A Decade with Jamie Pollard
- Thread starter stateofmind
- Start date
I thought it was really good too.
It was fun to hear him read the letter he sent to donors in his first year. And it's crazy to think how far Iowa State has come over the last 10 years.
I think the best thing he has done is that he doesn't apologize for being Iowa State. I know it's a stupid, silly thing but the fact that he didn't think twice about putting that billboard in Cedar Rapids is something that no other Iowa State AD would have done (and obviously by Iowa fan's reactions and by almost all of the 'unbiased' media in this state, it was quite the scandal). He's made it clear that we don't play second fiddle in this state and for those of us who lived over on the east side of the state in the 80's and 90's, we know that Iowa State fans were always treated like the red-headed stepchild.
The facility upgrades have been amazing. The overall results of the teams has been pretty great for the last 10 years.
He's a great fit for Iowa State and hopefully he is here for at least another 10.
It was fun to hear him read the letter he sent to donors in his first year. And it's crazy to think how far Iowa State has come over the last 10 years.
I think the best thing he has done is that he doesn't apologize for being Iowa State. I know it's a stupid, silly thing but the fact that he didn't think twice about putting that billboard in Cedar Rapids is something that no other Iowa State AD would have done (and obviously by Iowa fan's reactions and by almost all of the 'unbiased' media in this state, it was quite the scandal). He's made it clear that we don't play second fiddle in this state and for those of us who lived over on the east side of the state in the 80's and 90's, we know that Iowa State fans were always treated like the red-headed stepchild.
The facility upgrades have been amazing. The overall results of the teams has been pretty great for the last 10 years.
He's a great fit for Iowa State and hopefully he is here for at least another 10.
It's on mediacom Cyclones TV right now. Really well done - like him or not, he is very honest and open. Don't get that too often out of someone in that type of position.
Very good watch.
It leads to my next question: Now that we've accomplished so many of the facilities goals he laid out in the 'master plan' 10 years ago, what is the master plan for the next 10 years? We of course have kicked that question around on here, but it'd be interesting to know the priorities he's identified from his perspective.
It leads to my next question: Now that we've accomplished so many of the facilities goals he laid out in the 'master plan' 10 years ago, what is the master plan for the next 10 years? We of course have kicked that question around on here, but it'd be interesting to know the priorities he's identified from his perspective.
Jamie has had a huge impact on not only the athletic program, but the University. A bet a large portion of the reason ISU's enrollment is getting so high now is because of him. 10 years ago, If you didnt go to ISU, you didnt follow, care, or even know what was going on at ISU. Now we are to the point where I know many UI grads who almost cheer more for ISU now. I bet if you compared the total $ amount of all the ISU gear in the state 10 years ago vs. today, it would blow us away. ISUs culture and reputation both in Iowa and nationally has done a complete 180 since he stepped on campus. Its cool to go to ISU now, that wasnt the case as much 10 years ago.
Thanks Jamie!
Thanks Jamie!
How about making the same sort of progress in football wins that we have seen in facilities progress?
Hard to believe he has been here 10 years. The facility upgrades have been quite amazing the new track, BB practice building, So. end zone, Football training bldg, etc.. He truly gets the job done and seems to appreciate the support of the fans. Glad he is our AD.
Well that's a given.
But as far as an AD goes, all he can do is hire the right guy and provide as much support as is possible, and the big question (on a HC change) obviously wasnt going to be asked in this kind of interview. I cant even think what would be next for football facilities, id imagine basketball gets a turn next, if anything.
Thankfully the improvements that would be done for hilton would probably be less intensive than something like the SEZ.
New ceiling\lighting (dream scenario, get one of those floor projection systems also)
New video board (this one is approaching a decade old)
Outer concourse widening (one of the few things in the original master plan from 10 years ago that hasnt been done)
Yeah, because that is directly under his control. We probably had the most football success under Van DeVelde (guessing, not taking time to actually check) so he is the best AD we have ever had. Too bad we couldn't keep him. Wait, what? We ran him off? Wonder why. Well, he probably went on to bigger and better things. No? Louisiana Tech? But what about his football wins?
Bruce didn't hire McCarney. Yes the football team saw the most success under him as AD but what did Bruce to sustain that success? Pretty much nothing. All that was done was building the indoor practice facility but I believe that project was started by Gene Smith. Bruce was too worried about the bottom line and cutting costs even if that meant cutting performance. JP has a very different view. We have seen monumental progress in everything with football (fan support, gameday atmosphere, facilities improvement, increasing budget) except the wins-loss column. Yes the W-L is the most important but I truly feel we are right on the cusp of regular bowl eligibility again. Rhoads has the right staff in place again and he has already proven he can do more with less. JP has given the football team all they need, now we have to let time set in to repair Paul's mistake of promoting Messingham.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
He changed the culture around here.
Watching this for the first time right now. Just heard the portions of that 2006 letter where he directly called all of us out and challenged Cyclones to be more than we'd been before. That was bold and excellent.
Watching this for the first time right now. Just heard the portions of that 2006 letter where he directly called all of us out and challenged Cyclones to be more than we'd been before. That was bold and excellent.