Walking into Hilton Coliseum Tuesday night, you could sense a different vibe. I’m not one for “vibe-ing” but there was definitely a discernible buzz in the air. The video board replays of the teams under Johnny Orr, Tim Floyd and Larry Eustachy were filling Hilton with memories of previous Magic. Oddly enough, there were no highlights of the Wayne Morgan era.

The ISU athletic department and Jamie Pollard orchestrated a clear direction for the ISU basketball program from the video board on down: Connect back with the past, plug back into Iowa roots and bring back the magic. And to do that they turned to a self-proclaimed farm boy from the rural Iowa town of Cascade – population 1,958.

Greg McDermott looked a little uncomfortable with the pomp and circumstance that surrounded his introduction. It was more WWE than anything. McDermott seemed a little amused at the events, with a look of, “These people are either really amazing, or flat-out nuts,” etched on his face.

ISU President Gregory Geoffroy and Pollard each took turns complimenting one another before finally introducing the next chapter in ISU basketball. McDermott was grandly welcomed and he took a long stroll down the Section 23 aisle, exchanging pleasantries with Cyclone Alley.

Because of the atmosphere, I half expected Wayne Morgan to be standing with his hands on his hips in the balcony before catapulting down to have a Monday Night Raw-esque showdown with the Dermonator. It didn’t happen, but the half press conference, half pep rally was something else.

In all seriousness, McDermott said all the right things. He was personable, but not overexuberant. He was stern, but not condescending. He even took a few shots at the school over in Iowa City. He did everything right and the crowd was digging him (Not in the ’70s sexual way). He slipped a bit when he called Tasheed Carr “Rasheed.” But Carr has a little Rasheed in him. I hope it sticks.

It’s a fresh start for Iowa State. The Captain is gone. Stinson is no longer. Blalock and Carr may be back from the sound of things, but time will tell.

McDermott has a great reputation and a great track record, but Ames isn’t Cedar Falls. He still has to prove that he can bring Big 12-caliber players to the program. McDermott feasted on local talent while at UNI, but it remains to be seen whether that type of player can succeed in the big boy league.

He also has to convince current players to buy into his system. He is the anti-Morgan in that patience is rewarded over showmanship. Ball control over behind-the-back. These players loved Morgan and his approach. It won’t be easy to make the adjustment to an entirely new staff and coaching style.

But, if they begin to trust McDermott and stay around, the Magic will return. So will the wins.

Jamie Pollard promised as much. He found his guy. A native Iowan that will make Iowans proud. A farm boy hired to rescue a bunch of players from the city.

Change is never easy, but McDermott is ready to pick up the pieces.

Just hold off on the theme music.

– Brent Blum is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale.