Support Your Team, and Your University
by CrossCyed on Mar 9, 2010 9:24 PM CST
7 comments
What's up SBNation? I haven't been around in a while, but I figured I'd contribute a little ol' fanpost before tomorrow night's battle royale (with cheese) against the Texas Longhorns. Now, coming fresh off the first win against a ranked team in the Greg McDermott era, it's easy to notice the Greg McDermott backers saying "ha! I told you so!" as well as the haters saying "fluke!" during the last few days. But does any of that really matter?
I've admittedly never been much of a Greg McDermott fan. Hated the hire. Hated the results. And, you know what? I might have even been of the opinion that a loss would have been beneficial against Kansas State if it would have meant, for sure, that we'd go into next year with a new coach. But that didn't happen. And yesterday during the weekly winter sports press conference, Jamie Pollard confirmed that McDermott would return for next year. And, if one reads between the lines, McDermott is here even longer unless next year is even more disappointing, or he gets Larryed with some co-eds from NDSU.
At this point, there's nothing that those of us that wanted a coaching change can do.
Except cheer your balls off (or ovaries, if you swing that way) for Iowa State tomorrow night, and going forward.
It's not really about being "right" about the coaching staff. I don't care if I thought McDermott would tank, and I don't really care if you thought he would succeed immediately. Point is, we've suffered through enough crappy basketball to last us a while. No one should really care how we start to climb back to relevancy.
This isn't about the coaching staff at all. It's about the program, and its about the players.
I'm calling on all you Cyclone fans to tune in tomorrow night at 8:30. And hopefully again against Baylor on Thursday night. These players deserve your support. Guys like Scott Christopherson, who has played through mono during most of the last half of the season. Or a guy like Craig Brackins, who turned down millions of dollars to take a shot at the postseason at ISU. Or even Chris Colvin, a guy who essentially told his teammates to fuck off after the Duke game, and has now worked his way back into the rotation, as well as semi-respectability. These guys have busted their ass all year, with varied results. It's not too much to ask to support them.
At this point it does no good to bitch about the team and the results so far this year. I'm not asking anyone to forget the last four years. We're all disappointed. But, you have a collection of guys from Marquis Gilstrap to Alex Dorr that have been working day in and day out to represent the Iowa State University on a national stage. If you can't make it to Kansas City, tune in tomorrow.
As Iowa State fans, we've long held ourselves to be a great fanbase, thanks to our unwavering support. The men's basketball program needs that more than ever. You don't need to like our coaching staff. You don't have to like our athletics director. You don't even have to like each individual player. But, be proud to be an Iowa State fan. You're part of a special group that has undergone more suffering than many fanbases could ever imagine.
Loyal sons forever true, man. Loyal sons forever true.
This FanPost does not necessarily represent the opinions of Clone Chronicles or SB Nation
1 recs |
7 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
umm... rec'd
nice to hear from ya again CrossCyed
"Stats from the spring," he said when handed the numbers. "I can take those down to the spare bathroom in the house. We can put them to use down there."
- Paul Rhoads
Seriously?
If you are not for winning and improving the team, what are you for? The angst expressed here is due to a longing to return to days when the Cyclones were a good basketball team. Remember those days? Remember when playing a top 5 team at home meant a shot at a big win? Remember when a sweet-16 birth was expected? Remember when, if the stars lined up correctly, making it to the final 4 was a possibility?
I do. But, the fact of the matter is that this coach (and probably AD, too) have let this team slide to where a 50% winning record is a “good year.” Ugh. Hilton Magic? Are you kidding me? And how many games did we watch, just this year, with a lead at half time where deep down you KNEW this team would lose it? Let’s be serious about where we stand! Then, ask your self if it is acceptable.
Does this team have:
1) Decent recruiting? Nope.
2) Decent player motivation (by the coach)? Nope.
3) Decent player development? Got to say “No” here, too.
Aren’t all of these the responsibility, at least in part, of the head coach? And if the head coach isn’t performing here, isn’t that the responsibility of the AD to notice and take corrective action?
I’m all for supporting the Cyclones. I am just not willing to accept them as the perennial losers of the Big-12. I am also not willing to accept McDoormat as the head coach.
i had a great post all typed up in response to you
but i clicked cancel by accident and i dont want to type it again, the main points were that mcd is IMO an underrated recruiter (did we just luck into gilstrap, brackins and dendy?), mcd must be doing something to get the players motivated for games or else they could have packed it in a long time ago (see iowa hawkeyes basketball, 2010 edition), and finally that player development cant just be judged by the decline of beackins’ stats (could be teams are defending him differently this year what with JVB being out this year). i was going to make a point about your so called “glory days” of isu basketball. i went and looked at the recent tournament teams and umm well… here wiki has it in nice table form but you can find the same info on the isu basketball history PDF document on cyclones.com. as you can see we advanced to the final four exactly once in history back in 1944, the elite eight once in 2000, and the sweet 16 twice in 1986 and 1997. granted a sweet 16 birth was expected in 2001 but we became the first 2 seed to lose to a 15 seed (we also lost in the big 12 tourney in the first round that year). remember you are talking about a basketball program that is 1160-1190 in its history.
"Stats from the spring," he said when handed the numbers. "I can take those down to the spare bathroom in the house. We can put them to use down there."
- Paul Rhoads
turn the game on clone fans
"Stats from the spring," he said when handed the numbers. "I can take those down to the spare bathroom in the house. We can put them to use down there."
- Paul Rhoads
Gosh!
You’re right! I am now thankful for another 15-17 type season!
You’ll notice I said “expected” and “possibility.” But, you’re right, the Tim Floyd era was not better:
Year Record
1994-1995 23-11
1995-1996 24-9
1996-1997 22-9
1997-1998 12-18
Nor was the Larry era better:
Year Record
1998-1999 15-15
1999-2000 32-5
2000-2001 25-6
2001-2002 12-19
2002-2003 17-14
But I now see the error of my ways! This is much better:
2006-2007 15-16
2007-2008 14-18
2008-2009 15-17
2009-2010 15-17
I actually see a trend up, too! In just a short 9 years, I could see us improving to making it to the NCAA bubble list! I can hardly wait!
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Clone Chronicles
Related FanShots on Clone Chronicles
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
