Mac and the Knife

A little play on words from the Bobby Darin 1960s hit for my older readers (namely my parents).

The other Mac, Iowa State football coach Dan McCarney, met the knife Wednesday evening as the University's athletic director announced the "resignation" of the winningest coach in school history. Unfortunately for Coach Mac, he was also the losingest coach. That's what happens when you stay in one place for 12 years, and that place happens to be a subpar football school in an above par football conference.

Saying that revenue drives the entire athletic department (nay, the whole world) and football is the prime vehicle for earning revenue, AD Jamie Pollard tearfully said he had to replace Dan McCarney, using language that insinuated that he had no choice. "Coach McCarney is one of the biggest reasons I came to Iowa State," said Pollard. Pollard and McCarney both said that the football program could not afford a divided fan base.

During McCarney's tenure at ISU, the Cyclones played mediocre football, but created enough highlights to keep most fans happy. McCarney had more total losses than wins, and more conference losses than wins. He had a winning record against 1-AA opponents, and a .500 average against the Iowa Hawkeyes. The latter statistic was likely the most significant achievement in fans' eyes. ISU played in six bowl games (none of much prestige, however), winning two (the only wins in school history). Mac fought for improved facilities and got them. He pleaded for fan support, and was marginally successful.

But, in the end (as Pollard admitted), this is all about money. Jack Trice Stadium holds 45,814. Because of grassy seating areas that don't count as seats, you can cram about 56,000 in. If a seat costs $30 a pop, gate receipts for a home contest come to $1.68 million. If each fan spends another $6 on refreshments, that comes to about $2 million if the staidium is full. The you got the licensing fees from $40 sweatshirts and the like.

But, if you average only 40,000 fans, you miss out on half-a-million bucks. Conversely, if you filled the stadium with such regularity that it warranted adding 10,000 seats (see Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City), that's an increase of about a half million. A million bucks at Iowa State probably fully funds several sports, like cross country, soccer, softball and the like. Or, it pays almost the entire salary of the head football coach.

I'll be shocked ... shocked ... if the next 12 years at Iowa State are better football years than the last 12 have been. But the more important question is clearly this -- will the new coach be able to put fannies in the seats? If so, success will (apparently) be achieved.