Official December Signing Day Release From Cyclones.com

AMES, Iowa – City College of San Francisco quarterback Steele Jantz, who threw for 3,075 yards and 23 touchdowns while leading his team to an 11-1 record in CCCAA play and two-time all-conference offensive lineman Samuel Tautolo (rhymes with HOW-tolo) of Saddleback Community College, have signed national letters of intent to play at Iowa State. Both players sent in their letters of intent Wednesday and will enroll at Iowa State for the spring semester and be in Ames for Cyclone spring football.
 
“We have signed a pair of outstanding athletes, who were NCAA qualifiers out of high school and will be with us for spring football,” Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads said. “Steele is a winner, and led his team to the California junior college title game. Steele has outstanding athletic skills and he overcame missing most of his senior high school season to find a place at a great program like CCSF and show what he is all about. He has the frame (6-4, 220) that you like to have at that position as well.”
 
Jantz also rushed for 601 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2010, leading CCSF to the California State community college title game. On Nov. 27, Steele ran for four touchdowns and threw a 20-yard TD pass as the Rams crushed Fresno City College, 52-15, to claim the Northern California Football Association title.
 
Jantz has overcome considerable adversity to be ranked as one of the nation’s top junior college quarterbacks. At Nevada Union High School the native of Grass Valley, Calif. played linebacker and wide receiver as the backup quarterback his junior season. The starting quarterback as a senior, he missed the first game and then suffered a season-ending injury in the third game of the season.
 
Jantz walked-on to the Hawaii football team in 2008 but elected to transfer to CCSF, where he completed 15-of-29 attempts for 194 yards and two touchdowns as the backup quarterback in 2009.
 
Tautolo, a 6-4, 305-pound standout from Valley View, Calif., played center at Saddleback. His father, John, played in the NFL with the New York Giants after competing at UCLA. Saddleback was 8-3 in 2010 and averaged more than 400 yards of offense per game.
 
“Sam fills an immediate need at center for us,” Rhoads said. “He has great genes as his father was an NFL player. We needed to meet the demand we had at that position with three centers, Ben Lamaak, Alex Alvarez and Sean Smith finishing their eligibility.”
 
National signing day for the balance of the Iowa State recruiting class is Feb. 2.

JUCO QB Transfer

I'm hearing that Iowa State just received a commitment from Steele Jantz, a 6-foot-3, 205 pound QB out of City College of San Fransisco.

With the returning QBs in Capello and Tiller and the incoming prospects in Jantz and Barnett I see there being a good QB competition next year. You have to be happy with CPR and his staff for bringing in these guys.  

Blooming ISU QB Controversy

Looks like we are recruiting a JUCO QB (Steele Jantz) for this up coming year. He was on a visit to Ames not too long ago. He was at Hawaii his freshman year then transferd to CCSF.

Birth Date	July 18, 1989
Hometown	NEVADA CITY, CA
Height	6-3
Weight	205 lbs.

 http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Steele-Jantz-116144

CF Report Card

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/football/williams-missouri-report-card

I was all fired up Saturday night to write my own review, but I honestly just didn't have the words.  And our coaches just don't have the horses in the stables to pull that kind of upset.


 End of story.

Look for more off season analysis on our blooming QB controversy.

A Good Read on ISU Linebackers Knott and Klein

From the Big 12 no less.  Kudos to our Sophomore linebackers!

http://www.big12sports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10410&ATCLID=205032206

ISU Wrestling Grabs 4 Titles at Harold Nichols Open

http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46632&SPID=4248&ATCLID=205030055&DB_OEM_ID=10700

ISU dun got beat

ISU took an old school whoopin on Saturday vs. Colorado.  I really don't have many words for it.  Offense looked awful, the Clones finished with NEGATIVE rushing yards.  Colorado was fired up from the kickoff and it stayed that way.  Playing for a new head coach will have that effect on a team, but ISU wasn't prepared at all.

Biggest story from Saturday is that Austen Arnaud's knee is absolutely wrecked, no way he's dressed Saturday against Mizzou.  I feel really badly for the senior QB from Ames, but as the hawks always say "next man in".  It might be Tiller's last chance to start (but I'll get to that in the off season).

After seeing Arnaud go down injured on a Colorado sack, strip and fumble return for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to increase its lead to 34-7, Jerome Tiller came in for the Cyclones on the ensuing possession. Tiller led the Cyclones down the field on a five-play, 55 yard drive completed with the sophomore scrambling out of the pocket on fourth and eight to find Collin Franklin in the end zone, trimming the deficit to 34-14.

