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Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Host Annual Football Media Day
08.05.2009 | Football
AMES, Iowa ? Iowa State's football team has reported for duty in an upbeat fashion of anticipation as the Cyclones start fall practice Thursday under first-year head coach Paul Rhoads. Rhoads met the state's media contingent Wednesday in a Jacobson Building press conference that was followed by player interviews on the Jack Trice Stadium field.
“We are ready to go,” Rhoads said. “We need to make the same type of progress this fall that we did between the first and last spring practice. I stress fundamentals because that is exactly what we need to work on.”
Rhoads affirmed that quarterback Austen Arnaud, who compiled 3,193 yards of total offense last season, is his starter.
“Austen is our man at quarterback,” Rhoads said. “Jerome Tiller made as much progress as anyone during spring football and he will be our No. 2.”
Much of the focus on offense has been on the new spread schemes implemented by offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who ran up big numbers the previous two seasons at Rice.
Arnaud is excited about the offense's potential and is grateful for Rhoads' endorsement.
“It means a lot,” Arnaud said. “I am glad they have confidence in me this year and we are going to go from there. Coach Herman talks about outscoring our opponent. He talked about how at Rice, they lost four or five games when they scored over 40 points and it was their fault because they didn't outscore their opponent.”
Arnaud says the numbers speak for themselves.
“(Former Rice quarterback) Chase Clement threw for 4,100 yards and ran for 700 yards, that is close to 5,000 yards by one guy,” Arnaud said. “It is encouraging for me and everyone else in this offense. We have speed, we have guys who can catch the ball and we have guys who can run good routes. That is what you need in the spread, three or four guys who can catch and run. This could be very exciting.”
Rhoads says starting tailback Alexander Robinson is a good fit for the new offense.
“He can catch the ball better than most out of the backfield,” Rhoads said. “A-Rob makes people miss and he has a chance to be a very special player here.”
Fellow Cyclone tailback Bo Williams is also ready to assert himself in practice and acknowledged additional competition from ISU bruiser Jeremiah Schwartz.
“I have to work hard each and every day and stay focused,” Williams said. “I see myself as a speed and power guy, that is what I think I bring to the table. Jeremiah is a power guy and A-Rob is a speed guy. I think I bring a little of both to the table.”
Herman says the Cyclones won't be throwing a Hail Mary every play.
“If it is needed to throw the ball a lot to win the game, we will do that,” Herman said. “We are not going to be asking Austen or Jerome to throw the ball 50-yards down the field each time, it is going to be short to intermediate passes.”
Part of the scheme is a no-huddle offense.
“We'll signal from the sideline all of our plays,” Herman said. “All of our skill players should be able to communicate to us with sign language. Everything in our playbook has a signal for it.”
Rhoads knows the value of the no-huddle attack.
“We practiced against it last year at Auburn (where Rhoads was the defensive coordinator) and I saw how over a period of time it wears down a defense.”
While Rhoads has put his offense in the hands of the 33-year-old Herman, defensive oversight belongs to 67-year old Wally Burnham. Burnham is the sage who built South Florida's defense into a unit that helped propel the Bulls to a national prominence. He has also coached two Butkus Award winners. Burnham pulls no punches.
“I am learning the plusses and the minuses about this program,” Burnham said. “There are going to be some great days and there are going to be some sad days and there will be a lot of work in between. We will get there. I'll tell you this, Iowans are some of the nicest people in the world and its has been great so far.”
Senior defensive end Rashawn Parker says his teammates are swarming to the ball under Burnham.
“It started in spring ball,” Parker said. “You may have a fumble and you need guys there to get the ball and even scoop and score. The more players you can get to the ball the better. Guys are working as hard as I have ever seen. Everyone wants to contribute to the team, everyone is working hard in the weight room and hopefully that can translate to the field.”
Iowa State opens the season Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. against North Dakota State in Jack Trice Stadium.
*Note: New Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads kicked off training camp Wednesday at the annual football media day. An archive version of the media conference is available by clicking in the photo above or from the "video" slideout tab.
Interviews from student-athletes are also available in the slideout tab above, as well as a photo gallery from the event. Check back to cyclones.com later for behind-the-scenes features from DB Leonard Johnson and last year's media day sensation, DL Nate Frere.
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