Search
ISU reacts to Chizik's departure
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-12-15
The news of former Iowa State football coach Gene Chizik leaving for Auburn has shook the entire athletic department.
“It’s a very emotional time,†women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly said. “There are a lot of people that invest a lot of energy in what Iowa State is about. This is a very, very special place.â€
Chizik interviewed for the Auburn job Thursday. On Friday ISU released a statement calling Chizik a “serious†candidate. By Saturday, Chizik was the new Tiger coach.
Fennelly says he’s viewing the situation like he views recruiting.
“We need to embrace, believe and love the people that are here and not worry about the people that don’t want to be here,†Fennelly said.
Athletic director Jamie Pollard said was shocked with Chizik’s actions over the last few days. On Thursday and again on Friday Chizik told Pollard he wasn’t taking the Tiger coaching vacancy, only to turn around and accept the position.
“He is going to reconcile with himself what he told all these players and what he told our administration and what he told our personnel,†Pollard said. “If he can live with that, more power to him. I know Jamie Pollard couldn’t have done that to this place.â€
Pollard went on to say that he has been approached three times to leave ISU and has declined each request. He also said six teams have contacted volleyball coach Christy Johnson in the last two years.
Fennelly said he couldn’t see himself leaving after a year or two at a school and that he had four offers after his first year in Ames.
“If I could even give Iowa State one-tenth of what they’ve given me it would be a miracle,†Fennelly said.
Fennelly said he feels bad for the Cyclones, specifically quarterback Austen Arnaud, who is a family friend.
“He spent a lot of time in my basement growing up and I know he his struggling,†Fennelly said.
But Fennelly knows Arnaud, and everyone else associated with ISU, will perk up once the next coach is named.
“We are going to be getting somebody good,†Fennelly said. “That person is going to be coming into a good situation … If you want to be a part of this community we will take care of you, that is going to happen. We look forward to that happening and we look forward to welcoming a new football coach.â€
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2008-12-15
The news of former Iowa State football coach Gene Chizik leaving for Auburn has shook the entire athletic department.
“It’s a very emotional time,†women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly said. “There are a lot of people that invest a lot of energy in what Iowa State is about. This is a very, very special place.â€
Chizik interviewed for the Auburn job Thursday. On Friday ISU released a statement calling Chizik a “serious†candidate. By Saturday, Chizik was the new Tiger coach.
Fennelly says he’s viewing the situation like he views recruiting.
“We need to embrace, believe and love the people that are here and not worry about the people that don’t want to be here,†Fennelly said.
Athletic director Jamie Pollard said was shocked with Chizik’s actions over the last few days. On Thursday and again on Friday Chizik told Pollard he wasn’t taking the Tiger coaching vacancy, only to turn around and accept the position.
“He is going to reconcile with himself what he told all these players and what he told our administration and what he told our personnel,†Pollard said. “If he can live with that, more power to him. I know Jamie Pollard couldn’t have done that to this place.â€
Pollard went on to say that he has been approached three times to leave ISU and has declined each request. He also said six teams have contacted volleyball coach Christy Johnson in the last two years.
Fennelly said he couldn’t see himself leaving after a year or two at a school and that he had four offers after his first year in Ames.
“If I could even give Iowa State one-tenth of what they’ve given me it would be a miracle,†Fennelly said.
Fennelly said he feels bad for the Cyclones, specifically quarterback Austen Arnaud, who is a family friend.
“He spent a lot of time in my basement growing up and I know he his struggling,†Fennelly said.
But Fennelly knows Arnaud, and everyone else associated with ISU, will perk up once the next coach is named.
“We are going to be getting somebody good,†Fennelly said. “That person is going to be coming into a good situation … If you want to be a part of this community we will take care of you, that is going to happen. We look forward to that happening and we look forward to welcoming a new football coach.â€
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929, or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
| Comments |
| cc1091 Your he small percent of the fanbase that needs to switch from a cyclone to a hawkeye fan. 12/19/08 CyValley "Washington's Life Guard" I'm a Revolutionary War addict. Lately, I've been reading about the unit that provided for Washington's protection (although the General was fearless and often wildly plunged into the fray without regard to his safety). Why is Washington's Life Guard relevant here? A legion of we Cyclone fans stand with JP, and without him asking, we serve Iowa State by protecting JP from the likes of you and yours. Give it up; you can't get to JP. The majority of Cyclone fans will see to that. JP is head-strong and savvy at the same time. He's a leader. We don't expect him to be mistake-free; we do expect him to be fearless in pursuit of success for Iowa State athletics. 12/16/08 fbomber4 cc1091, you represent the part of our fanbase that needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Danny Mac is not coming back and Pollard is here to see this through. His press conference yesterday showed he is a true Cyclone through and through. Maybe you should take notes from him. Calling for Pollard's head is irresponsible and naive considering we just lost Chizik. When you grow up and become a true Cyclone fan, post something positive on here. 12/16/08 cc1091 "Pollard went on to say that he has been approached three times to leave ISU and has declined each request." Well here's at least the fourth time Jamie. LEAVE!!!!! You fired the only football coach in recent history that has made ANY headway in this tough recruiting area. Sure he was a terrible gameday coach, and he tended to hang on to coaches that were terrible because they were his friends. BUT AT LEAST HE WAS LOYAL. LEAVE POLLARD! 12/15/08 |
|
We welcome comments on all sides of all issues. We want our comment forums to be a respectful, comfortable place for people of all opinions to discuss topics of interest. Toward that end, we will not approve comments that contain profanity, obscenity, libel, name-calling, or personal attack. We reserve the right to disapprove any comment for any reason.
|