Nebraska built a powerhouse athletic department on the back of football success which was driven I think largely by Bob Devaney. Oklahoma built a powerhouse athletic department on the back of football success which was driven I think largely by Bud Wilkenson. Kansas has built a powerhouse basketball program on that backs of James Naismith and Phog Allen, and although it hasn't carried over to other programs, provides a solid foundation and source of pride for Kansas.
These are just three examples of programs that are of national prominence in conditions that are not much different than Iowa State. These are relatively low population states. In fact for much of the last century, Iowa was bigger than all those states. And they all have 2 major P5 universities, other than Nebraska, which for much of the time was half the population of Iowa. They all had a catalyst that got things rolling and have enjoyed significant success for many years.
Iowa State has lacked that catalyst. In football, just when we start to have success, we lose our coach and start over. In basketball we have had some fun, but have never really gotten to a level of success that can begin to build long term success. There is no reason the last 100 years or so of mostly futility has to continue into the next 100 years. We can have a transformation like happened at Nebraska, Oklahoma, and in a more limited sense, Kansas. Can Fred Hoiberg be the guy that is Iowa State's catalyst for athletics? It sure feels that way, but we haven't had the success we need to make it happen. We need to keep building and get the basketball program on the verge of national championships. We need Fred to stay and be our catalyst. What did these other schools do to retain their catalyst? We need somebody to be the guy to change the course of ISU athletics, and Fred looks like he could be that guy.
These are just three examples of programs that are of national prominence in conditions that are not much different than Iowa State. These are relatively low population states. In fact for much of the last century, Iowa was bigger than all those states. And they all have 2 major P5 universities, other than Nebraska, which for much of the time was half the population of Iowa. They all had a catalyst that got things rolling and have enjoyed significant success for many years.
Iowa State has lacked that catalyst. In football, just when we start to have success, we lose our coach and start over. In basketball we have had some fun, but have never really gotten to a level of success that can begin to build long term success. There is no reason the last 100 years or so of mostly futility has to continue into the next 100 years. We can have a transformation like happened at Nebraska, Oklahoma, and in a more limited sense, Kansas. Can Fred Hoiberg be the guy that is Iowa State's catalyst for athletics? It sure feels that way, but we haven't had the success we need to make it happen. We need to keep building and get the basketball program on the verge of national championships. We need Fred to stay and be our catalyst. What did these other schools do to retain their catalyst? We need somebody to be the guy to change the course of ISU athletics, and Fred looks like he could be that guy.
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