Volume 42 Issue 1 Article 5

September 1995 McCarney Puts ISU Back in the Game Chris Miller

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Recommended Citation Miller, Chris (1995) "McCarney Puts ISU Back in the Game," Ethos: Vol. 1996 , Article 5. Available at: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ethos/vol1996/iss1/5

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It's a whole "Before McCarney new ball game for has proved himself. Iowa State football everybody is going fans. to expect huge Last November things because there - after eight years is nothing to of sub-.SOO seasons disprove that the under former head team is going to be coach - great." Cyclone football "''m excited, but got a facelift. While Coach McCarney takes a break during a hard clay's wnrk. I'm always excited," students were at Johnson added. home making Having grown company with the Thanksgiving has never won in the post-season. up near Ames. Johnson said he saw turkey, athletic department But that, as McCarney has the same kinds things happening officials announced that Dan said, was then. And this is now. when was hired and McCarney, then the defense "Everyone is more optimistic again when Walden took the coordinator at Wisconsin, will be because it's something new," said program over. the new football coach for the Clif Paulsen. a sophomore in But regardless of the team's Cyclones. animal science. "The students success or failure, Johnson said he McCarney - a former Iowa aren't sure what [McCarney] is will be at every game, rain or Hawkeye player, as well as a coach going to do, but they're sure he's shine. like always. and Iowa City native - however. better than Walden." · "''m expecting to go see some has his work cut out for him. Paulsen said, with football, great football. Last season they had Consider this: During his much of the success or failure of a a poor record, but the games were tenure at Iowa State. Walden had team depends on the coach. still fun," Johnson said. "I love the only one winning season - at 6-S in "The players like [McCarney] Cyclones." 1989- while compiling a 28-57-3 better. and you're going to work Jill Robertson. a senior in record. harder for someone that you like," Journalism, has served on the Pep The last time the Cyclones saw Paulsen said. "It makes me more Council as an advisor and worked post-season play action was before optimistic about the season." with last year's focus group that many of the current students could At least one student. however. approved the new logo design. read and write. The year was 1978 is "guardedly optimistic" about Robertson said she would be and under the guidance of the now how much McCarney will be able happy if the team could win the embattled Earl Bruce, ISU was to accomplish when his first first game. "I think McCarney is invited to the Hall of Fame Bowl in Cyclone team takes the field on very motivational and has a lot of Birmingham, Ala. The Cyclones lost August 31 against Ohio University energy," Robertson said. "''m the game to a physical Texas A&M "I love football, but I haven't looking forward to winning a squad, 28-12. seen a game yet," said Chad game and being able to leave In fact, in four bowl Johnson. a senior in civil the stadium excited and not appearances, all in the 1970s, ISU engineering and Story City native. disappointed." Incidentally, the August 31 match-up puts the only two teams in the nation that didn't win a game last year, on the same field. ISU finished the 1994-95 season 0- Ticket Information 10-l. while Ohio was 0-ll. Yet others are expecting bigger Season Tickets things. Kelley Hixon, a junior in dietetics, said on -the-field Public $126 improvement in eminent. Faculty/Staff $101 "I have a really good friend on Students $42 the football team who was going to quit when McCarney called Single Game Tickets him," Hixon said. "He felt $18.00 (Except Iowa $23) McCarney was a lot more personal Group Rates (Not available for Iowa game) [than Walden] and that the team $18.00 Cl-lS tickets per game) as a whole will be improved." $16.00 (16- 30 tickets per game) Hixon added that a winning $14.00 (31+ tickets per game) season is definitely on the horizon. (Discounted Group Rate tickets must be purchased prior to "''d say we're going to win game day) nine games." she said. "The people I know seem more dedicated to the Hillside Seating team. They're going to improve." $9.00 Adults Improvement or not, Hixon's win/loss prediction was by far the $6.00 children age 12 and below highest. Johnson and Robertson (Available on game day only) both said six wins was a realistic Ticket Payments: goal, while Paulsen said the Cyclones will come away with Make checks payable to: "more than five." No one. however, Iowa State Athletic Department said they expect to see ISU in a Write: Athletic Ticket Office in McCarney's 102 Olson Building inaugural year. Iowa State University Still others say that what Ames, Iowa SOOll McCarney needs is time. Former Tel.* CSlS) 294-1816 Iowa State Daily sports editor Paul Ticket office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30. Kluding, now and ISU public Tickets may be paid for by credit card and all sales are final. relations graduate, said he thinks it will take at least three years before the Cyclones are successful in terms of wins and losses. Despite differing opinions on recommended by everyone I talked "McCarney seems focused on just how successful this year's to." the task at hand and he'll be good football team will be, nearly ISU President Martin Jischke for Iowa State," Kluding said. "The everyone agreed that Dan agreed. coaching staff is determined to McCarney was a good choice to "Dan McCarney is an exciting succeed and the players see a turn ISU's program around. coach who has enjoyed discipline that wasn't there with From the beginning, ISU outstanding success," Jischke said. Walden. They want that and they athletic officials have said that "He is an excellent recruiter who need that. but success will take McCarney's track record - that will be extremely popular with his time." includes a hand in Rose Bowl athletes and fans, and who is Kluding said that the number berths at Wisconsin and Iowa - dedicated to the academic and of wins next year will depend on make him the "right man for the athletic success of his student­ how big of an impact the new job." athletes. I know he shares my recruits can make in their first "Dan McCarney has played key commitment to bringing a year. The Cyclones lost 22 fifth­ roles in taking two losing Big Ten successful, winning program to year seniors from last year's squad. programs and turning them into this university." "''d say four games," he said. nationally recognized football Known for his intensity, "In terms of building, [the season] powers," Athletic Director Gene McCarney pushed all the right will be a success, but will Smith said. "He is extremely well­ buttons when he was hired. McCarney consider it a success? liked by his players and his Probably not." coaching peers, and he was highly