Franklin had 11 receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown. Jake Knott led the defense with a career-high 16 tackles, three pass breakups, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble.  Defense tried to keep the Clones in this game, but ISU had too many costly turnovers and too few offensive points to make it worth anything. 

We as fans will learn a lot about Rhoads and his coaching staff this next weekend as Mizzou (why can't they spell???) comes a knocking in Ames.

6 PM start on November 20th in Ames, IA.  Maybe both teams will freeze?  ISU will need to get the rushing game off the ground if they're going to go bowling this year.

I'll post any more "bowl" projects if we get any, but at 5-6 I would expect us to be included in any projections.

ISU Wrestling to take on Boston U. Tonight

For you wrestling fans out there, ISU has their home opener in Hilton tonight at 7.

ISU's grapplers are #20 something this year after losing 3 key seniors last year.  First time in a long time we haven't had a #1 wrestler.  Don't look for a national title this year.

When it rains it pours

BEEF 'O' BRADY'S BOWL
Southern Miss (C-USA No. 2-6) vs. Iowa State (Big East No. 6 or Sun Belt)
Dec. 21, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
At St. Petersburg, Fla.
Comment: The Cyclones earned some style points from us for taking Nebraska to overtime last week. Too bad their holder isn’t much of a passer.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/39922542/ns/sports-college_football/page/2/

Another Bowl Projection

Apparently, tis the season.  I would not road trip to San Fran

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/bowls/predictions

Fight Hunger

Jan. 9

San Francisco

9 p.m.

WAC vs. Pac-10 No. 6

Fresno State vs. Iowa State*

ISU to play Temple in Little Caeser Bowl?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/11/07/bowl.projections/index.html?eref=sihp

Quote from the article

• As of now, I'm projecting 71 eligible teams for 70 spots. Texas is not one of them.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/11/07/bowl.projections/index.html#ixzz14uAWhpKD

 I would road trip to that!

And it's official, Hawkins to leave immediately

http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_16562959

No word on Cody....

Colorado fires coach in the face of ISU game

http://cbs4denver.com/sports/ncaa.college.football.2.2001786.html

Funny thing is, Cody Hawkins is Dan's son, and the only QB on the roster that is not redshirted!

GO CYCLONES

*********Assistant to take the reigns?
http://www.denverpost.com/cu/ci_16560672

Mizzou Game Time Announced

Holy Frigid Game Batman

Just announced: The Nov. 20 game at Jack Trice Stadium against Missouri will kick at 6 p.m. CT and be on FSN.

ISU ALMOST Pulls The Upset Of The Program's History

Iowa State Football has turned a corner, an important milestone in the Rhoads era.  The team fears no one.  They do not quit, even being down by a quick 14 by Nebraska in the 3rd quarter.

The ISU offense dominated in the first half, recording 13 first downs and 192 yards of offense while taking a 10-7 lead at intermission. Just before half time, Grant Mahoney drilled a 57-yard field goal (wind aided), his fourth 50-yarder of his career. It was the fourth-longest field goal in ISU history.

The Cornhuskers scored 17 points to take a 24-10 lead. Nebbie took advantage of two Arnaud interceptions, one returned 29 yards for a touchdown. NU later scored from two yards out to increase the NU lead to 24-10 with 5:06 left in the third quarter.

 The Cyclones offense fired back up and mounted a drive capped off by an Arnaud 1-yard sneak to cut the lead to 24-17 with 11:29 left in the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Niles Paul fumbled the kickoff where it was recovered by a pile of ISU players at about the 12 yard line. Three plays later, Arnaud found an absolutely wide open Arob on the goal line for a 14-yard pass to tie the game at 24-24 with 10:40 left in the game.

The story of this game however is not contained above.  While impressive to lead NU in total offense yard 360-314,  or the 57 yard field goal, or even ISU scoring 14 points in basically 60 seconds at the beginning of the 4th quarter.  What everyone will be talking about is ISU Head Coach Paul Rhoads (CPR) decision to fake the extra point in overtime to win the game on the first possession.

I've heard folks on both sides of the fence.  Especially the older fans did not like the call, they wanted an extra period.  I also heard fans talking about the depth of Nebraska and how long and how many players they could play.

Personally, I love the choice to win it.  Our boys had momentum and energy, taking the whole thing to the wire.  No one expected the play, I was floored to see the place holder pick the ball up.  The ball was in the air so long, my heart started to believe that ISU pulled it off.  Then it hung there, died, and was picked off by a very startled NU linebacker.  Colin Franklin's heart fell out of his chest as the pass didn't end up in his hands.

