AMES, Iowa—Nowhere is Iowa State’s quest for respect more evident than in the new uniforms.
The Cyclones have traded in the “ketchup and mustard” duds of the Dan McCarney era for deeper shades of cardinal and gold and a throwback style reminiscent of Southern California.
For a program that’s never won 10 games or played in a New Year’s Day bowl, looking the part’s a start.
“They’re a lot nicer than our old ones,” safety James Smith said. “Change is good.”
What hasn’t changed are the low expectations most folks have for the Cyclones.
Despite wins in two of its final three games in 2007, the general consensus in Iowa and beyond is that the new-look Cyclones are headed toward a third straight losing season.
Coach Gene Chizik, now in the second year of yet another rebuilding project in Ames, is attempting to eradicate the program’s losing ways by opening up competition for every spot on the roster. The Cyclones return 14 starters, seven each on offense and defense. In Chizik’s mind, those numbers might as well be zero.
“Because you were a starter the previous year certainly doesn’t mean you inherit that same position the next year,” Chizik said. “It’s not a company line. It’s not a cliche. We really have battles going on all over the place. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve been here, it doesn’t matter how many games you’ve started.”
The big battle is at quarterback, where untested sophomores Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates opened fall camp in a heated competition to succeed Bret Meyer, the school’s all-time leader in total offense.
Arnaud seemed to have the inside track after backing up Meyer a year ago. Bates made quick progress after being moved to quarterback from wide receiver in the spring, and Arnaud didn’t help his cause by throwing three interceptions in the spring game.
Iowa State would like to see one of them win the job outright with a strong fall camp, though no one will be surprised if both see the field early and often.
“Everyone isn’t looking to say ‘Who’s going to be the guy?” offensive coordinator Robert McFarland said. “I think they’re all excited. We’ve got two. Let’s see how this thing works itself out.”
There are plenty of things to work out. Iowa State averaged a paltry 4.4 yards per play in 2007.
“We don’t feel like we can get guys out in the open field one-on-one and not make guys miss,” Chizik said. Last year “I thought that if we had a 6-yard gain it was a 6-yard gain and it wasn’t going anywhere else, and that’s unacceptable.”
Defensively, the Cyclones allowed 285 points in conference play last season, trailing only Baylor and Nebraska.
The Big 12 scheduling wheel appears to have spun in Iowa State’s favor. The Cyclones will miss Texas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, and North division favorites Missouri and Kansas must make the trip to Ames—where, as the Sooners discovered last season, swirling winds can level the playing field in a hurry.
Chizik won’t rule out the possibility that the Cyclones can capture their first bowl bid since 2005. But looking like a winner is one thing; playing like one is quite another.
“If there’s a noticeable improvement with our football team, you’ll see it. It will be glaring,” Chizik said. “With us, we’re one day at a time and trying to get better.”