ethos 21 ------Promising a turnaround. "The guys are excited to be I think the coach has to be more McCarney said that now is a great here and we're learning, but it of a motivator." time to be a Cyclone. will take a while for everyone to I\luding said the talent level of "We will bring back respect; get adjusted," he said. the players wasn't the problem. we're going to bring back One reason the players are "I never thought that the talent winning; we are going to turn excited for the season to begin is with the Cyclones was any less than Cyclone Stadium into one of the McCarney's new offense. Gone is any other team," he said. "It all comes most exciting places to play in the triple option that Walden down to motivation." college football." McCarney said. implemented to give the team a Regardless of Walden's character, But McCarney isn't planning on different look. Robertson said his resignation was a doing it alone. At a news "''m glad the triple option is good thing for the university. conference near the end of last out." Johnson said. "From a fan's "Whatever he was doing didn't semester. the coach said the standpoint, it's boring and seem to be working," she said. "His students will play a primary role. relatively predictable. If image was shot and it would have "As everyone knows, until the something doesn't work, you been tough for him to stay another students start coming back and need to change it." year. supporting this football program, McCarney said this year's For his eight years of service, it's going to be hard to really start offensive scheme will be more Walden was rewarded with a contract getting the great attendance and traditional than year's past. buy-out that cost private university following," he said. "It's a pro-set, one or two­ donors nearly $1 million. According to "We've had a lot of interest. We've back offense. It willbe bal­ the terms of his resignation, Walden invited the entire campus in - anced," he said. will remain on the university payroll fraternities. sororities, dormitories. "To win you must be able to run for three years. and his assistants We've tried to get a lot of people the football consistently, but we were all paid a lump sum equivalent back and interested in this football will throw the football. [tool. to six months in salary when the program. Obviously, we will analyze what coach resigned. As Kluding predicted, we have and work to do what That, however, is money well McCarney said a successful [the players] can do." spent, according to Robertson. turnaround will be a matter of For Paulsen, junking the "I love football and change like time, but the former defensive triple option is a sign that the this is always an exciting thing," she coordinator said he's not trying to new coaching staff said. discount his first season on the job. is more able to "There will be major adapt to the times improvements made in this than the Walden program our first year," McCarney administration. said. "We do have a chance to start "I think being respectable and start being Walden was a good competitive around here at Iowa coach at the time State again." he was hired," And most of the players were Paulsen said. "But happy to see a change as well. he didn't change "It's a new attitude. The with the times. He coaches that came in said we can was alumni count on them," said freshman pleasing, though." Troy Davis, listed as the team's Kluding added starting tailback. "I believe in the that although he coaches. Coach came in and said liked Walden as a we can win. I'm not [a] loser; I'm a person, as a coach winner. We're going to go out and he left something win some games this year." to be desired. Although this is his final "Walden was a season as a Cyclone, senior very likeable guy, linebacker Angelo Provenza said but he wasn't a he's just happy to be a part of good coach," McCarney's first year. Kluding said. 0 "This is my last year and I "Before each year t don't want to go out a loser," he he said we had the said. "We want a winning season." talent to do great Senior strong safety Matt things, but it was Straight said that the players are up to the team. gearing up for a successful year.