Iowa State coach Dan McCarney hopes some time off can help re-energize his team after an 0-4 start in the Big-12 race. The Cyclones are coming off a 42-26 loss to Texas Tech and the players will get an extra day of rest before preparations begin for this week’s game at Kansas State.

McCarney says this is the toughest stretch of the schedule he’s seen since he’s been at I-S-U and McCarney says he felt it was time to give the players the day off. While they will try to make adjustments on both sides of the ball it is too late in the season for major changes. McCarney says they have to improve and get better, as he says it’s too late to revamp everything. McCarney says if someone steps up and does better, then he will elevate them into a starting role on the offensive line, but until then the coach doesn’t plan any changes.

K-State is 4-4 under first year coach Ron Prince, who took over after long-time coach Bill Snyder retired. McCarney says they don’t do as much offensively as Snyder’s teams did, and he says part of that could be having a freshman quarterback. But McCarney says the Wildcats are getting better.

McCarney says despite their struggles the attitude remains good and that gives him hope they can get the season turned around. He says there isn’t any finger pointing and he says they just want to fix the problems and play better. McCarney says they need something positive to happen to get the momentum turned around, and it will take a good effort from everyone.
Iowa State is 3-5 overall.