ISU got a couple of commitments from two Sam Richardsons earlier this week. One a QB, the other a DB. Old news, but hopefully they rock their middle initial on their jersey when they play.  It's pretty cool to see the commitment list up to 10 players now, before we even play our first game. In the past, we'd be lucky to see anybody at this point.

The coveted race for the #2 and #3 RB continues on. For those of you who love Jeff Woody, there's good news for ya'll too. Woody no longer has to pay to go to school, which also means he's going to get some clock this year. 

In other football-related stuff, the CBS Blogpoll has now moved to SB Nation. Over here it can get a lot more exposure. I'll post my preseason poll on Monday just for fun. From there, I'll refrain from voting for the first four weeks out of principle, and make a new poll based entirely on what has happened during the season, and NOT based on my previous preseason poll.

With flooding-related news as it pertains to athletics, it sounds like Hilton will be ready to go in some fashion for basketball season, but women's volleyball will be playing at Ames High.

We're less than two weeks away from the first game. The fun fest is still on as far as I know, this Sunday. Get there, buy some gear, and snatch up some of those $10 tickets to the Northern Illinois game if you don't have a season ticket plan. The week of August 30th, we get into previewing Northern Illinois, and get back into the swing of things. One more "dead" week, and the fun begins. 

Unreal. Just moved from Ames just under a month ago. Sad to hear about people displaced from their homes. I really puts into perspective stuff like Hilton having 8-9 feet of water and things like that. When I was just hearing about this from people I know, I thought it was only by the athletic facilities, and thought no biggie. Now I see the issue is so much more than just that. My thoughts are with everyone in the Ames community. Don't have much to add, just not in the greatest mood with this.

Check out some of the pictures here.

Hope everyone out there had a good weekend, and is getting their week off to a good start! I've been a little slow with writing here the past few weeks, mostly because I was moving. Even though I'm resting my head in Urbandale these days, not too far away from Ames, it feels kind of weird not living in Ames anymore. To be honest, I didn't expect to have much emotional feelings about it, but when I dropped off the keys to my apartment, I was a bit overwhelmed with different emotions.

Ames is where I've spent my entire adult life. I'm 26 now, and spent the last 8 years going to Iowa State, and then working in Des Moines after graduation. Big reason why we stayed in Ames was because my wife was in grad school, and also because it's close to Hilton and Jack Trice. Ames is a great place to live, and it will be missed. The good news is that I'm not too far away, and will be able to make Cyclone games and things like that.

Moving onto the Cyclones, there are a few things on my mind:

1. Is it just me, or does it feel weird that so many Cyclone fans will say that Northern Illinois is going to be a tough game, but at the same time exude confidence in beating Nebraska?

2. As older players leave the program, it's funny to hear about the new internet/radio legends being built up. Specifically I'm talking about Shontrelle Johnson,Rony Nelson, etc., etc., etc.. Who could forget last year with Bo Williams: the greatest 44 yard run in Cyclone history! Every sensation we've had has disappointed, and since I'm going able to go to the practices and be there from day-to-day, I have to continue the wait and see approach. It's hard to be great at college football and most aren't going to be.

3. David "I Be Loving Some Footlocker" Sims. $400+ on some shoes? For real? I'd sympathize a little bit of he actually bought stuff he needed with the card. That way this could jump into the ongoing debate about athletes getting paid, and how it's difficult to pay the bills, food, etc., but for shoes? One pair, OK. Maybe two if they have one of those 2 for $89.99, but with $400, that's gotta be at least 3 pairs of shoes, right? I get that you gotta stay up on the fashion and you gotta have shoes with varying colors to match your outfits* but I wouldn't jeopardize my future over it.

4.  ISU Men's Basketball Schedule Was Released. Non-conference is pretty terrible, as expected. We've obviously got the in-state schools + Creighton+ Cal for the Pac10/Big 12 Series. We do play at Virginia at least there's an out of state BCS conference school we weren't contractually obligated to play. I get you want to stack the wins, and we're going to stink, but some of these games I'm easily overpaying for. I can't wait until we get to a point where we can schedule some solid teams in the non-conference. We did that last year, but it's mostly because McDermott was smoking something, or Jamie Pollard believed too much in his abilities, or both.

