Are we really having the Mac fight again? This Sr class was Mac last class, there are a few nice Srs on this team, but it shows why a change was needed.
What program has come further along...
- Thread starter 2forISU
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Mac had his shot to take us to that level but he didnt get it done. The rest of the Big 12 passed us. The best thing to happen to Iowa has been the downslide of Neb, ND, Ill, and Michigan.
One would expect that KSU to come back faster with Bill "JUCO Transfer" Snider back at head coach. One would also expect KSU to peak and valley more frequently as there is more player turnover every year. ISU football will grow at a slower rate, but when they're really good, the peak will last longer, and the valley will be shallower as there will be less player turnover year to year.
No I am not Jamie Pollard. But I remember how untalented the last team that Mac had was.
I get that there are loyalists to Mac, and that is fine. But the reality of what he did was pretty simple.
When the rest of the North Division fell down, we were competitive. When the North was good, we weren't.
Look at the one good team that he had, they played THREE good teams that year, and lost by 22 (in a game that was closer) to Nebraska; 23 (in a homecoming game looking to become bowl eligible, and the game wasn't that close) to A & M; and 56-10 to K State in a game that they could have made it worse if they wanted.
I get that people are frustrated, but the REALITY of this is that it will take more time because this program was at a near all time low talent wise when Mac left. And the reason that it will be easier for Snyder, aside from everything else, is that people can still remember when they were good, and how they were a power for a decade.
Mac had very little effect on Iowa football. It took him three years to rebuild the mess that Hayden left.
In that time, he still got the vast majority of the good Iowa high school kids, so Mac never really made a dent in that hill.
I get that you were a big fan of the coach. But he never won games that he shouldn't have (I know the Iowa game in '02 withstanding), and he lost many games with philosophy that could have helped to make the inroads that you falsely claim that he did.
As far as the post you quoted, remember that Mac went 2-10 his 9th year, with 44 2 deep players returning. And he went 4-8 with the 4 wins coming down to the last play his 12th year. Even after he "turned the program around" he was .500, with only one season better than the one that Rhoads had last year.