Readers: To sound off, click on the blue “comment” link below … ALSO, follow me on twitter.com under “kellyatcourier”
By KELLY BEATON
Waterloo (IA) Courier Sports Writer
AMES – Paul Rhoads was rather giddy late Saturday night.
After exiting his postgame press conference after a sound beating of Baylor, the first-year Iowa State coach told his wife, Vickie, “Come here!” and gave her a bear hug.
And why wouldn’t Rhoads be elated? For once, it was Iowa State that demoralized an opponent, in a 14-point win.
This was a huge swing-game for both the Cyclones and Bears in terms of inching toward bowl eligibility. And, when the dust settled, Rhoads’ squad had taken a significant leap forward. Iowa State now sits at 4-3, while Baylor is stuck on three wins — with four consecutive ranked opponents sitting in its path.
Rhoads will oversee a squad with perhaps two more games in which it will be favored: at Texas A&M on Oct. 31 (the site of ISU’s last Big 12 road win) and at home against Colorado on Nov. 7. This reporter also believes it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that ISU could upset Missouri on the road in the regular-season finale on Nov. 21 (especially if the Tigers are locked into a bowl slot).
“It’s a little too early (for bowl talk),” insisted Cyclone linebacker Jesse Smith. “If that time comes, we’ll celebrate then, but right now we just have to go back to work.”
Take note: Smith gave a hint of a smile while saying that.
Meanwhile, it was Iowa State’s opponent that walked away demoralized Saturday. For once.
“All 70 guys that we brought today are frustrated, mad and disappointed,” Bears linebacker Joe Pawelek said afterward. “Where do we go from here?”
Readers: Now it’s your turn. Sound-off by clicking on the blue “comment” link below …
OFF THE BEATON PATH:
- The Cyclones, under first-year coach Rhoads, are 4-3, and have already doubled last year’s win-total. Auburn, under the leadership of former ISU coach Gene Chizik, is now 5-2 after Saturday’s 21-14 loss to Kentucky.
Question: which man has done the better coaching job? (I say Rhoads, given the disparity in talent between the two programs).
Until next time, I’ll be trying (in vain) to pinpoint a Heisman candidate. Mark Ingram? … Todd Reesing? … Pat Grace? …
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