We have assembled a list of 10 attainable goals for Cyclone football in 2010. The list of goals below goes in order from easiest to hardest to accomplish.
WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE
1. Protect Jack Trice Stadium – Iowa State literally had to protect their home turf during camp when flood waters threatened the Jacobsen Building. Players and coaches had to lay down sandbags to keep the flood waters out. Now they must do it on the football field. ISU will play seven games at home and they must win at least four, preferably five, if they want to reach the post season. The home schedule consists of Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Texas Tech, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
2. Win the neutral field game – The Cyclones will travel to Kansas City in week three to take on Kansas State for Farmageddon II. The game was decided by a Kansas State blocked extra point last year with just seconds remaining. The Cyclones need to win the game this year to feel good about bowl opportunities.
3. Win a road game – Sounds easy enough right? Until you look at the schedule. The Cyclones only have four road games and three of the games are against top ten opponents (#9 Iowa, #7 Oklahoma and #4 Texas). I-State’s best chance for victory comes on November 13th when they travel to Colorado to take on the Buffaloes.
4. Go .500 or better in conference games – Iowa State went 3-5 in the Big 12 last year. Getting to .500 in the conference would be a giant step in the right direction. Winning four of these six games is the most likely scenario (Kansas State in KC, Texas Tech, Kansas, Nebraska, @Colorado, Missouri)
5. Beat a ranked opponent – The Cyclones should have several opportunities as six of their opponents currently sit in or just outside of the Top 25. The teams include Iowa, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska and Missouri.
6. Sweep the non conference games – Another tough task. The Cyclones start the season with Northern Illinois, a team expected to contend for the MAC title. A trip to Iowa City is up next to take on a Hawkeye team that some “experts” have in the national title game. Next up is FCS power Northern Iowa who beat the Cyclones in their last matchup and gave Iowa fits last year. The non conference schedule concludes with Utah, a team that has been a bowl champion in each of the last seven years. Win all four of these games and it will be a good year to be a Cyclone.
7. Win 6 games and become bowl eligible – If Iowa State can accomplish the first three goals above then this goal is accomplished as well. The main goal for all teams, every year is to make it to a bowl game. It is a great reward for the hard work the players and coaches put in and it helps build the future of the program with the extra bowl practices.
8. Win the bowl game – Getting to a bowl game is great, but winning the game gives a team momentum heading into the off season. Paul Rhoads is very clear that the goal every year for Iowa State is to WIN a bowl game.
9. Win the Big 12 North – On the surface it would seem to be a tough year to accomplish this goal with trips to Norman and Austin, but the other conference games are all winnable. The only other conference road game is at Colorado, then there is the neutral field game against Kansas State and the rest of the games are at home (Texas Tech, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri). If the Cyclones can go 5-3, with one of the wins coming against Nebraska, a Big 12 North title is a possibility.
10. Beat Texas or Oklahoma – Trivia Question 1: When was the last time Iowa State beat Oklahoma at football? Answer: 1990. It has been twenty years since the Cyclones beat the Sooners. Jim Walden’s team topped the Sooners 33-31 in Norman. Iowa State’s all time record against Oklahoma (5-67-2). Ouch. Trivia Question 2: When was the last time Iowa State beat Texas at football? Answer: Never. The Cyclones are (0-7) against the Longhorns. Want people to respect Iowa State football? The Cyclones will get respect nationally if they beat a ranked Texas or Oklahoma team at their house.
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