* Really I don't get it, as I have better ways to spend my money, but I know this is a prority in life for some people.

We are 30 days away from opening kick off, and this site will be a lot more interesting to check out very soon!

Iowa State has to re-assess its commitment to Division I athletics, and must be prepared to take the steps necessary to ensure a more secure future.

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Tuesday should be the day that brings an end to the fears of many a Cyclone fan, not to mention followers of four other schools that stood to be stuck in athletics purgatory following what seemed to be the imminent destruction of the Big 12, care of the Pac-10, Big Ten and SEC. Exact details are not yet known, but from all indications, the Big 12 will survive - a ten team conference that hopes to re-emerge stronger, despite the loss of two schools. 

It's tough to place complete blame on the two member institutions that are leaving, though there is certainly some to spread around. There is no doubt that Colorado has eyed the Pac-10 off and on for a number of years. They saw a situation in the Big 12 growing ever more unstable, and probably made the right move by jumping at the Pac-10's offer, rather than risk the possibility of being left out in the shuffle. The Pac-10 similarly thought they were being proactive at the time, trying to avoid the possibility of Baylor ending up in their conference. 

Nebraska is slightly more different. Harvey Perlman and Tom Osborne were, with no doubt, attracted to a growth in revenue as well as fleeing a situation that seemed like it could get ugly in the Big 12. Nebraska's role was part being proactive, part fleeing a situation they were never quite happy with in the Big 12. Their escape to the Big Ten may end up being more profitable than staying at home, though one wonders how the dynamics of new television negotiations would have played out with an 11-team conference that only lost Colorado. The discussion is moot, however. The Huskers are headed east. Destroyed are a number of rivalries along the way.

All holy hell soon broke loose. The following schools were rumored at different times to have suitors from the following conferences:

Iowa State: Big East, Mountain West, Conference USA

Kansas: Big East, Mountain West, Pac-10, SEC

Kansas State: Big East, Mountain West

Missouri: Big East, Big Ten, SEC

Baylor: Mountain West, Pac-10, Conference USA, Big East

Texas: Pac-10, SEC, Big Ten

Texas Tech: Pac-10

Texas A&M, Pac-10, SEC, Big Ten

Oklahoma: Pac-10, SEC, Big Ten

Oklahoma State: Pac-10

The situation was fluid to say the very least. Complicating the matter was various reports that assured that any number of deals were done. Chip Brown. Joe Schad. Orangebloods. Dan Wetzel. Enough "sources" to make one's head explode. 

Today brought the biggest and best news that the Big 12 would survive. A ten team conference with increased revenues. An increased divide in revenues, for sure, but an increase in revenues that assured the viability if the strong but shaky power conference.

Times were tenuous in Ames. Even the most optimistic Cyclone fan had to admit that the situation looked bleak. Despite what seemed to be overtures from the Big East, an initial assessment by Iowa State leadership did not like parts of that fit, including increased travel costs. Quite simply, Iowa State and its athletics department faced a situation where they had no idea just what they could do - but none of it looked good. Uncertainty with funding, contracts and the overall health of the department were all in question. It looked dire before today's 11th hour save.

But this situation may end up being a boon for Iowa State athletics.

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT THIS CONFERENCE IS BUILT TO LAST? We don't, necessarily. Chip Brown has reported that the new version of the Big 12 will make it difficult to leave, but difficult does not equal impossible. However, the conference has been brought back from the brink at least once, so it does seem there is a drive from the leadership of the South schools especially to try and make the situation work.

DAN BEEBE - HOW MUCH OF THIS IS HIS FAULT? A decent chunk, for sure. His rear end may have been saved by a totally unrelated group of people in all of this. He likely deserves credit in the ultimate salvaging of the conference, but as has been said, the Big 12 should have been proactive - not reactive. One has to think that he could have helped negotiate an even better revenue stream if the conference had remained wholly intact. The Big 12 also needs to work to market itself. Look at a Big 12 Network and follow what the Big Ten started. Use a new television deal to increase national viewing opportunities. Market. Market. Market. Make what's left of the Big 12 a brand like the Big Ten and the SEC.

