The ISU football team’s spring practice came to an end last Saturday with the annual spring game, which answered some questions and raised a few others.

Injuries riddled the offensive line during the spring and banged up receivers, including standout Todd Blythe, but coach Dan McCarney said the play during the spring game showed the spring practices to mostly be a success.

“We had a good work day out there today,” McCarney said after the game. “We had some guys missing out there, but I was also glad to see Todd Blythe play as much as he did after missing some practice time.”

Another area of concern was the defense, which impressed at times, but still needs work.

“It was nice to see our defense get some turnovers and some takeaways,” McCarney said. “We’re not where we need to be obviously on defense right now but they made some good plays.”

Blythe spoke of the competitive nature of the practices as a positive that the average fan doesn’t get to see.

“It’s very competitive and not everybody gets to see that all of the time,” Blythe said. “If somebody drops a ball we get all over them, and that’s good, it keeps everyone working hard.

“In practices we don’t see any good plays. [The coaches] cut that out of the tape so all we see are the mistakes. It keeps us honest.”

Blythe was candid about the offense’s play during the spring. He said although progress was made, it could have been better.

“We played pretty well, but it’s been inconsistent,” Blythe said. “We need to get in and get some more work for consistency. At this time of year you always want to be better.”

Although the Cyclones hope to improve, McCarney scoffed at the idea that the Cyclone program is “mediocre.”

“There’s stuff out there talking about mediocrity with this program,” McCarney said.

“I don’t know what people have been smoking lately that would say something like that – but some bad weed I guess.”

The Cyclones have been 39-35 the past six years and have made five bowl games in that time span. McCarney said that success should end any argument about the progress Iowa State is making.

“When you go back over the last six years, and know that there’s more wins in the last six years than there have been since Teddy Roosevelt was president, [.] we’ve got good things going in program,” McCarney said.

“We’ve got a good plan. We’ve got good kids and we’ve got a good staff. I make no apologies.”

The spring didn’t bring all good news. Senior linebacker Matt Robertson – one of only four full-time starters returning to the Cyclone defense and Iowa State’s co-leader in tackles from 2005 – did not play in the spring game in what was termed a “coach’s decision.”

Two days later Robertson was dismissed from the team after failing an NCAA test for performance-enhancing drugs. A failed test carries an automatic one-year suspension.

“I take full personal responsibility for taking an over-the-counter supplement that is banned by the NCAA,” Robertson said in a statement. “I am paying a heavy price for a very bad decision, as I will never again wear an Iowa State uniform. I want to apologize to my teammates, my coaches and Iowa State fans.

“I hope my example will serve as a warning to others contemplating use of dietary supplements. I want to emphasize that the decision [to use the supplement] was mine and I accept the consequences.”

McCarney said in his statement that he felt bad for Robertson, but did not make any excuses for his player.

“Ultimately, I have a deep feeling of sadness, because Matt Robertson has always been a team player, an academic all-Big 12 performer who was as good in the classroom as he was on the field,” McCarney said. “Let there be no doubt, however, his decision was unacceptable and he knew better than to use a supplement that is banned by the NCAA. His example as he carries on in the future should send a message to all young people that mistakes can have major consequences.”