Much of the focus at Dan McCarney’s last weekly media conference Tuesday was on the coach’s future as he steps down after Saturday’s game with Missouri. It has been a disappointing season with the Cyclones at 3-8. McCarney says he wants the focus to stay on the seniors and their contribution through the years.
McCarney says this is not about him, as he says if you’ve ever played the game, the final time you pull on a uniform is “really, really meaningful.” McCarney says he hopes to put on a whistle again and coach, but says many of the seniors won’t play football again.
McCarney says his team can’t go out on a good note just trying to play on emotion.
McCarney says, “We all know there was a lot of emotion at the Alamo too, and everybody got killed there. Emotion can only go so far. You’ve got to play, you’ve got to make big plays.” McCarney says he wants to see the players go out and show how they can play hard and be relentless, just like they have in building the program.
McCarney announced last week that he was stepping down after much speculation over his future after the team got off to a slow start. McCarney says it has helped some now that the players know what’s ahead. McCarney says he doesn’t feel relieved or happy, but at least the team knows what’s going on and that they’ll be together for one last game. McCarney says they’re all on the same page, but he doesn’t know if that means they’ll play more inspired or tougher.
McCarney won his first game against Ohio, and says that still stands out vividly in his mind. The coach says he’d like to have just as good a memory to end his 12 years at I-S-U. He says it was nice to get a victory in the first game and he hopes to get a win in the last game.
McCarney says there won’t be any special recognition at the Missouri game of his time at I-S-U. McCarney says he had a chance to do that, but didn’t want to. McCarney says he’ll just give a short video message to the fans to thank them, and wants the focus to stay on the players. Iowa State is seeking its first conference win this season, while Missouri is 7-3 and looking to improve its bowl picture.