Experimenting Isn't McCarney's Style

Playing Iowa at Kinnick Stadium is difficult enough. Iowa State coach Dan McCarney wants no part of participating in any experiments, too.

McCarney explained his feelings today on why he and his Cyclones won’t help the Big Ten Conference experiment with instant replay.

Non-conference coaches were given the option for games against Big Ten teams. Iowa State plays at Iowa on Sept. 11, and the Cyclones could have had a role in determining whether or not instant replay is a good thing for college football.

The Big Ten experiment will last for only the 2004 season. If the decision-makers think it’s a good idea, instant replay could become a tool in college football in the future. McCarney is one of four non-Big Ten coaches who have decided to not help with the experiment.

“I talked to a number of people, visited with the officials in our conference and I talked to other coaches,” McCarney said on the Big 12 coaches’ teleconference today.

“It wasn’t a snap decision. No. 1, coaches don’t get a chance to challenge any call that’s made. There’s a Big Ten observer who is going to have the final say in everything. A game of this magnitude—a Big 12-Big Ten matchup—I just don’t feel real comfortable experimenting with something.

“So I declined. There has to be an agreement between both schools to do it, and I’m glad it didn’t work out. I’m glad we’re not going to have it for our game. I may feel different once it’s up and running for a few months or years, or we get a chance to do it.”

McCarney’s Cyclones saw their five-game winning streak over Iowa end with a 40-21 loss last season in Ames.

Before Iowa State’s five victories, Iowa had won 15 consecutive games in the hotly-contested series.

The instant replay experiment figures to add more time to games, and that’s something of concern to McCarney.

“The thing we’re all concerned about is the length of games,” he explained. “We’re all conscious of that with all the television exposure. Then you get into challenges and appeals for certain calls…..how much longer are games going to go.”

BERRYMAN FINISHED FOR YEAR

Anyone waiting for the return of defensive standout Jason Berryman to Iowa State’s roster had better have plenty of patience.

McCarney said the 225-pound sophomore end from Houston—regarded as the Cyclones’ best defender--won’t play this season.

“He won’t be with our football team this fall at all,” McCarney said.

Berryman is in the Story County jail on robbery charges, and no one has come forward to bail him out.

THE QUARTERBACK SITUATION

McCarney admitted he’s “a little apprehensive” about Iowa State’s quarterback picture in Saturday’s game against Northern Iowa.

“[Starter] Bret Meyer hasn’t played at all,” McCarney said. “He’s a redshirt freshman and was just on our scout team last year. Northern Iowa’s quarterback, Tom Petrie, has had a tremendous career.

“He’s a fifth-year senior who has all kinds of experience. He’s thrown for all kinds of yards and touchdowns, and our guy hasn’t even played one down yet.”

McCarney said Meyer “has made a lot of progress, but we’re definitely going to play Austin Flynn—definitely in the first half.

“Whether we look like it or not Saturday, I think our quarterback position is in better hands and looks better than at any time last year.”

DAVIS' ANSWERS COME EARLY

Tom Davis will find out in a hurry how good his Drake basketball team is in the upcoming season.

After opening with a home game against Akron on Nov. 19, the Bulldogs play at Iowa State on Nov. 23, then collide with Iowa in a much-anticipated game Nov. 30 at the Knapp Center.

Davis, of course, is the winningest coach in University of Iowa history. His Bulldogs lost to the Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City last season.

Drake plays 16 home games and starts its Missouri Valley Conference schedule in on a rather early Dec. 8 at the Knapp Center.

For the second straight season, the Bulldogs will play in the NCAA Bracket Buster against an opponent to be named Feb. 1. The game will be played Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Knapp Center.

DRAKE SCHEDULE

Nov. 13--North Dakota State, 4:05 (exhibition); 15--Rob ert Morris, 7:05 (exhibition);19—Akron, 7:05; 23—at Iowa State, 7:05; 30—Iowa, 7:05

Dec. 4—at Colorado State., TBA; 8—Wichita State, 7:05; 11—Western Illinois, 7:05; 20—at Southern Utah, 8:35; 23—Wagner, 7:05; 30—at Indiana State, 6:05.

Jan. 2—at Southern Illinois, 2:05 (MVC-TV); 5—Creighton, 7:05; 8—Bradley, 7:05; 10—Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 7:05; at Illinois State 4:05; 19—at Creighton, 7:05; 22—Southwest Missouri State, 1:05; 26—at Wichita State, 7:05; 29—Northern Iowa, 7:05 (Fox TV).

Feb. 1—Illinois State, 7:05; 5—at Evansville, 7:05; 7—Southern Illinois, 7:05; 12—at Southwest Missouri State, 7:05; 16—at Northern Iowa, 7:05; 19—Bracket Buster, TBA; 22—Indiana State (MVC-TV); 26—Evansville, TBA; 28—at Bradley, TBA.



Vol. 4, No. 250
Aug. 30, 2004