Cyclone Nation
11-17-06
A Tribute to Mac: Former Player Letters
By CN Staff
Dan McCarney isn't only a football coach to his former players. He's more like a
father figure. CN compiled around 20 letters from former Mac players, that they
wrote to their former coach. Read them here in this tribute to Dan McCarney
before he coaches his last game as a Cyclone on Saturday.
Thanks Coach Mac,
Dan Mcarney's contributions to Iowa State University have been amazing based
around what he has done for the credibility of the program and his contributions
to developing great football players at Iowa State. He has excelled in graduation
rates, winning percentage, bowl victories, preparing players for the NFL and
fostering a real Iowa State football family. He will be missed dearly and will be
successful in whatever his next venture happens to be.
Surprisingly enough, the most meaningful personal memory I have of Coach
Mac is not the discipline and accountability that he demanded from me as a
player, which has ultimately shaped me into the man that I am today. Rather,
Coach Mac was able to connect with me on a personal level after my ISU football
career. As a 1997 graduate of ISU and 5 years removed from the program, I was
unfortunately diagnosed with Cancer in 2001. In a genuine show of concern and
support, Coach Mac took the time to track down my cell phone number and gave
me a call when maybe a card would have been sufficient. He found my number
and while I was in the hospital and called with encouragement and support. We
kept in contact and when I finished chemotherapy and he opened his own office
for me to come and watch a game. This meant to me that I was more than just a
four year player, but that I was part of the cyclone family. It meant a lot to hear
his voice on the other end of the line. Coach Mac is a role model for doing things
the right way and putting his heart and soul into whatever it is that he does. The
Cyclone Football family will miss him dearly in so many ways… not only as a
coach but as a role model as well.
Doug Easley
Class of 97
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Over six years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a football camp in Ames, IA. I
attended this camp not knowing much about Iowa State University or Iowa State
Football. Then I arrived and got my first chance to meet Coach Mac. During the
camp he was everywhere, coaching the athletes as if they were his own football
team, watching players do drills, and encouraging players to give it their all. After
seeing his passion for the game of football, and the passion that he had for ISU, I
knew I wanted to be a Cyclone.
I got to spend five great years in Ames, going to school and playing football, and
I owe Coach Mac for that opportunity. The knowledge I have received from
Coach Mac goes way beyond the football field. I have learned from watching
Coach Mac, his ability to motivate, coach, and believe in his players. He
demonstrates class and conducts himself as a professional at all times.
He shows he cared by inviting former players back to Ames to help coach the
new wave of future Cyclones during his summer camps. Even after my playing
career end in 2004, Coach Mac was willing to write a letter of recommendation
for me, which helped me get to where I am at today. He is truly a person of
Character, Integrity, Class, Compassion, and the list can on and on. Like so
many other people, I respect and owe Coach Mac so much, I really don’t know
where to start or finish. He is a great coach, teacher, leader, speaker, and
motivator. Thank you, Coach Mac for your time and commitment to Iowa State
Football.
Tim TeBrink ‘04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Coach McCarney knows what he means to all of us, so for those people out
there that aren't involved on a daily basis with the program, here is what he
means to me:
Mac took a chance on me and brought me into the program. I was pretty wet
behind the ears when I got to ISU and had a lot to learn about a lot of things. Mac
and his coaches (particularly Matt McGettigan, Steve
Loney and Pete Hoener) pushed me to grow up, to be accountable, to learn the
difference between pain and injury, to handle pressure. It wasn't always fun..in
fact, a lot of the time it pretty much sucked. We didn't have much success on the
field in those early years, and we had to continue to work without seeing any
rewards. Guys that I looked up to and respected graduated and moved on
without experiencing the success they had worked so hard for. Coach was a
constant example that we could hold our heads up and be proud even if the wins
didn't outnumber the losses because we were doing things the right way. When
we finally got that first win over Iowa, that first Big XII road win, that first winning
season in 11 years and that first bowl championship in school history they were
tremendous accomplishments; but the bigger accomplishment was never losing
hope, never giving in and always working like champions.
I'm convinced that the people that played football for Coach McCarney are going
to be successful in life. There are a lot of different guys, with a lot of different
stories, but the constant is ISU football under Dan McCarney. We built something
great...not just on the scoreboard or at the end of the year, but with each other.
