Paul Rhoads: You’re the man. You’ve moved some mountains to improve this team, and you’ve already secured yourself quite the reputation among the Cyclone faithful.

We were admittedly skeptical, trading coaches with Auburn and all, but as an Iowa native we were willing to let you have your chance. We figured a local would be more “firmly entrenched” than Mr. Chizik.

He really threw us under the bus, or so it seemed, when he left for his dear beloved Auburn; and nobody quite knew how we’d fare in the coming season.

We had no idea, Coach Rhoads, you’d be better in, literally, every conceivable way.

Ten-game losing streak: snapped. Seventeen-game road losing streak: snapped. Eleven-game conference losing streak: snapped.

Those streaks were perpetuated or created by your predecessor, who is, apparently, as good at ruining incredible streaks as he is at starting embarrassing ones. After all, Kentucky beat Auburn last Saturday for the first time since 1966. Chizik is the quintessential bungler, and despite any initial skepticism, there’s no doubt who came out on top in our coach swap last winter.

The Cyclones are a respectable 4-3, a puff of wind away from 5-2, and an overtime victory away from an unfathomable 6-1. For two seasons, fans have never felt close, never felt optimistic; but the current team, the direction of the team and the future of the athletics department seem so incredibly exciting now.

Much of that excitement stems from the incredible recruiting class taking shape this year. With three months left in the season, this year’s class is already better than Chizik’s first full class.

Sorry, Auburn, all sales final.

Speaking of Auburn, they have a tough road ahead of them with brutal games at no. 9 LSU, against Mississippi, at Georgia and a final-week showdown with in-state rival no. 2 Alabama.

If Auburn were to lose all of those games, which isn’t too hard to believe, Chizik will have successfully started a new streak: six straight South Eastern Conference losses.

Fun as it may be, this is no time to slam Auburn. Instead it’s a time to support the team with even fiercer spirit than before. We’re vindicated! With our skepticism, countless losing streaks and recruiting issues taken care of, the road to nowhere, apparently led to Paul Rhoads.

We know you’re never satisfied, coach. In fact, when asked how you felt about a 5-1 record you were quoted as saying “We’d love nothing more than to be 5-1 right now … we’re plays away from being that. That’s what losers say. That’s what the team that’s 3-3 says … ”

You’re a fighter, hit ‘em comin’ off the bus, building a program from the ground up. You have our support, and we know you have countless things left on your to-do list. Next time you review that list, here are some other streaks we’d love to see smashed by Rhoads’ hammer.

Jack Trice hasn’t witnessed a kickoff return for a touchdown since 1976.

Iowa State’s last football conference title was in the Big 8.

We haven’t appeared in a Big XII championship game.

We haven’t appeared in a bowl since 2005, and haven’t won one since 2004.

The Cyclones haven’t beaten Nebraska in Lincoln since 1977.

Good luck this weekend. You know which aforementioned streak is ready to fall. We’re pulling for you more than you know.