CONSTANT RUMORS, ALL WEEK LONG. HOW SHOULD WE HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO BELIEVE? There is a popular notion that Orangebloods.com's Chip Brown was being fed information from the Texas Athletics Department. One has to be naive not to believe that much of his information came from within. He, however, was also out in front of most of the information that ended up being true, so his role in all of this spans the gamut from rumormonger to newsbreaker. Yesterday's report from AggieYell.com, however, struck me as full of doublespeak, and it was not something I was willing to completely trust, despite having elements of validity to it. The frustrating part was the fluid nature of all the rumors. The moral of the story is, ultimately, until an institution actually issues a statement, anything is possible. 

WE'RE BENDING OVER FOR TEXAS, AREN'T WE? No away around it, Texas, and to a lesser extent, Oklahoma and Texas A&M stand to make out quite well. The conference has always revolved around Texas, and that's why this morning's news held so much importance. But any pride that schools like Iowa State and Kansas State had needed to be swallowed to avoid the unknown. The situation moving to the Big East may have been better initially, but that situation was in NO way more solid than what the Big 12 has become. The Big 12 is under Texas' thumb. Probably always will be. But Iowa State doesn't have the sort of financial resources or athletics history to make it on its own. And as far as the horses of the college athletics world go, there's worse options than Texas. They are staying on top. And we will have to continue to deal with what they want. But we have to. And we need to.

SO WHAT'S GOOD IN ALL OF THIS? Well, obviously avoiding the overall destruction of the Iowa State Athletics Department is a good start. But Iowa State could actually come out stronger. It's long been known that the State of Iowa wants to cut off all Regents schools from state funding for athletics. While Jamie Pollard has done a good job in terms of making progress, we're not there yet. Roughly doubling conference revenues would sure as heck help. It's also a lot easier securing donations and ticket sales when you can advertise home dates against Texas and Oklahoma every other year. Football recruiting may also get a bump. Nebraska may become less of a factor in Texas, while at the same time, coaches can not only pitch that recruits will play in one of the strongest conferences in America, but families will get more opportunities to see their loved ones come back to their home state to play.

A new television deal should obviously mean that Iowa State will be on television more. The chance of a Big 12 Network is still out there. More should be learned on this front on Tuesday. And, while an Iowa State network isn't really feasible, the four North schools could always entertain the notion of a four school network centered on Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and the surrounding markets, including places like Omaha.

Non-revenue sports are also breathing a sigh of relief. The women's basketball program and Bill Fennelly always sold the fact that ISU went up against and beat the best. Despite Nebraska's strong season last year, the conference can easily survive losing them and Colorado. The Olympic sports now no longer have to worry about flying halfway across the country for games and matches. Or the simple fear of their sport being eliminated.

Rivalries special to Iowa State are also being preserved. Iowa State and Kansas in basketball and Iowa State and Missouri in basketball come to mind. If the Big 12 survives as a four team wrestling conference, Iowa State and Oklahoma State control a fair bit of the actual tradition of the college version of the sport. Some new rivalries may grow. The nearly shared common fate of Kansas State and Iowa State should lead to the growth of a friendly rivalry. Cyclone and Cowboy fans have always shown as much respect for each other as any two schools in the league, and being able to play them more often will also be enjoyable. And, ultimately, despite losing Colorado and Nebraska, increased interaction with Oklahoma State and Oklahoma will have a certain sweetness to those fond of remembering the days of the Big 8.

IS IT ALL GOOD? Not necessarily. Again, we'll need to see the details of the new television deal before getting too excited. To that end, Iowa State faces much tougher battles to reach the postseason in the revenue sports. The football team has to play Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State every year. Not guaranteed losses, but a guaranteed beast of a challenge at the outset. Men's basketball faces a similar challenge, though not as steep.

