What do you think this means? I am honestly asking...
Actually, a few things came to mind.
1) ISU is obviously improved under Paul Rhodes. And, for that matter, he's doing it mostly with players that were at Chizik's disposal as well. Players that were there before Chizik. I think he is only using 4-5 players that were exclusively Chizik guys.
2) It is possible for a first year coach to win more than 2-3 games in a season at ISU.
3) I think AU jumped the gun getting rid of CTT. I think somebody's trigger finger was a little itchy to get him out of there. One bad season and getting mauled by Alabama, and he's out. After 6 years of owning our asses, first year he loses he is out. I still think that is damn near the dumbest move AU has made in a long time.
4) What exactly has AU gained by losing CTT? I'm sure he could have managed at least a 5-2 record. I really don't see him losing last night, but then again, I really didn't see him going 5-7 at the beginning of the '08 season either, so who knows.
Honestly, when AU went 5-0, I was kinda on board. Even though AU had been helped along by a team or two en route to their 5-0 start, I was still fairly impressed and thought the West would be decided in the Iron Bowl. Especially with how LSU was playing. I had even spotted Prowler 2 games in my sig and admitted defeat there. Not too often you will see me concede something. I thought maybe I was wrong in my pre-season assesment of AU's offense. Maybe not so much now....