If guiding Iowa State to 23 wins in the past three years is not enough to solidify a head coach’s position, I don’t know what is. Before Dan McCarney, the most significant victory in the last two decades was an upset over Nebraska in 1992. Iowa State had never won a bowl game.

When I read Nicole Woodroffe’s letter, “Players brought fans, not coaches” on Jan. 21, I realizedÿjust how unappreciative people are of McCarney’s accomplishments.

I agree in that fans come to watch the players and not the coaches. Although watching McCarney chomp on his gum and pace the sideline is fun, he isn’t the person that fans come to watch. But he gives his team personality and makes football exciting.ÿ

The players Iowa State has on the field would not be here if it weren’t for McCarney. McCarney either recruited most of them or hired the staff to recruit them. Recruiting players to Amesÿisn’tÿthe easiest thing to do either. Cold weather, a decent stadium and minimal program prestige don’t exactly cause athletes to flock to Iowa State.

McCarney is the man responsible for fielding some of the best teams Iowa State has ever had. Although sometimes the play-calling is suspect, hindsight is 20/20.

Granted, McCarney probably wasn’t sitting on the sideline signaling in “Crazy 135 Zig-Zag Scramble, on 2” to Seneca Wallace before “The Play” against Texas Tech,ÿbut he is not the man responsible for the play-calling anyway.

The offensive coordinator makes the calls with only direction from McCarney. It’s easy to say that the option against Florida State shouldn’t have been called, but if the Florida State defender had fallen and Seneca scored, the coaching staffÿwould be geniuses.

McCarney can set up his program to allow his players to succeed on the field and in the classroom, but ultimately, it is up to them. Unfortunately, McCarney can’t take finals for his players.ÿ

There is no doubt that McCarney has outcoached Kirk Ferentz in his tenure at Iowa State. Ferentz took over an Iowa team that simply needed some remodeling after Hayden Fry left, while McCarney is the man responsible for rebuilding Iowa State. The bottom line is that McCarney beat Ferentz head-to-head again this season.

Hopefully, in 2003 Jack Trice will be full of fans more about supporting a great Iowa State football team than fair-weather fans who would rather second-guess the administration.ÿÿÿÿÿÿ

Matt Schmitz

Senior

Marketing