After the game, I hope CPR told the team how proud he was, and I hope they cheered heartily.  ISU may have gotten an "L" after the game, but as fans, we saw something change.  I saw it in my own expression walking out the north gate.  I was smiling.  After losing by 1 in overtime to the #7 Huskers.  I had pep in my step.  My voice was raw from screaming at the NU offense or the officials, it did not matter that the pass was incomplete.  ISU turned a corner last saturday.  They fear no team, they can and will play with anybody. It was obvious the coaching staff has done something special here and will build a program we'll see at new and higher accomplishments.

In 10 years, when I'm telling my (unborn, not yet conceived) son about why I'm so proud to be a Cyclone, this day will get mentioned in the same breath as my time at ISU, the beating Iowa 5 straight times, my times at Veishea growing up.  It will be the story as how 3 generations of my family saw ISU come up 1 pass short of knocking off those boys from Lincoln, and not just because ISU has won their conference title the last 2 seasons.

ISU Bowl Projections

I'll add more as I find them

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1147796

LIBERTY

 

Site: Memphis
Date: Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m., ESPN
Matchup: C-USA No. 1 vs. SEC No. 8
This week's projection: UCF vs. Iowa State*

Shameless Links Monday

So, this is the fastest way to share knowledge, especially for those with RSS feeds.

Another ISU blog, slightly more professional looking, so he can't know anything about football, too bad.  He has put together "power rankings".
http://www.clonechronicles.com/2010/11/1/1784816/big-12-power-rankings-week-9

ESPN Big XII report Dave Ubben's drivel (Big 12 power rankings)
http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/20481/big-12-power-rankings-week-10

I don't write "rankings" posts because they're so full of S|^|1T comparing teams that both have and have not played each other.  Last week, at least Ubben had Texas and Texas Tech ranked above ISU (who beat both head to head).

I'll add more links as more articles appear

ISU stinks in win over listless Kansas

So, I left the stadium at ISU 7- Jayhawks 9, midway through the 2nd quarter.  Up till that point, ISU had 1 first down, a punt return for a TD and a staunch defense.  Defense had held KU to 3 field goals, and several punts, but the ISU offense looked pathetic.

There, I said it.  PATHETIC.  Maybe ISU missed center (Ben Lamaak) more than I know, but it was honestly hard to watch Arnaud miss receivers over, and over, and a drop and miss a receiver.....The line was not making any holes for Arob to run through.


That's when the pain set in.  I felt awful.  Severe lower back pain, followed with sweating, nausea, vomiting, the works.  Long story short, I had to go to the ER, found out I had kidney stones.

The Mary Greely Staff kept me up to date on the score and the nurse got tired during the 3rd quarter where ISU scored 21 unanswered points.


Sounds like I missed quite a 2nd half.


ISU ended up winning 28-16 but the KU 7 was scored late in the 4th with replacements playing on both sides.

ISU just needs one more win to go bowling, bring on Nebraska!

Regents approve new scoreboard for Jack Trice Stadium

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2010/10/28/regents-approve-new-scoreboard-for-jack-trice-stadium/

The regents  approved the scoreboard project at up to $4 million, along with $10.7 million for a new Cyclone Sport Complex, which would include fields for soccer, softball and track and field.

Pollard said advancements in technology, including what is being done at other stadiums, have dated the system. 

Pollard said "the scoreboard will have to be taken down and the scoreboard will have to come down a because of a future separate stadium renovation project. The new scoreboard is expected to have a 10 to 12 year life span."

Interesting, is he forecasting the bowling of the south endzone?

I, for one, hope so.

Iowa State favored by +18.5 against KU

2nd highest spread in Iowa State's favor in conference play since 1988. The highest was KU in 2002 (21.5 points) They won that game 45-3. Still striking to see the number that high.

New Iowa State Football website, check it out!

http://www.istatefb.com/

Kansas on 3rd String QB

http://www.kake.com/sports/headlines/Mecham_Named_KU_Starting_Quarterback_105790533.html

We must destroy Kansas.  It is not enough to simply win.

Gameday Central: Cyclones Take on Kansas for Homecoming - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

Gameday Central: Cyclones Take on Kansas for Homecoming - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

Looking ahead: Kansas Jayhawks

The Jayhawk faithful are having a PRE-GAME meltdown.

