Liberty Bowl Running Blog

12/28 Getting a two hour late start thanks to Jeremy. On our way to St.Louis to spend the night and then on to Memphis in the morning. I will remember to set the departure time early by two hours tomorrow.

**Arrived in St.Louis! Drove past Busch Stadium on the way to our sleeping quarters for the night.

**Enjoying St.Louis nightlife. Made it even better watching Mizzou lose to UCLA. S-E-C!

**We turned it into a real bowl trip by getting in a game at Flamingo Lanes. Luke and Bill owe the next round as a result

12/29

**Heading out to Memphis. Took a pit stop at Waffle House before we left. Let's see what other bad decisions we can make today.

Cyclones.tv Offers Continued Momentum

In the past few months Iowa State announced the creation of Cyclones.tv, a revamped and improved online source for Cyclone athletic events, interviews, highlights and shows.  Streaming live HD picture with Iowa State run cameras offered a better way to watch the game.  Shortly after announcing this, ISU turned around and hired John Walters, the voice of the Cyclones, to work for Cyclones.tv full-time as their lead reporter.  With the Big XII agreement, all schools are allowed to pursue their own outlets for third-tier rights, ex: Longhorn Network.  Cyclones.tv provided an outlet for these rights, but not everyone was happy.

Cyclones.tv is a nice product.  It is much improved over the old CloneZone and offers video synced with the radio play-by-play.  It has already grown tremendously this season.  This is great if you enjoy watching events on your computer.  Not everyone does.  Enter Mediacom.  While there isn't a single cable company out there that gets great reviews, Mediacom's approval rating is generally pretty low.  However, it is by far the leading cable company in the state of Iowa.  With all of the resources for video's, interviews and shows already in place it was an easy choice.  Iowa State needed to agree with a cable company to start getting the feed out to more people.  That is just what Jamie Pollard did.

Starting in early 2013 Iowa State will have a channel on all Mediacom packages directly related to Cyclone athletics.  Iowa State will become just the third school in the entire nation to have such an outlet.  They join BYU and Texas.  Although Iowa State's deal isn't worth over 200 million with ESPN it still provides a step forward.  More exposure for the university in the state of Iowa isn't a good thing, its a great thing.  In short, this agreement is huge.

The Cyclones had to start somewhere.  Many were calling for an agreement with Fox Sports.  Although this would have been great and allowed Cyclone fans outside of the state to purchase the channel via satellite this agreement will do for now.  Also, anyone with Internet access will be able to sign up for Cylones.tv and access all of the same programming.  Some with Mediacom may prefer to watch on the computer to get the product in HD, but it is there if they want it.  At some point down the road the signal should switch to HD.

What this deal really represents and offers for the Cyclones is continued momentum in the state of Iowa and the midwest.  Iowa has the Big Ten Network, but starting in 2014 will only get 1/14th of the programming, and the money.  This announcement is truly a difference maker.  What outcomes will appear?  Who knows?  The one thing that we do know is that under Jamie Pollard Iowa State is not going away.  They are making moves to expand their fan-base within the state and hopefully make themselves a player on the national level.  Several years ago Iowa State was having a hard time drawing 30,000 fans for a home football game and their basketball program was in the dump.  Today we look at Iowa State as one of the most productive athletic programs in that nation.  Iowa State looks forward to earning your interest in the very near future.  As Iowa State assistant football coach Shane Burnham likes to say, "this isn't your father's Iowa State."

Stern Swings and Misses

When it was announced tonight that the NBA would be fining the Spurs for sending four of the starters home to rest I was a little ticked.  Keep in mind, I don't really even follow the NBA.  I like to claim myself as an Oklahoma City Thunder fan, but I wouldn't say I watch them on a consistent basis.  Gregg Popovich has proven he is a winner.  If there is one franchise all NBA teams should follow it is the San Antonio Spurs.  Six road game in nine nights can be taxing to the youngest of teams let alone a team aging as much as the Spurs.  Stern has done a great job to promote the NBA as an entertainment sport and its interest has become global.  However, he really missed the boat on this one.  He also missed a golden opportunity for great public relations.

