AMES - Iowa State's quarterback veered two ways last season.

Bret Meyer and Austen Arnaud drove the offense with authority. They also spun the Cyclones' wheels.

"At times, it worked for us," said Arnaud on Monday. "At times, it didn't. Bret played well sometimes, and sometimes I didn't play well. It's just really the opponent and what our scheme is."

His eligibility exhausted, Meyer has departed. Arnaud has returned for his sophomore season at ISU. And there's a chance - just a chance - that the former Ames High School star could be part of a two-headed quarterback scheme again in 2008.

As he discussed the opening one-third of Iowa State's spring football workouts, head coach Gene Chizik said naming a starter will be a long process, one that could go beyond the April 19 spring football game.

So who will play? Will it be Arnaud, who played in six games a year ago and completed 20 of 37 passes? Or will Phillip Bates jump into the mix? As a true freshman in 2007, Bates played, but he didn't throw a single pass. He did catch a 38-yard toss from Meyer that set up ISU's game-winning field goal against Iowa.

If experience means anything, the logical choice would be Arnaud. Chizik, though, recycled a thread from his rookie season at Iowa State. No one is guaranteed a

starting spot, no matter what the depth chart or the statistics suggest.

"It's going to be a good battle there," said Chizik of the starting quarterback situation. "We won't know who that person will be for a long time."

That's when the ISU head coach suggested he may settle on a starter, but he won't leave one quarterback in cold storage on the bench.

"There's nothing wrong with playing two of them," said Chizik. "Whatever one of them brings to the table that we feel helps move our club, then we'll put him in there to do that.

"So ruling out a two-quarterback system - I wouldn't do that right now."

Chizik did say Arnaud's six games of experience has made him a more confident quarterback. As for Bates, the Cyclones coach said, "Phillip's head is spinning a little bit" as he tries to take the lessons learned in the film room to the practice field.

If there's an edge there for Arnaud, he believes it's a small one in the eyes of Chizik and offensive coordinator Robert McFarland.

"I think it makes a difference that I've got that playing time and experience," said the sophomore. "But that really doesn't mean anything when it comes to Coach Chizik. He's the one who makes the decisions - he and coach McFarland.

"If I'm not ready to play next year, I won't play. But I'm gonna keep preparing myself every day so that I'm gonna be that guy."

As a team, the Cyclones believe they're better prepared in the second spring of the Chizik Era.

The players know the coaches. The coaches know the players, their strengths and their flaws.

"(Chizik) expects things to go more smoothly than last year," said middle linebacker Jesse Smith. "We've got our introductions in. He expects it to go faster."

With a 3-9 record in the rearview mirror, Chizik has raised the bar for his program in every phase of the game - from offense to defense to special teams.

"I have a higher expectation in terms of consistency," said the ISU coach. "I have a higher expectation in terms of what we're demanding from a physical standpoint and nature. They know that."

Like most coaches, Chizik didn't want to put a victory total for 2008 on the bulletin board.

"I got no idea," he said. "But I do say I will know this team better and they know our expectations better. We'll have some more growing pains. We'll live through them, and we'll stay on the track and stay on the plan."

Contact Jim Sullivan at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com

Spring flings

A look at Iowa State football this spring.

Head coach: Gene Chizik (second season, 3-9 career record)

Who's gone: A total of 23 letterwinners have departed, including some very familiar names. Quarterback Bret Meyer, wide receivers Todd Blythe and Milan Moses, linebacker Ace Bowen and placekicker Bret Culbertson have left Jack Trice Stadium.

Who's here: Iowa State's Media Relations Department lists 15 returning starters - seven each on offense and defense, plus punter Mike Brandtner. The key veterans include running back Jason Scales, wide receiver R.J. Sumrall, free safety James Smith and defensive end Kurtis Taylor.

Pop quiz: Will Arnaud truly seize the No. 1 job at quarterback, or will the inexperienced Phillip Bates actually get a look? Can veteran Ben Lamaak successfully make the move from offensive tackle to guard? Can Chizik fill the void left in his defensive line by Athyba Rubin and Bryce Braaksma?

Stay tuned: Iowa State's new placekicker probably isn't on campus yet. The probable replacements for Culbertson - Zach Guyer and Pat Mahoney - are finishing high school.

Datebook: Iowa State's spring game is set for April 19 at noon in Jack Trice Stadium.