How November 2006 Changed ISU Football

On November 26, 2006 it was expected ISU was going to name Brian Kelly their new head football coach. It seemed logical at the time. He would be getting a 900,000 dollar raise. He was successful at Grand Valley State and Central Michigan. The other known interviews were Jay Norvell, OC at Oklahoma, and Jim Harbaugh. Pollard came out of left field and introduced Gene Chizik as the new head football coach. Meanwhile, Brian Kelly was snatched up by Cincinatti, and Harbaugh caught on with Stanford.

Brian Kelly

Kelly has taken Cincy from 19-17 in the 3 years previous to him taking over to 30-6 in the three years since, with three games left in this season. That was quite the turnaround.

Jim Harbaugh

Harbaugh came from a program that didn't offer scholarships to guiding Stanfords football program. Their record in the 3 years prior to Harbaugh--10-24. Their record since: 15-18. Keep in mind Stanford was 1-11 the year before Harbaugh took over. He also has two victories over Top 10 opponents (at USC, vs Oregon).

Jay Norvell is still searching for a coaching job at this point.

Kelly=+11 wins and counting
Harbaugh= +5 wins and counting


Now, Gene Chizik.

In the two years before Gene got here McCarney went 11-13, including a bowl trip. That is a little better than most people think. Chizik was brought in and went 5-19 in his two years. That is a MINUS 6 win differential. What a hire.

I think people thought ISU football was in a lot worse of a place when Chizik took over. People failed to realize that they were one year removed from a bowl game.

If Pollard had gotten it right...

ISU may have been coming off a bowl trip.
People might be wanting our head coach for the right reasons.
ISU WOULDN'T have wasted the last two years.

Did Pollard get it right? (Part Two)

At the moment it looks like Pollard got this one right. Rhoads already has a +3 win differential, among the best in the nation. Another candidate, Turner Gill has cooled off at Buffalo and isn't quite the coup he was a year ago. Most importantly Rhoads looks like he wants to be here.

Looking back to November 26th, 2006 it is funny to think how much one date could have changed ISU football so much. Kelly had his bags packed and thought he had a contract in hand. Instead he shipped his bags and his coaching ability for the Big East and now appears to have first dibs on whatever coaching job he so chooses. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have Notre Dame trying to steal away our coach?!

Moral of the story:

ISU appears to have finally gotten their hands on a good coach. Does he have the ability to make them more than mediocre? We will see. Pollard put this program back two years with one decision. If it turns out he was wrong on this one, he needs to be out the door as well.