"I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans"-David Stern

Whaaa?!  I realize the purpose of the NBA is entertainment.  I realize fans expect to see the stars when they buy a ticket.  However, it is Popovich's job to win championships.  Not games, championships.  He did what he felt was in his teams best interests to win the championship.  Stern should look to other sports first before rushing to such judgement.

Think about baseball.  When you buy a ticket in advance you have no clue who the starting pitcher will be that day, if the starters will be given an off day or if Kirby Puckett will get hit in the eye with a baseball the night before (this happened to us).  You are paying for the experience.  People that bought the tickets are going.  I've been to one NBA game.  The game is secondary.  The circus that takes place throughout the couple of hours is primary.

Think about football.  Every season there is the debate on whether teams that have clinched playoff berths should rest their starters or play them.  You don't see Goodell pissing and moaning do you?  Fans might be pissed they can't see their favorite players but in the end they want their team to win it all, or at least they should.

Think about hockey.  Well, I guess their fans would just be happy to attend games at this point.

At the end of the day, people think Stern was trying to make a PR move.  With the brawl from a few nights ago, he wanted to shift the attention to something else they say.  Maybe, and he was somewhat successful.  However I believe David Stern missed a golden opportunity to raise his approval rating.  After all this is all about him right?  Well, at least that's the way it seem right now.

Here are a couple ways he could have spun this into a positive.

What about offering everyone in attendance a voucher for a free ticket to any regular season the rest of the year?  Fans wouldn't be able to complain with getting two tickets for the price of one.  Some would claim their voucher and others wouldn't but its the thought that counts right?

NBA is big partners with KIA right?  What about having all of the fans in attendance submit their ticket stubs into a drawing for a free car?  Is 250,000 dollars going to affect the Spurs?  Better yet, can the NBA or KIA afford to give away a free car? 

Finally, and I'm sure there are many more possibilities, but what about convincing the players sitting out to contribute their game check to Hurricane Sandy relief?  Having a chance to influence the biggest media market there is?  Priceless.

The part that really stinks about all of this gets lost in the shuffle.  That would be the actual game.  Without their superstars the Spurs went into Miami and just about took down the defending champions.  In the NFL this would have focused on the result of the game.  This could be due in part to the large amount of gambling and fantasy football that occurs, although these two usually go hand in hand.  The Spurs lost by five points.  If this were an NBA Finals game the discussions would have centered on how great of a game it was.  This is the point where you might say "But it isn't the Finals" and through the eyes of Popovich, that is the point.

Black Friday Could Be Golden For ISU

I remember getting up the day after Thanksgiving waiting for my family to get done shopping.  There was always football on television.  Much like football on New Year's Day, there is just something about playing on Black Friday.  With a limited number of games and a national television audience on ABC ISU has a chance to get some major exposure and continue the momentum.  Needless to say I am pumped about attending my first Black Friday football game.  Here is why it could be a big step for ISU.

First, a chance at seven regular season wins and four conference wins for the first time in a long time would be a significant step under Paul Rhoads.  Finishing in the middle of the pack and being 4-5 in the conference would show progress.  Is it where they want to be? No, but Rhoads has said he wants to peak and plateau never taking a step back.  A win over a team ranked in the Top 10 at one point would be icing on the cake.

Second, involves the bowl possibilities that come with that seventh win.  Many think a win over West Virginia means the Holiday Bowl.  I would have to believe that would be the best bowl in ISU history and it may even involve our uniform sister's USC.  The Holiday Bowl even with it being lowered in the pecking order still holds a very respectable name within college football. 

Third involves the little brothers in Iowa City.  When Nebraska moved to the B1G and agreed to play Iowa on Black Friday many Iowa fans took it upon themselves to call it a rivalry and put this game on the level of the old Texas-Texas A&M on Thanksgiving night.  After getting beat like a drum last year and looking worse this year will the B1G really want to keep Iowa as Nebraska's opponent?  Iowa State is always looking for more fans statewide.  Having Iowa drubbed right before a victory in the 2:30 time slot would surely help.

With playing West Virginia comes the opportunity for points on the board.  West Virginia will score.  If ISU keeps up with them in an entertaining game it will keep the momentum within the fan base going strong.  It would also mean Sam Richardson, most likely, having another repeat performance of last weekend and providing hope at the QB position for years to come.

