Iowa State coach Gene Chizik is denying an internet rumor that somehow made its way into a newspaper and a Dallas radio host denies he was the source of it. At issue are comments attributed to radio host Brian Estridge that Chizik told am Oklahoma State assistant coach that he was unhappy at Iowa State.
Chizik says he spoke to the host of the show who assured him that everything was not true. "As for me, I want to make one thing very, very clear. Anybody who knows myself, my wife, my family they know that we are firmly entrenched here in Ames, "Chizik says, "we love this university, we love this community, we love this football team, we love the people we work for."
Estridge says he did not have any conversation with an Oklahoma State coach and does not know any of them. Chizik says he is happy at Iowa State and is still glad he left his job as defensive coordinator at Texas to take over the program. He says two years ago if he had the same choice, he would have taken it.
The Cyclones are in the midst of an eight game losing streak but Chizik says he enjoys the challenge of turning the program around. He says he feels blessed every day to be there, and while he says no one loves the circumstances of his job and coming in every day and working with the players. Chizik says it’s amazing the players still come in and work as hard as they do and it’s a pleasure to be around.
The Cyclones are coming off a heartbreaking loss at Colorado in which they squandered an 11 point lead in the second half. Chizik says the two no-huddle drives got them "off kilter" and they couldn’t get a pass rush going.
Iowa State closes out the home slate against a Missouri team that will be trying to lock up the Big 12 North division title. Chizik says the Cyclones are not approaching this game as an opportunity to play the role of spoiler. He says they don’t talk a lot about that, as he says they prefer to see it as another opportunity to win a game. Chizik says the players probably know and don’t have to read the news to know they will be an underdog. The Cyclones are 2-8 overall and 0-6 in the Big-12.