“Adapt or die.” That quote hits hard, and it came straight from the mouth of Iowa State head coach Jimmy Rogers.
In a recent conversation with Cyclone Fanatic, Rogers outlined his view of the current landscape of college football, and made sure to note that there’s a ton of nuance involved when building a program the right way.
“If you don’t adapt, you’re going to be dying in this profession,” Rogers said. “For me, it’s all about, ‘Is there a new way or a better way to do something?’ If there’s not, then don’t change it. Right? If you’re having success and you believe in something, don’t change it, because ultimately, you’re leading a team and they have to feel the belief that you have in the program that you’re guiding.”
“Then there are things along the way that you have to adjust that you know aren’t good enough,” Rogers continued. “That’s something that I’ve always prided myself on, you’ve gotta find a different way to teach somebody certain things or a different system of getting information to players quicker, so that they can learn and grow.”
When Rogers took over for Matt Campbell, there was a ton of discussion about the roster being picked over and a mass of talent heading for the exit. While it’s early and Iowa State will still have a lot of work to do, he feels like the right guy for the job. Someone who understands the landscape and isn’t too proud to adjust if the first plan isn’t working.
We won’t see football played for many, many months, but if you’re an Iowa State fan, it’s hard not to like the conviction Rogers speaks with. If he can transition to life in the Big 12 quickly and get things up and running the right way, the future should be bright in Ames, Iowa, for years to come.