Finally, and maybe most importantly it would send the second straight group of seniors out with a win.  This group of seniors in particular have spent four years under Rhoads making three bowl games in the process.  Many were committed to a different coach and kept their commitment to ISU.  In my opinion they couldn't have made a better choice.  When you see these athletes play its clear there is a mutual respect between the coaching staff and the players.  One of my favorite Cyclones of all time will be on the field for the last time even though he won't be suited up.  Jake Knott is exactly what Rhoads wants you to picture when you think Iowa State football.  I'm sure he would give anything to play tomorrow, but a win by his team would help dull the pain. 

So tomorrow when the entire the nation is done shopping, the ladies are sleeping and the guys are eating leftovers in front of the television hopefully we will see Iowa State taking that next step forward.  Its my hope this game becomes a tradition, with more to play for in the future.  Its my hope after Friday we have a few more Cyclones whether it be fans or recruits.  For a fan base that's used to feeling like leftovers, its time we experience our team feast on a golden opportunity.

The Last Three

I saw an interesting statistic today for the Rhoads era.  They have been 5-4 after 9 games in each of his first four seasons.  Most would look at this as a sign that they aren't improving.  I tend to disagree.  The truth of the matter is that each of the last two seasons ISU has competed with a 9 game conference schedule.  This means one less game against most likely a MAC opponent.  Also, the Cyclones are most likely facing the most difficult schedule Rhoads has faced yet to date.  Many predicted 3 wins, 3!  In each of the previous three seasons the Cyclones have struggled with "the last three" going 1-2, 0-3 and 1-2.  This year seems to be different.

Without the loss of Knott ISU could really be looking to make some noise in these last three games.  They will play the card that has been dealt like any college football team needs to do.  If you look at the progress that has been made you need to look no further than competing against the big boys.  The opponents ISU has lost to have a combined record of 26-8 with all but one of those losses to each other.  The Cyclone keep beating who they are supposed to beat along with staying in ball games they aren't supposed to be in.  Just a year ago ISU was a 27.5 point underdog AT HOME to the #2 team in the nation.  This year at home they were just a 6.5 point underdog to the #5 team in the nation.  In one case they won the game in a huge upset and in another they nearly pulled off the feat.  Many will look at the 5-4 record as marginal.  If you look at the losses this is a quality football team.

This time ISU is going to be a favorite in one, if not two of the "last three" and a 9.5 point underdog in the other.  ISU SHOULD win at least one ballgame going forward.  The sign of improvement is to win more than one.  They need that fourth conference win.  Rhoads has said as much in interviews.  They need to get to over .500 in the conference.  The big prize with a 7th win could be a trip to San Diego or even back to Tempe and a date with a very impressive opponent.

This is a sound football team that has performed well on defense and has struggled on offense in losses.  The defense ISU will face aren't exactly lighting the world on fire.  I think ISU goes to Austin and competes well in a loss.  I think they return to Lawerence and take care of business and beat a struggling West Virginia team on national television on Black Friday.  I will be at all three which if things go well will be an absolute blast.  Either way I look forward to watching ISU take a step forward when it comes to "the last three".

Thoughts from a NFL Sunday

I'm back for more -

Late game
The 49ers line looks HUGE.  They go 6'5" 315, 6'5" 331, 6'3" 318, 6'8" 300, 6'5" 323.  On average, that looks about right, what stands out is how big the guards are - 6'8" is unheard of - which makes the whole line look huge.

Why did the Eagles give up David Akers?  He was the 49er's MVP last year, while the Eagles missed the playoffs.  I was going to say the 49ers would give Akers more chances from 50+ after his 63yd FG last week, but they just punted from the 40.  There is NO reason the 49ers should punt from inside the 40 yd line.

I like these Toyota coach commercials.  Fun, topical concept and the coach is well played.  I appreciate there's more than one too.  This Internet Explorer commercial with the annoying song is getting real, real old. And now they're playing the song on the radio.  I hate the radio.

Speaking of commercials, is it me or does the NFL run at least one ad each commercial break?  Do they get free air time?  Or are they paying for all this.  The networks pay the NFL huge sums of money to broadcast and then the NFL uses that money to advertise for it's own properties on those same networks.  An interesting arrangement.