This is funny
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=172&f=2485&t=6581774

ISU Motivational Posters

ESPN Bowl Projections Following the Texas Win

http://espn.go.com/college-football/bowls/projections/_/week/8

Mark Schlabach says:

Dallas Football Classic (Big Ten vs. Big 12)

Penn State vs. Iowa State

That would be fantastic and might be Joe Pa's last game.

ISU Fans Celebrate Return to Ames

You've got to watch this celebration when the team returned to Ames

http://www.cyclones.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&id=729690&db_oem_id=10700

Domination in Austin

Well, I guess the Texas fans that were calling for an uprising against ISU knew something I did not.

Iowa State dominated the line of scrimmage all game. Our boys up front had their best day of the year so far. ISU ran for almost 200 yards against a top 10 defense nationally. Then, our defense held a traditionally strong rushing attack from the longhorns to less than 100 yards on the ground. That skewed the Time of Possession in favor of the Clones, 32:27 to 27:33.

I was really impressed with the TV announcers call this weekend, they were very knowledgable about Ames and the ISU squad (they've been to Ames twice this year) and called Iowa State's performance "dominating in every phase of the game".

One of the keys to the game was to win the 1st quarter and ISU did that 7-0. In fact, ISU scored on every possession in the red zone (no I'm not counting the victory formation after stopping Texas on 4th and 15 on their own 5 yard line). Texas was 2 of 6 from the redzone (plus 2 field goals), you just can't win those ball games.

After scoring the second TD of the game in the 2nd quarter, ISU performed the most awesome onside kick you've ever seen. Everyone in the stadium was awaiting the kick to the endzone, and ISU easily recovered the kick after 12 yards.

Now, ISU eventually punted on that drive, but the punt pinned Texas deep in their own zone and made them drive the length of the field, instead of a stunning kick return.

ISU's defense made 3 interceptions, 1 TD saving grab.

All in all, ISU looked awesome and Texas looked stunned. Especially when the score was 28-6 ;-)

I look for ISU to have a hell of a homecoming this week. Watch out Kansas, ISU has beaten 2 big 12 south teams and are 2 wins from a bowl game!

Full stats here, including drive by drive summaries

http://www.cyclones.com//pdf8/718589.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10700

Check out widerightnattylight.com

http://widerightnattylite.com/articles/isu-football/alternative-mack-brown-posters.html

Cyclone Football in 2010

We're taking it to Texas this weekend, look at this post from one of their fan sites

Total Melt Down Against Utah (68-27)

All I have to say, really, is that when Bruce Vandevelde scheduled this game 9 years ago, Utah sucked. And I mean 4-8 type seasons. Then Urban Meyer got there.

Utah looked every bit like the top 10 team they are, and ISU couldn't keep up.

Personally, I blame the offensive line. All of it. They received hits from the defensive line of Utah instead of taking the fight to them. Until that is fixed, ISU's offense will sit idle/dormant.

Going to OU this weekend is going to hurt, badly.

Going to UT next weekend won't be as bad (since they're down), but will feel like you ripped the scab back off the Utah and OU losses.

For the casual ISU fan, come back and start paying attention on Oct 26th. We'll be ramping up to absolutely violate Kansas.

Tuesday Links

Because everyone is tired/busy on Tuesday Morning, I'm introducing Tuesday Links!

Read what other hacks have to say about ISU and their pending game on Saturday.

http://thegazette.com/2010/10/05/cyclones-have-7-0-mark-for-rhoads-in-games-under-lights/

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/50412767-89/game-utah-iowa-state.html.csp

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20101004/SPORTS05/10050342/1023/SPORTS/Tuesday-Morning-Quarterback-3-2-Cyclones-back-in-bowl-picture

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/football/the-numbers-iowa-state-vs-utah

Enjoy!

Good God Almighty, ISU Scores 52 in Big Win Over Tex Tech

Not sure I've ever seen ISU with 2-100 yard rushers in a single game that both had TDs. Not sure I've ever seen an onside kick returned for a touchdown. I KNOW I've never seen ISU score 52 points in a game.

ISU played their BUTT's off last night. Offensive line obviously blocked well (see 2-100 yard reference above). Arnaud didn't make any game changing mistakes, but did make game changing decisions (to win, bazinga).

ISU came out and hung 24 in the opening half on Tex Tech last night before a very cold ISU crowd. They didn't announce attendance, but it must have been 45-48,000.

ISU ran well and passed for shorter yardage than you'd expect, but very efficiently. Defense definitely "bent" and only broke once. Tex Tech scored a very fast 14 points before half time, mostly due to a no-huddle, hurry-up that caught the defense off guard.

