If a football team does indeed develop a personality, it’s pretty clear what has shaped Iowa State’s.
Make that who has shaped it.
One look at Coach Paul Rhoads leading the celebration after the Cyclones’ upset of Nebraska, punching the air with his fists, jumping up and down like a little kid who got just what he wanted for Christmas, tells the story of this Iowa State team.
The man is enthusiasm and passion personified and, as his players will tell you, it carries over.
“The passion he has, the fire in his eyes before games, the way he emotionally speaks to us before and after games, he really makes you feel he cares about this program,” punter Mike Brandtner said. “I think that’s something that rubs off on all his players.”
That it does, center Reggie Stephens added.
“They all say a team takes on the identity of its head coach and Coach Rhoads is very passionate,” Stephens said. “The way he talks to us, we have to either take it or leave it. I think all of us are taking it.”
If the postgame celebration on the field in Lincoln wasn’t enough to convince you of Rhoads’ fire, go to YouTube or ISU’s athletics Web site, www.cyclones.com, and click on the video of the locker room celebration.
Watch Rhoads jump up and down with his players, listen to him exclaim “I am so proud to be your coach” and notice how the players reach out to embrace him and pull him into their midst.
Something positive definitely is at work here because the Cyclones are off to a surprising 5-3 start, matching their victory total from the last two years combined and putting them within one win of becoming bowl eligible with four games to play.
At 2-2 in the Big 12, they’re fully in the mix in the wide open North Division race, just one game behind first-place Kansas State.
And those negative streaks that dragged on this team at the beginning of the season? All wiped out.
Saturday, the Cyclones will try to fashion their first three-game conference winning streak since 2005 in a 2:30 p.m. game at Texas A&M.
“All of us when we go on the field, that’s how we are — we’re enthusiastic, passionate about the game,” wide receiver Jake Williams said. “When your coach is doing the same stuff, it’s awesome.”
But there’s a laid-back, casual side to the ISU coach as well. He’s comfortable enough to ride his Harley to work. Sometimes he shows up for his weekly press conference in bluejeans and sneakers. Clean, nicely pressed jeans, but jeans nevertheless.
It’s a sharp departure from the button-down, businesslike approach of his predecessor, Gene Chizik.
So which approach is the best?
“We’ve been more successful in this approach,” Stephens said, “so we’ll go with this.”If a football team does indeed develop a personality, it’s pretty clear what has shaped Iowa State’s.

Make that who has shaped it.

One look at Coach Paul Rhoads leading the celebration after the Cyclones’ upset of Nebraska, punching the air with his fists, jumping up and down like a little kid who got just what he wanted for Christmas, tells the story of this Iowa State team.

The man is enthusiasm and passion personified and, as his players will tell you, it carries over.

“The passion he has, the fire in his eyes before games, the way he emotionally speaks to us before and after games, he really makes you feel he cares about this program,” punter Mike Brandtner said. “I think that’s something that rubs off on all his players.”

That it does, center Reggie Stephens added.

“They all say a team takes on the identity of its head coach and Coach Rhoads is very passionate,” Stephens said. “The way he talks to us, we have to either take it or leave it. I think all of us are taking it.”

If the postgame celebration on the field in Lincoln wasn’t enough to convince you of Rhoads’ fire, go to YouTube or ISU’s athletics Web site, www.cyclones.com, and click on the video of the locker room celebration.

Watch Rhoads jump up and down with his players, listen to him exclaim “I am so proud to be your coach” and notice how the players reach out to embrace him and pull him into their midst.

Something positive definitely is at work here because the Cyclones are off to a surprising 5-3 start, matching their victory total from the last two years combined and putting them within one win of becoming bowl eligible with four games to play.

At 2-2 in the Big 12, they’re fully in the mix in the wide open North Division race, just one game behind first-place Kansas State.

And those negative streaks that dragged on this team at the beginning of the season? All wiped out.

Saturday, the Cyclones will try to fashion their first three-game conference winning streak since 2005 in a 2:30 p.m. game at Texas A&M.

“All of us when we go on the field, that’s how we are — we’re enthusiastic, passionate about the game,” wide receiver Jake Williams said. “When your coach is doing the same stuff, it’s awesome.”

But there’s a laid-back, casual side to the ISU coach as well. He’s comfortable enough to ride his Harley to work. Sometimes he shows up for his weekly press conference in bluejeans and sneakers. Clean, nicely pressed jeans, but jeans nevertheless.

It’s a sharp departure from the button-down, businesslike approach of his predecessor, Gene Chizik.

So which approach is the best?

“We’ve been more successful in this approach,” Stephens said, “so we’ll go with this.”