Peterson: Final thoughts from Iowa State football media day

AMES, Ia. — I recall watching Iowa State’s first practice of the 2016 fall. I remember hearing a couple of Matt Campbell’s assistant coaches tell their players the proper place to put their helmets while going through stretching exercises.

“On the line,” they said, and promptly, almost in unison, each player they were coaching for the first time lined up his helmet in perfect order.

That seems like ages ago as we converged at Jack Trice Stadium for Campbell’s third Cyclones’ media day Tuesday — and my, how stuff has changed.

It’s the culture aspect — where little things actually mean a lot.

“Why did we not have success in those Year One close games that we seemed to always lose at the end?” Campbell said. “We really earned the right to lose those games, because those times that we should have been worried about winning football games, we were worried about tying your shoes the right way, wearing the right clothes to practice, going to class, starting behind the line, finishing through the line — those things were missing.

“That’s not a knock on anything. Those things were missing.”

That was one of the final thoughts I had while walking from the stadium Tuesday afternoon.

Culture — it’s changing.

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Trash-talkin’ coach, player is part of the relationship

During Monday morning’s open workout, star defensive end JaQuan Bailey was going through team stretching stuff, when suddenly he hollered something toward Campbell.

What he said wasn’t quite discernible — but Campbell’s response was golden:

“Say what you want, but remember this: I need you on third down.”

MORE:JaQuan Bailey embracing leadership role ahead of junior season

Campbell is 38 years old. He still knows what it’s like to be a 20-year-old player. He can take it — and he can good-naturedly dish it.

“Last year during fall camp, it was like every day we were going at it through stretching, through warming up — through everything,” Bailey said. “I love it.”

So does Campbell.

“One of my favorite things I love about my job is that every young man is different,” the coach said.

On the Iowa State football team, there's always-entertaining Bailey — and softer-spoken quarterback Kyle Kempt.

“I have to learn how and what makes them different,” Campbell said. “Then how do I challenge them to make them the best version of themselves they can be?

“It’s my favorite part of what I get to do. How does each player tick? Not every kid learns, is coached or can handle coaching the same way.

“That’s one of the things that I love. What we do is what every high school teacher in America is trying to do — engage and understand how their student learns and then provide them the tools and resources to be the best learner they can be in the classroom.”

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Kempt and Bailey — opposites attract winning

Campbell knows his guys. He knows the buttons to push. He knows their personalities — and that’s another impression from Campbell Year One to Campbell Year Three.

In the fall of 2016, he was just getting to know them. Now, he knows everyone's story.

“Everybody’s different,” Campbell said. “You’re talking two ends of the spectrum of how they learn and how they approach day-to-day life.

RELATED:Kyle Kempt gained a big fan after Oklahoma upset — Carol Stoops

“But you cut them open, and they’re the same kid. They’ve got worlds of potential. It’s one of my favorite things I love about my job is every young man is different.”
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Is Montgomery No. 1?

Of course he is. He rushed for 1,146 yards last season. He was the nation’s leader in making tacklers miss. He lost just one fumble — on the last of his 258 carries — although some still think the fumble happened after he poked the ball across the goal line in the Liberty Bowl.

So of course Montgomery is the No. 1 running back on the depth chart, but when asked who’s his immediate No. 2, here’s what he said:

“We don’t even know who the No. 1 is right now. It’s all competition in the room. We’re just having fun with each other, making sure we handle things the right away.”

Officially, Montgomery is No. 1, followed by a tie for second among Kene Nwangwu, Sheldon Croney, Mike Warren and Johnnie Lang.

“We don’t pay attention to the depth chart,” Montgomery said. “No one has a secure spot. As much as people think, no one’s job is secure.”

Except Montgomery’s job — whether he says it or not.

MORE:Kamilo Tongamoa more confident heading into second year in Ames

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Campbell isn't full of himself

That’s something else that’s been noticeable since becoming the head coach in December 2015. Campbell can be authoritative — yet he’s also got the ear of his guys.

He’s got it broken down like this:

Teams that finish a season in the 3-9 range “are where coaches are leading 90 percent of the time and players are leading 10 percent of the time..."

“For 6-6 teams, it’s 50-50. For 8-5 teams, it’s 70-30, but when you become an elite-level football program — 90 percent of the time it’s the players leading, and 10 percent of the time it’s the coaches leading.

“I know all these coaches across the country think we all have all the answers and the kids want to hear us, but really, they don’t.

“They want to hear each other. That’s the culture shift you’re always trying to get into.”

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.