3-0, 0-4, 3-0, 0-3.

That’s how the ISU football schedule broke down when the clock struck 0:00 in the Pinstripe Bowl on Friday.

Coming into the 2011 season, the Cyclones were only favored to win in two games — Northern Iowa in the opening week, and against Kansas on Nov. 5. Many experts — including this board — predicted three or four wins for the team.

What ensued over the next four months was nothing short of unexpected, at least to everyone outside the ISU locker room. Maybe it was just coincidence, but these Cyclones were a team of runs.

The opening three weeks had fans believing Steele Jantz was the future, an electrifying gamer who came through in the clutch. The next four had fans, and the team, scratching their heads. Blowout losses and inconsistent play gave way to the Jared Barnett era.

The final three wins of the season included what will be remembered as a seminal moment in ISU football history. The 36-31 win in double overtime against Oklahoma State was as memorable as it was unexpected, as shocking as it was exciting.

Bowl eligible for the second time in three years under coach Paul Rhoads, the Cyclones didn’t win another game — including the bowl game. 

Fans endured speculation that Rhoads would bolt for Pitt, but upon signing a 10-year, $20 million contract, that ended too. 

He’s really the crux of the season, if we’re being honest. Yes, the Barnett-Jantz story line was big, as was the up-and-down play of the defense, which ended the season playing its best football. But Rhoads, and the job he’s doing, deserves the attention.

His emotions, which went up and down with the results of the season, are right there on his sleeve, for the whole world to see. Following the wins against Iowa and Oklahoma State, it was plain to see how much it meant to him personally as it did him as just a coach. After big losses, the frustration over not getting the best out of his players was just as palpable.

But maybe most of all, and best of all if you’re a Cyclone fan, Rhoads isn’t content with what his team has accomplished. In listening to the coach speak after the bowl loss to Rutgers, simply making bowl games isn’t the endgame. 

That may be the best thing Rhoads brings to Iowa State. Not his fiery demeanor, gutsy play-calling or so-called “signature wins,” rather the idea that more is expected. Bowl wins, not just berths. Contending for conference championships.

Such ideas seemed almost ludicrous just three years ago. Now? Now it’s not such a long shot.

He does have work to do, though. Replacing offensive coordinator Tom Herman won’t be easy, and losing players like Kelechi Osemele, Leonard Johnson and Ter’Ran Benton is huge considering they led in the locker room and on the field. Rhoads and his staff will surely lean on players like linebacker Jake Knott and Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Klein. As the recruits of Dan McCarney (Patrick Neal is the last of those) and Gene Chizik begin to leave, we’ll start to see what he and his staff are made of in terms of recruiting. 

Yes, Rhoads has his imperfections as a coach, like anyone. And yes, the goals above aren’t going to happen easily. When you’re a program like Iowa State, where there isn’t the tradition of a Texas or Oklahoma, the odds are stacked against you.

But if this season taught us anything, it’s that anything is possible these days with ISU football.