It sounds simple but Iowa State coach Gene Chizik says the only way a team can start winning close games is to win. The Cyclones have been right in the hunt the past two weeks against nationally ranked foes but have come up short. They take a 1-8 mark into this week’s matchup at home against Kansas State.
Chizik says you have to win those close games and you have to do it more than once, so it is not a fluke. He says until you get to the point where you win those games, things won’t go in the right direction.
Chizik says despite the record this is a team of great character, with a great attitude, and they all want to win. He says they are not at a point where they feel good about anything that has happened.
The Cyclones may not be producing wins but they are putting fans through the turnstiles. With two good crowds to end the home season Iowa State could average over 50 thousand fans for the first time since 1982. Chizik asked who would have a 1-8 record and average 50,000 fans, in a stadium that averages that many. Chizik says that "speaks volumes about the people of Iowa State."
Chizik says the Cyclones have made progress the past few weeks even though they don’t have any wins to show for it. He says they have three Big 12 games left and will keep chopping wood and see if they can win the next three. The Cyclones had been struggling to finish drives but did a better job of that at Missouri.