The NFL commercials with the guy in the suit are dumb.  Why don't they just have cheerleaders dancing around with somebody overdubbing and words on the screen?  I guess they'd probably have to actually pay the cheerleaders then...

That's all for this week.

Early game
I'm watching the Houston - Jacksonville game, and the tarps there are ridiculous.  You'd think they'd want to keep the tarps off the side the TV cameras can see but it looks like they are everywhere.  Official NFL capacity is 67,246 - "expandable" to 76,867, but can hold 84,000 for college games and special events.  How many seats will the NFL let them take away?

The Texans have a player called Mister Alexander!

"Some guys aren't playing with a full deck" - Rich Gannon while showing clips of Brian Cushing headbutting teammates before the game.

I prefer Marv Albert and Rich Gannon to last week's team of Ian Eagle and Dan Fouts.  Fouts isn't the brightest color guy.  He's not real bright period.

I thought I could see a different game on Fox when the Texans were away?  I'll never understand these broadcasting rules.

Along that line, and maybe this is why, the Cowboys play at 3:30, so that's who I'll have to watch.  And Joe Buck and Troy Aikman.  Can't stand watching a game they call.  He sucks the life out of everything.  Maybe there will be a different game on the radio I can listen to.

Switched to the radio looking for a different game, all that's on is the Texans but it actually matches up with the TV!  I'm sure I tried this last year and it was off too far to listen.  I'll have to do this from now on, especially when Dan Fouts is on the call...

I miss Gus Johnson.  Still think the Texans should have made him their default announcer.  Everone would have watched the Texans!

I see why the Jags took Brian Anger in the third round.  He's played as much as anybody today - 8 punts through 3 quarters.  Gabbert only has 7 completions.

Maybe I'll have more later.

ISU Wins 6.42 Or 4.982 Games This Season

I put the numbers together for this post quite awhile back.  It seemed like Iowa State, during Paul Rhoads tenure, didn't lose games it was supposed to win, and pulled off at least one upset per year.  Under the previous coach, the team seemed to always drop a couple in which they were favored, and seemed to rarely pull any upsets.  I tested this observation.

Over the past three years, Iowa State has only been favored 9 times out of 38 games (plenty of opportunities for upsets!) and ISU is 7-2 in games in which they are favored.  The two losses were in 2010 to Kansas State on a neutral field and Colorado the week after they fired Dan Hawkins.  So far, so good.  How about the upsets?  ISU has had 11 upsets in the last three years.  They had two in 2010, four last year and five in 2009.  Really impressive stuff.  There's a reason one web site said Rhoads was worth up to three games per season.  The tendency to win when favored and compete when not has meant it's an exciting time to be a Cyclone fan - minimal disappointment and maximum upside.

Digging deeper, I broke every game down by home or away, conference or non-conference.  Here's a summary of the results.

Quick observations from this, Rhoads and the Cyclones have won every non-conference game in which they've been favored.  This is important because every BCS school schedules non-conference games they're supposed to win.  Iowa State can't make it to six wins and a bowl game dropping these.  The other number that jumps out is that ISU has only been favored in four conference games over three years.  That's either pathetic or the Cyclones have been consistently underrated, probably some of both.

The big payoff - predicting this season's wins using prior these prior results.

The ranks are from the end of last season.  The win percentage comes from the previous years' percentages.  Based on expected wins, ISU will go 4-8.  Based on win percentages, ISU's expected number of wins is 6.42, which means a bowl trip.

Again, these were based on last year's final BCS rankings.  I'm worried that Tulsa is favored over the Cyclones at home this first week.  That probably means Iowa State will be 'dogs against Iowa and Texas Tech as well.  If that's the case, ISU's predicted win total is 4.982, short of a bowl game.

The Big XII is always underrated.  The addition of TCU and West Virginia make it an even more difficult conference.  Rhoads has to get his team to play at least three games over its talent once again this year to have hope of a bowl game.  Watching Iowa State isn't like a roller coaster.  It's more like a hill climb.  We're pretty sure of the distance they'll cover, it's the second half that gets tricky.  Will the Cyclones overcome unfavorable odds and make it to the summit (bowl game)?  Or will they fall over early and disappoint?  With Paul Rhoads at the helm, I'd bet the former.