I've said before around here that being the head football coach at Iowa State takes a greater amount of willingness to take risks than being in charge elsewhere. At no time in Paul Rhoad's two-year tenure at ISU was his boldness more on display than going for the win on a trick two-point conversion against then #7 Nebraska. I'm sure I don't have to remind you of the play.
You could make the argument that Iowa State would have been better off kicking the extra point and trying for the win in 2OT. After all, the Clones did score 14 points in the fourth quarter to tie up the game and force overtime. However, those touchdowns both came early in the quarter on either side of a kickoff return fumble by the Huskers. The Iowa State defense was having a hard time stopping the Nebraska ground attack the whole game, so pulling out the dagger and going for the win right then and there makes sense to me. Just takes the guts to make the call.
Let's examine the play up close. If you watch the play develop, Franklin has about four steps on the Husker defender as he breaks to the outside. Nobody was locked on Franklin as the play started, and it is clear that Nebraska wasn't ready for the play. Thus, it had a good chance of success based on how it came together.
No, it didn't work. I'm not going to place the blame on anyone for how it turned out, that's not my point. Instead, the simple fact that Rhoads was willing to put everything on the line right then and there instead of playing it safe (although with ISU's kicking history maybe faking it is the 'safe' option) tells me that he is the right guy to be leading from the Cyclone sideline.
Bottom line: Rhoads has a whole bunch of boldness, and isn't afraid to pull out the stops to win the game. I, for one, love it, and I can't wait to see more of what Rhoads has to pull out of his hat this year.
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