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Does anyone else...

wonkadog

wonkadog

Well-Known Member
Apr 17, 2006
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Ames, IA
feel like they just got punched in the stomach after hearing that Dan's gonna be gone?? I mean I have been as frustrated as everyone else about the team not being able to finish a season the last few years but now that we're getting a new coach it just feels weird. I guess it's because Dan's been the football coach since the time I went to ISU until now, after I have graduated. I'm not trying to debate whether it's a good/bad move, just saying that it makes me feel uneasy. :oo7dt:
 
It does feel a little awkward at the moment, but it will be good for the program in the long run. I can't wait to see what Pollard has up his sleeve!
 
yep, I pretty much have the same feeling...I'll never forget the day, 12 years ago for Coach Mac's first game at ISU....they were playing Ohio and Troy Boy as I use to call him, just went nuts that game, although he had many more bigger games after that, and I'll always remember, sitting there as a 10 year old diehard fan, that Dan McCarney was going to do something big for ISU. My dad thought I was nuts, but he was still stuck with having Jim Walden as our coach. So here I am, 12 years later, knowing that Dan Mac did something for ISU Football.

Here's another thought...if we didn't have Dan Mac making the football program more respected than what it was, would we have ever landed Tim Floyd or Larry Legend? I think the football team being good had alot to do with that.

I'm really hoping that Dan doesn't go, but that Barney and maybe a few others go in his place and Mac is given one year to win 8 game so to say. Sadly, I don't think that is the case, but i really hope it is.
 
I am sure once a new coach and the future objectives are released, everything will settle. Right now we dont have a coach that has been here for 12+ years, and nothing is being released about who is next. It makes it hard.
 
Cyclone_Power said:
It does feel a little awkward at the moment, but it will be good for the program in the long run. I can't wait to see what Pollard has up his sleeve!
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Let's hope so - or Pollard will be in a world of hurt.

as an aside, I work with a couple of KU grads, and they are completely stunned by this - saying that they thought Mac had done a great job at ISU and had just run into a lot of unfortunate bad luck this year (injuries, etc)
 
Helgo...I see that you are in St. Louis...I'm there right now for the NCAA D3 Volleyball tourny...got any good spots down by Union Station to eat tonight??
 
Yeah, a little bit.

A little is fear for the future. Alot because I really like Mac. Not so much as a football coach, but as a person. He's made remarkably few mistakes off the field along his 12 years. What's been the wost? Jason Berryman? And he did all he could to retain a great player and give him a chance, and held him to a standard when he did come back. That's what it amounted to, whether you agree with bringing him back or not.

In the end, there were games this season where I was flat out furious with what I saw on the field. Namely Iowa, NU and Tech (I was just apathetic by the time KU rolled around). I posted loud and mad Saturday nights and Sunday. But come Monday night and listening to the call in show, I couldn't help but give Mac the benefit of the doubt - at least a little. Too much positive enthusiasm. Flat out, he's a great guy.

Now on the otherhand, my ill-feeling really isn't much different that the same feelings I've been having driving up I-35 the last few Saturday mornings.
 
wonkadog said:
feel like they just got punched in the stomach after hearing that Dan's gonna be gone?? I mean I have been as frustrated as everyone else about the team not being able to finish a season the last few years but now that we're getting a new coach it just feels weird. I guess it's because Dan's been the football coach since the time I went to ISU until now, after I have graduated. I'm not trying to debate whether it's a good/bad move, just saying that it makes me feel uneasy. :oo7dt:
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Yeah I know what you mean Lando. You almost feel ashamed of yourself now that he's going to be gone. He's such a good guy it makes you feel like one of the kids on "Lord of the Flies" that stood by and let everybody hunt down Piggy. It's definitely going to be a weird adjustment.
 
Here's another thought...if we didn't have Dan Mac making the football program more respected than what it was, would we have ever landed Tim Floyd or Larry Legend? I think the football team being good had alot to do with that.
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Since Dan never won more than 3 games before either one of these guys were hired...no, I think it had no relation whatsoever.
 
Well, I am surprised to feel a bit melancholy over the the situation given that I've wanted Mac fired many times over the years. I think it is sad on a personal level for all involved, but really this is in the best interest of the program. Mac is below average at the BCS head coach level, and hopefully we can use the improved infrastructure that he has provided and take ISU football to the next level.
 
From a personal standpoint, I'm sorry that Dan has to move on, primarily because he seems like a very nice man and he is a vocal promoter of ISU. From a coaching standpoint, I'm not sad, because as I see it, this change gives ISU FB a chance to be better than just a mid to lower tier Big 12 team.

To be frank, I see the same fundamental problems today that I saw back in 1995, 1999, 2002, etc. DM did not correct those problems, and that IMO is ultimately why he will be moving on. I don't know if it was stubborness in sticking with a certain philosophy, or if he just didn't know how to fix the problems. ISU football cannot move to the next level without fixing those problems, and I see nothing to indicate that DM would get them fixed in another 2 or 3 years if he couldn't fix them in 12 years.

Unfortunately, DM had no conference titles, no conference title game appearances, no New Year's day bowls, and 1 winning conference season in 12 years. Similar circumstances led to JO's departure, and good things happened in MBB after that. I'm hopeful that the same will happen now for FB.

I guess I've seen enough coaching changes among my favorite teams that I don't feel terrible after changes anymore. These men take alot of flack, but they are well compensated for their efforts.
 
Has anyone read when Pride Still Mattered about Vince Lombardi? It talks about how the coach who preceded Lombardi (Scooter Mclean) was loved by the players, fans and writers. His dismissal caused a lot of sadness among the players and people who worked for the Packers. This firing did however clear the way for the greatest coach in NFL history. Maybe lightning can strike twice.
 
I felt more punched in the stomach after the KU game, the K-State game, and many other games that we were out-played and out-coached. I admire DM as a man, but the time has come to make a change.
 
HoosierinIowa said:
Has anyone read when Pride Still Mattered about Vince Lombardi? It talks about how the coach who preceded Lombardi (Scooter Mclean) was loved by the players, fans and writers. His dismissal caused a lot of sadness among the players and people who worked for the Packers. This firing did however clear the way for the greatest coach in NFL history. Maybe lightning can strike twice.
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I know the story you are talking about. I hope your analogy is correct. Maybe the Vince Lombardi of college football will soon be coaching ISU.
 
Amazingly, no. If everyone believes in Pollard as they say they do, this is nothing but a huge stepping stone for ISU Athletics. It says, we will not settle for bottom of the barrel. We expect more. I'm kind of envigorated right now. Like there is actually some hope. Personally, I had lost all hope for next year. I actually feel hopful right now.
 
I think everyone is going to be shocked at what some decent X and O's coaches will come up with next year. A little creativity, a little gambling, a little less conservative, a little less predictable...doesn't matter who the coach is, no staff could be more bland than this one at calling offensive plays!
 
I just hope the new guy is a name that will get the national media talking about it and onboard with the hire. Some good positive press will certainly reinvigorate recruiting. There is time left to put together a decent class with the right HC and staff.
 
It's alot like the the Wayne Morgan deal last season. It has nothing to do with the circumstances of either situation, it's just the same feeling of uncertainty. Pollard seems to have come through with GMac, I hope he can make something happen for the FB program too.
 
JJ4ISU said:
I think everyone is going to be shocked at what some decent X and O's coaches will come up with next year. A little creativity, a little gambling, a little less conservative, a little less predictable...doesn't matter who the coach is, no staff could be more bland than this one at calling offensive plays!
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I think that's a terrific point. Even in the bad old days of the early 90s, we could score more points than this.
 
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