And, obviously, inequity in the conference will continue. Only time will tell how much these factors will hurt Iowa State. Maybe a little. Maybe a lot.

--

Let's make it clear. I think most people would prefer an intact Big 12. But the possibility exists that the strife of the past week could leave Iowa State stronger than before. What has to happen now is a change in the atmosphere of Iowa State and the athletics department. Despite any guarantee of the conference membership, Iowa State needs to have contingency plans. The school has to be prepared for the worst of situations. They also need to be wise about their investments. There will be increased revenue. And we know that the engine that has driven this entire mess is football. Iowa State HAS to show an even greater commitment to football. The program possesses adequate, but not great, facilities. Jamie Pollard has to try harder than ever to execute the Athletics Facilities Master Plan. Bowl in the end zone. Make the Jacobsen Building football only and move the rest of the A.D. offices to a new structure. New sound system. New scoreboard. Get us on par with the rest of the BCS schools. Continue with renovations to Hilton Coliseum. Look at the feasibility of newer facilities for Olympic sports. We've come a long way with a lot less than many other programs. We're going to get more, and we have to use it wisely.

Fans also need to step up their commitment. You know how you reacted to all of this. How many Cyclone fans would have been absolutely crushed with what COULD have happened. Now take steps to make sure the Athletics Department is much stronger through all of this. Buy an extra season ticket as a gift to another Cyclone fan. Start donating to the National Cyclone Club or Cyclone Gridiron Club. Make an effort to get to another game. You can start small. But take those steps to put ISU in a stronger place. 

Iowa State was truly brought to the brink over the last week. We can't be sure how much of what we read was true, what was rumor, and what was fabrication. But it appears we've been saved. We HAVE to learn from this. Division I athletics certainly makes no promises to land grant universities in low population states with two BCS schools. Kansas State was on the edge of the precipice too. And one has to imagine that the leadership at Mississippi State is thanking their lucky stars that they are safer than most. I think we've gained a new appreciation for those like Kansas State and Baylor that nearly faced the same disastrous fate. And, as much as some may not like it, a tip of the cap is in order to those same bigwigs in the South that nearly allowed our entire conference structure to collapse. 

Iowa State is a special university to many of us. There are too many stories to be told about epic games at Hilton Coliseum and the Armory, unbelievable outcomes (both good and bad) at Jack Trice Stadium and Clyde Williams Field, VEISHEA, Welch Avenue, or something just as simple as a walk across campus in the spring. And that same university was about to face one of the most trying times in its history. Let's take this opportunity to take stock of where we've come from, where we are, and where we are going. 

Because, at this point, we now know what we could have lost as Cyclones. And we don't want to have to face it again.

Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma have all said they will remain in the Big 12. It looks like we've been saved. More to come.

Iowa State officials are "cautiously optimistic" about the survival of the Big 12.

Sources surrounding and inside the Iowa State athletics department are now lending credence to the notion that the Big 12 will survive. CloneChronicles has worked to discuss the situation with a number of people connected and inside the department, and while nothing is certainly close to finished, "cautious optimism" seems to be the general feeling.

The situation remains very fluid, but the tide started to shift yesterday when it became clear that nearly every remaining Big 12 athletics director wanted to work towards the survival of the conference. The stumbling block was the leadership at both Texas and Texas A&M. It seems, however, that both schools now want to at least see what the new 10-team Big 12 has to offer.

Iowa State, as a result, could come out in a stronger position financially, with the possibility of doubled television revenues. With the state of Iowa attempting to cut off the ISU athletics department from state funding, this would be a boon that may not have been possible if Colorado and Nebraska did not leave the Big 12, oddly enough.

Nothing is done at this point, at we fully expect to hear conflicting stories throughout the day. But, at this point, the feeling surrounding Iowa State and their situation is much better than just 48 hours ago.