In the end, it was a team win. Offense produced what it was supposed to, the defense didn't give up, and ISU had a special teams score (who returns an onside kick for a TD????).

Up next, a terrific Utah team. I like that we put them on the schedule, helped boost this years strength of schedule. Insert sarcasm tags here. However, if we can get lucky and knock them off, it'll be huge for ISU nationally.

After the #13 ranked Utes, I think we seriously can beat KU, CU, and mizzou (it's the last game at our place and possibly for a bowl bid)

NU comes in after a 17-3 showing over South Dakota State on NU homecoming??!?!!?!? I honestly look for Nebbie to lose their next 3, @K-State, Texas and @Okie State. Then they come back north to rebound against Mizzou (a nice rivalry game) then ISU. They'll be pretty beat up by then, and hopefully, spent.

Post Game Wrap-up Vs. UNI

Iowa State soundly beat the University of Northern Iowa on Saturday night in front of a nearly sellout crowd.

1. Not really an impressive win on a lot of fronts but #1 is that UNI is down this year, and bad. Their second string QB played most of the game, only coming out to let the #1 get rocked again. UNI lost the game prior to ISU against Stephen F. Austin and also had a number of turn overs.
2. ISU defense, the arguably weakest link on the team, outscored the offense. 2 pick six's made for a good final score (27-0), however, the panthers also missed a fg deep in Cyclone territory. ISU was outgained and UNI had the ball for a full 7 minutes more than the ISU offense.

UNI ISU
FIRST DOWNS 17 15
NET YARDS RUSHING 146 117
NET YARDS PASSING 174 93
TOTAL OFFENSE YARDS 320 210
Possession Time 33:16 26:44

The game ball goes to Grant Mahoney (place kicker) for 2 field goals, a pat, and a first down on a fake fg option play. The option was run better than Tiller did most of the evening.

Most analysis I've seen today revolves around Tiller not making mistakes (Arnaud went out hurt after the first Cyclone series, a 3 and out). No turn overs, but no real "plays" either. Longest play of the night was an Alexander Robinson 27 yard scamper. Longest play in a shut out against a Div I-AA opponent was a 27 yard run? really? BOOOO you offense.

In particular, boo the offensive line. They looked and played like swiss cheese. UNI had 4 sacks. 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Again, penalties were the problem. ISU had 8 for 60 yards. The ISU saving grace was that UNI had 7 for 60 yards in addition to 3 turnovers.

All in all, I'm more scared to face the Big XII schedule we have coming than before the UNI game. ISU MUSTFIX THE OFFENSE if they hope to be competitive at all.

Or who knows, UCLA beat Texas, maybe this schedule is a blessing in disguise?



full stats here http://www.cyclones.com//pdf8/713269.pdf?SPSID=48323&SPID=4653&DB_OEM_ID=10700

Projecting all 35 bowl matchups

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/stewart_mandel/08/27/2010-bowl-projections/index.html?utm_source=bleacherreport.com

SI has ISU vs. Pitt in the pinstripe bowl.

Fox Sports Preview Continued

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5q8wE3oO5w&feature=player_embedded

Fox Sports ISU Reporting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5q8wE3oO5w&feature=player_embedded

Fire it up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyzCw6y1yYU

Will not be the last you see of this video

Cyclone Respect

http://cfn.scout.com/2/954670.html

The Spring Big 12 Team Rankings
1. Texas
2. Nebraska
3. Oklahoma
4. Missouri
5. Texas Tech
6. Texas A&M
7. Oklahoma State
8. Iowa State
9. Kansas
10. Kansas State
11. Colorado
12. Baylor

A new hope

Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads thinks the big picture of the Iowa State football program is looking good after a scrimmage that followed the Cyclones’ spring practice Saturday in Jack Trice Stadium. On a brisk but pleasantly sunny day, the Cyclones scrimmaged, facing a variety of situations.

“You can see we are a tougher football team,” Rhoads said. “We are more physical. There was a lot of good contact on both sides of the ball. The bottom line is that we are more athletic overall.”

And there's good reason to have that hope! We have a young class of QBs and RBs waiting in the wings, the offense returns 8 starters and the defense returns 5 starts plus 5 that saw significant action in 2009.

Saturday, the clones hosted their 2nd spring scrimmage, this time in Jack Trice. Link to pictures

“I thought our young guys showed some potential,” Rhoads said after the scrimmage. “We still had a couple of guys put the ball on the ground today and that is unacceptable. Ultimately, we have demonstrated that we are doing a lot things better so far this spring.”

The spring game is April 17 at 2 p.m. mark your calendars!