What’s Scary About Iowa State?
It's almost impossible to imagine a more nightmarish scenario than the one that lead to Iowa State's 9-7 victory over the Huskers in Lincoln. No starting quarterback for the Cyclones. No stud running back. Getting four turnovers inside the five yard line, four others elsewhere.
At the time, it seemed a miracle that the Nebraska defense kept it a game. Of course, as we were to learn in the games to come, keeping the Huskers in the game was the stock and trade of last year's defense.
But this year's game could be more about the offenses on the field. The Cyclones return only four starters off a defense that finished second in the Big 12 in turnovers gained last year (you're welcome), but they will presumably have both Austen Arnaud and Alexander Robinson this time around.
Arnaud and Robinson accounted for over 50 percent of the touchdowns the Cyclones scored last year. Robinson finished second in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game at 99.42, while Arnaud remains the guy who can theoretically run and pass but has yet to proven totally adept at stuffing the stat sheet doing either.
Still, the pair of seniors represent an experienced and athletically talented backfield. A backfield they beat the Huskers without last season. Scary? Somewhat. The Cyclones certainly seem better positioned to win with their two offensive stars playing at home. It would be a surprise if Iowa State was more than the 20-point dog they were coming into Lincoln last year and about the only thing to take away from that game is that anything's possible.
But what's truly scary about the Cyclones is the year of seasoning they got under Paul Rhoads. If a coach is worth his salt, he can generally engineer a first year improvement based on enthusiasm alone (Callahan notwithstanding). The second year is trickier.
Some teams fall back, others take a step forward. I feel pretty confident that Rhoads has the ability to keep things on pace. I'm not so sure he has the schedule to do it. The Cyclones open on a Thursday night against a Northern Illinois team that pushed Wisconsin last year and beat Purdue. They follow that up with a trip to Iowa before starting the conference season against Kansas State in week three at Arrowhead Stadium.
After what should be a slight breather against Northern Iowa--sure the Hawkeyes felt the same last year--ISU opens a brutal October with back to back home games against Texas Tech and Utah followed by road games at Oklahoma and Texas. Depending on how Turner Gill has Kansas going when the Jayhawks come to town on October 30, it's conceivable that the Cyclones will go into the Nebraska game on a five game losing skid.
Best case scenario for Nebraska here is a game the defense doesn't have to win. The Cyclone defense will have undoubtedly gotten enough game licks in by November to have overcome their early season inexperience but it's not a star-studded unit. Nebraska moved the ball--but didn't hold on to it--last year.
They should be able to do the same this season. Punching it in once or twice more would go a long way towards alleviating any of the added danger Robinson or Arnaud might bring to the table.
I've always enjoyed the Iowa State series more than I probably should have on paper. The Cyclones always seem to give Nebraska their best and, if they can survive October, I would count on the same this go around.
I just hope they're not counting on eight takeaways again.
8/26/2010
A sound thrashing of the clones in Ames will never erase the debacle in Lincoln last year, but it will be a nice way to end the series. I doubt NU will ever play the clones again. Can’t see them scheduling in non conference play, nor meeting them in a bowl game.
8/26/2010
Never say never…but yeah, I’m hard pressed to think we’ll ever see Iowa State again.
8/26/2010
Matt is right.
With ISU playing Iowa every year in non-conf and the Bix TeXIIs conference possibly going to a 9-game schedule, there’s no way ISU is going to schedule any other BCS-level opponents in non-conf…especially not one that will pound them like we do. And I doubt we’d even want to go home-and-home with them.
Still, we should take nothing for granted in Ames. I remember ‘92, ‘02, and ‘04…
8/26/2010
Q: What’s scary about ISU? A: The memory of NU turning it over 8 times. ((shudder))
To the point about seeing the Cyclones again in the non-con…never rule it out.
I think ISU would be an ideal non-con opponent. I like the idea of scheduling “weak” teams from BCS conferences (i.e. Duke, Indiana, etc). Not terribly tough games but not FCS dregs either.
ISU would fit that bill, based on series history. And, that same history might make for some “feel good” memories for folks in about 5-10 years.
8/26/2010
I agree with Darren. I can see us playing them every 10-15 years, down the road.
It’d be worth the W’s and the memories, to schedule a home & home with em.
8/26/2010
I completely agree that Iowa State seems like an ideal OOC opponent. I would rather play Iowa State than South Dakota State, Troy, Western Kentucky, Idaho, Ball State, etc.
Besides, when the Big Ten turns into a superconference by kicking Penn State to the Big East, and grabbing Notre Dame, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, and Kansas State, we may play yet again.
8/27/2010
Ben, Ben, Ben the Big 10 will not kick a prime commodity like Penn State to the curb. In the future they will add 4 teams. I think Rutgers, Syracuse, Pitt and Missouri will be those 4. The big 10 powers have had enough of Notre Dame’s pious attitude and will not likely invite them again. however if ND asks to join it will be allowed in but only for all sports.
8/27/2010
Maybe I didn’t make myself clear before.
I would love to continue playing ISU in the non-conf for the reasons Darren lists, plus the short travel.
BUT ISU IS NEVER GOING TO SIGN UP FOR IT! Why would they?
They already play Iowa every year. That means their ideal non-conf opponent to put on the schedule is someone like UNLV or Utah State…heck, even Northern Iowa every other year.