An era has almost undeniably come to an end. With the departure of Colorado to the Pac 10 Conference, and what looks like the eventual departure of Nebraska to the Big Ten, along with any combination of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State to the Pac 10, SEC or Big Ten, the Big Twelve as we have known it is dead. Gone will be old rivalries and new alike, and one now defunct conference with a very proud history - the Big 8 - stands to be shattered apart.

To those schools that are leaving - good luck and godspeed. By entertaining these offers, your leadership has made clear that you do not want to make the Big 12 work, and have no intention of doing so. It has been intimated that Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Baylor officials have and will continue to meet to see if the Big 12 can remain viable, but the fact that only these four schools are involved, and not Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri goes to show a lot in terms of how things are run. Will the Big 12 survive? It might, but in even more contention circumstances than in the past. 

What lies ahead for what has been dubbed the "Forgotten Four" - Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri? Little is known at this point. Reports on Twitter have the four schools beginning discussions with the Big East to create a superconference consisting of 12 teams in football and 20 in basketball. While this is not optimal compared to a Big 12 that could continue to exist, at this point, it is far more important that Iowa State and the other three schools look out for their best interests. Whether that involves a move to the Big East, to the Big Ten or some other conference, the Big 12 leaders have let the ship sail and the power brokers in the conference have decided that the Big 12 is not important enough to save.

More troubling for Iowa State is their status as a BCS school. This statement from the Iowa Board of Regents could not be any more non-committal: 

The following statement was released by Board of Regents President David Miles on Thursday:

 

'The speculation about re-alignment of college athletic conferences is understandably a matter of concern right now for the faculty and staff, the students, the fans, alumni and friends of Iowa State University.

 

"Today’s announcement by the University of Colorado that it will be leaving the Big 12 Conference to join the Pac 10 Conference is disappointing. Certainly, this change and others that are reportedly being discussed could have a significant, negative impact on Iowa State.

 

"The Board of Regents is proud of the athletics program at Iowa State, the professionalism of the administration, the enthusiasm and loyalty of the fans and supporters, and of course, the dedication and achievements of the student athletes. While considerable attention is focused on membership in athletic conferences, this should not overshadow the many accomplishments of our student athletes. For example, Iowa State’s Lisa Koll yesterday recorded a remarkable achievement: her third NCAA championship when she won the 10,000-meter race at the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene, Oregon. Additionally, Iowa State University led the Big 12 student athlete graduation rate at 79 percent in the latest rankings.

 

"Iowa State President Gregory Geoffroy and Athletics Director Jamie Pollard are working diligently to ensure the best possible outcome for Iowa State. This includes talks with other presidents, chancellors and athletics directors, as well as with Governor Culver and members of Iowa’s congressional delegation.

 

"The Board of Regents applauds and supports these efforts."

 

This statement is garbage, and I have no doubt the language would be much stronger if the University of Iowa was involved. Sadly, this is simply the way that it has worked and will continue to work in the state of Iowa.

Iowa State has to do everything in its power to maintain its spot as a major, BCS-level athletics program or risk damage to the University, including financially. The leadership at ISU, including Gregory Geoffrey and Jamie Pollard are typically fiscally responsible if nothing else, including their improvements in weaning the athletics department off of state funds - a process that would be seriously hampered if the athletics program were to leave a BCS conference.

From this point forward, ISU has to look out for their best interest. An application to join the Big Ten has likely already been set in motion - a long shot at best, but not too far-flung of a fit to totally dismiss. More likely, Iowa State will band together with Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri to ensure a somewhat safer landing in a conference that protects the interests of these four schools. Sadly, if a Big 12 Conference cannot be rebuilt, Baylor may be left out, and it's no different than if ISU was left out. The "Forgotten Four" needs to explore all options, including joining the Big East, and one would hope that the presidents and athletic directors at these four schools remain in constant communication.

Please make sure to follow Rock Chalk Talk, Bring on the Cats and Rock M Nation as these three SBNation sites will also be at the forefront of what will happen. They may very well be our lone compadres moving forward.

The expected topic will be, obviously, the Big 12 conference. If we learn of anything particular to come out of this meeting, we'll let you know.

EDIT Now reports that the meeting may have been cancelled.