Chizik upset with undisciplined Cyclone play
By Kelly Beaton, Lee News Service | Posted: Monday, September 22, 2008
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Iowa State's clash with UNLV was the kind that gives coaches heart palpitations.
Afterward, Cyclone coach Gene Chizik sounded like he'd just scolded youngsters. And, in a sense he had; after all, several inexperienced players had a hand in Iowa State's mind-numbing 34-31 overtime loss to UNLV.
"We did the same thing we did (in a loss at Iowa)," Chizik explained. "We had people in position to catch balls -- we dropped 'em. We were in position to make runs -- we didn't make the right cuts.
"We weren't very focused in the first half."
Chizik's squad didn't play with much discipline for most of Saturday's contest. That'll stick in a coach's craw every time.
Saturday's game featured a staggering seven total personal foul penalties. A handful came courtesy of the 2-2 Cyclones.
Iowa State's defense allowed 454 total yards. It watched UNLV's Frank Summers rumble for 109 yards and Omar Clayton pass for 235.
And, offensively, the Cyclones slogged to a 2-for-14 conversion rate on third downs -- a big reason the visitors found themselves in a 21-0 hole at halftime.
"We played a dumb, idiotic first half," said sophomore quarterback Austen Arnaud, "and we couldn't come back from that."
"We executed NOTHING in the first half," said Chizik. "Zero."
"It's a great example of a young team that had a hard time focusing on the road," added the Cyclone coach, whose program has now lost 13 straight road games.
"We still can't win on the road. We had an opportunity to do it, and we didn't get it done."
If there was one main silver-lining in the trip to Sin City, it might have been Arnaud's poise on a late-fourth quarter, 98-yard scoring drive that sent the game into overtime.
"I'm just so proud of him. It shows he's really matured," said senior wideout R.J. Sumrall, who reeled in Arnaud's 28-yard laser with three seconds left in regulation.
Still, Iowa State's leader couldn't let go of some of the glaring mistakes Iowa State made early Saturday night. Chizik said personal fouls like cornerback Leonard Johnson's two late-hit penalties especially have to stop.
Otherwise, Chizik might want to have an EMT on hand, for the sake of his health.
"I'm very, very disturbed" by the penalties, Chizik explained. "It happened with a lot of young guys that hadn't played before, that don't understand ... who gets caught last (gets penalized).
"But they're gonna understand -- by (today)."
Afterward, Cyclone coach Gene Chizik sounded like he'd just scolded youngsters. And, in a sense he had; after all, several inexperienced players had a hand in Iowa State's mind-numbing 34-31 overtime loss to UNLV.
"We did the same thing we did (in a loss at Iowa)," Chizik explained. "We had people in position to catch balls -- we dropped 'em. We were in position to make runs -- we didn't make the right cuts.
"We weren't very focused in the first half."
Chizik's squad didn't play with much discipline for most of Saturday's contest. That'll stick in a coach's craw every time.
Saturday's game featured a staggering seven total personal foul penalties. A handful came courtesy of the 2-2 Cyclones.
Iowa State's defense allowed 454 total yards. It watched UNLV's Frank Summers rumble for 109 yards and Omar Clayton pass for 235.
And, offensively, the Cyclones slogged to a 2-for-14 conversion rate on third downs -- a big reason the visitors found themselves in a 21-0 hole at halftime.
"We played a dumb, idiotic first half," said sophomore quarterback Austen Arnaud, "and we couldn't come back from that."
"We executed NOTHING in the first half," said Chizik. "Zero."
"It's a great example of a young team that had a hard time focusing on the road," added the Cyclone coach, whose program has now lost 13 straight road games.
"We still can't win on the road. We had an opportunity to do it, and we didn't get it done."
If there was one main silver-lining in the trip to Sin City, it might have been Arnaud's poise on a late-fourth quarter, 98-yard scoring drive that sent the game into overtime.
"I'm just so proud of him. It shows he's really matured," said senior wideout R.J. Sumrall, who reeled in Arnaud's 28-yard laser with three seconds left in regulation.
Still, Iowa State's leader couldn't let go of some of the glaring mistakes Iowa State made early Saturday night. Chizik said personal fouls like cornerback Leonard Johnson's two late-hit penalties especially have to stop.
Otherwise, Chizik might want to have an EMT on hand, for the sake of his health.
"I'm very, very disturbed" by the penalties, Chizik explained. "It happened with a lot of young guys that hadn't played before, that don't understand ... who gets caught last (gets penalized).
"But they're gonna understand -- by (today)."
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