I'm proud to be a Cyclone and I'm even more proud to have Mac's respect - it
means more than most people could ever imagine to a small town kid from
Denver, Iowa.
Ben Bruns '00
-----------------------------------------------------------------In the summer of 1995 when I stepped onto the ISU campus I was given the gift
of a second family. A brother to fight with in practice and fight along side with in
games, a terrific education, and memories that will last a lifetime. But the greatest
thing that I received at ISU was the opportunity to play for Dan McCarney.
Coach Mac’s teachings have helped shape me into the man that I have become
today. He taught me to fight through adversity, never quit, to work hard and great
things will happen.
I had the pleasure of being part of Coach Mac’s first recruiting class in
1995 and being part his first game against Ohio U. I will be there to as he steps
on the field for the last time, to tell him thank you for always believing, and
instilling in all your players hearts that no matter what, we can always find a way
to win!
Thank You Coach Mac,
Tezzy
Coach Mac has more energy and passion than anyone I know. That is why I
went to Iowa State. I decided to go to Iowa State based on Coach Mac and his
staff. Coach Mac has always surrounded himself with a great staff. Some of the
closest people in my life have come from his staff.
November 8th was a hard thing to swallow for me. I didn’t agree with what
happened, but it reminded me of memories that I had of Mac. I remember
showing up to his 1st football camp when I was in 8th grade. I walked in wearing
my Iowa Hawkeye shirt proudly. It didn’t take long before I spent all of my money
buying Iowa State shorts and shirts. I was no longer a Hawkeye after that camp, I
became a proud Cyclone and that was because of the energy that Mac had. I
remember the wins against Iowa, Nebraska, Texas ANM, and a bowl victory in
Shreveport. Things that haven’t happened at Iowa State, EVER. I am proud that I
had the opportunity to experience it all. The Good and the Bad.
The Cyclones will never be the same without Dan McCarney and his coaching
staff.
Mac I want to thank you for the 12 great years that you gave to Iowa State and
the five years you gave me. You are Iowa State!
Nik Moser
ISU Safety 2001-05
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It is tough for guys that played for Mac to simply put in words what he means to
them. The public sees a guy with nothing but class, character, integrity, loyalty,
and passion. We see and experience all of these traits and more. What a lot of
people don’t understand is what an ass kicker Coach Mac truly is. People often
use the term “dark alley”…well Mac is a guy I know any of us would want in that
dark alley with them. Because of the fact that he always is so disciplined in
staying politically correct with the media, not a lot of people have witnessed this
side of him. Mac also personifies “Cyclone Family” and has a great wife in
Margy. A few months ago, my wife and I had our first child, Erik Jr. Despite the
rigors of the season and countless people he deals with on a daily basis, I still
get e-mails regularly from Coach Mac asking how my little boy is. We also
received an infant Cyclone Jersey care package in the mail a few weeks ago
from Mac and Margy. How many head coaches in America keep in touch with
former players to that extent? Wherever Mac lands his next head coaching job,
this will instantly become my new favorite team. I think I could summarize my
love and respect for Coach Mac in one simple sentence: If my son is blessed
with any opportunity and desire to play football beyond High School, I want him
to play for Dan McCarney.
Erik Anderson, Linebacker, Starter, 4 year letter winner, Sr. Captain
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coach MacWhere do I start…First off I have to thank you for all that you have done for me
as a player and a person. You were there for me through all my battles with
injuries. You encouraged me to keep fighting off the adversity. You were the
rock and foundation of my life for my five years at ISU, and you will always be in
my path in life. You demonstrated so many qualities that people dream of, and I
can say that I am a better man because of that. You instilled character,
enthusiasm, discipline, hard work, resilience, the power of attitude, how to deal
with adversity, teamwork, and the will to win in me…And these attributes I carry
with me in my game of life. You are a man of integrity, fight, enthusiasm, and a
proven winner. He has instilled what family means outside of your own personal
family. I will follow you wherever your next stop in coaching is, and I will label it
as my new favorite team. You have taken a salvage yard in Iowa State and
turned it to a gold mine. A gold mine of respectability, a place with a
tremendously strong foundation built on blood, sweat, and tears, and a gold mine
of bowl championships, a share of the north conference championship. You will
always be the face of not just Iowa State Football, rather Iowa State University. I
support you, I honor you, and I love you. You are the pulse of Iowa State
Athletics.
Luke Vander Sanden, Offensive Lineman and Team Captain 2004