials. The project
budget of $20.6 million would be funded by athletic debt financing / private giving.

FB Facility Update

2011-05-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

Jamie Pollard said at the CR Tailgate Tour: new FB building going to the Board Of Regents in June. Building will be adjacent to the Bergstrom. A new tunnel will connect the building to Jack Trice Stadium.

Here's what one Cyclone fan had to say on how the "tunnel" will arrive at JTS.

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/football/120436-fb-facility-update-4.html#post2246613

ISU now has 2 bye weeks next year!

2011-05-05T14:24:00.002-05:00

http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&ATCLID=205147284

AMES, Iowa – The Big 12 Conference announced today that Iowa State's final two 2011 football games -- both on the road -- will be moved to different dates to facilitate possible television opportunities.
Conference officials said Iowa State will play at Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 26 and at Kansas State on Saturday, Dec. 3. The Cyclones were originally scheduled to play in Norman, Okla. on Nov. 12 and in Manhattan, Kan. on Nov. 26.
Iowa State will now have two bye weeks on its schedule. The Cyclones will not play the week prior to the Big 12 opener against Texas, nor on Nov. 12 prior to hosting Oklahoma State. Last year, Iowa State and Baylor were the only league schools to play 12 consecutive weeks without a break.

ISU Wrestling Signs 2011 class

2011-04-27T13:42:00.000-05:00

http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&ATCLID=205141158&DB_OEM_ID=10700

The nine new signees are: Connor Clarke (Sherwood, Ore.), Logan Molina (Lincoln, Neb.), Quean Smith (Highland Park, Mich.), Bo Schlosser (Bettendorf, Iowa), Aaron Sorenson (Forest City, Iowa), Alex Spooner (Forest City, Iowa), Tyler Swope (Davenport, Iowa), Shayden Terukina (Kamehameha, Hawaii) and Tanner Weatherman (Huxley, Iowa). Between the nine wrestlers, they have collected 13 state titles.

A 2nd ESPN game?!?!?!?

2011-04-26T14:32:00.000-05:00

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110426/SPORTS020602/110426024/Iowa-State-football-lands-second-ESPN-game-in-2011

The 2011 Iowa State home game against Oklahoma State on Friday night, Nov. 18 was originally set for Saturday Nov. 19, but ESPN offered the schools national TV exposure on Friday.