Iowa State is getting ready for its first game by looking backward.
The Cyclones face Northern Iowa on Saturday in Ames, Iowa, but the UNI team Iowa State is getting ready to play has a different look.
Joe Davis is the new offensive coordinator for the Panthers and the offense is a high-speed, up-tempo attack.
"You've gotta go back and look at where (Davis) has been," said Rhoads at his weekly press conference. "You've gotta look at what he's done. That's what you've gotta count on, as well as some of the coaches on that Northern Iowa staff that have been there for a long time."
Davis came to UNI after spending time at Shippensburg State and Wheaton College.
Meanwhile, UNI has not named a starting quarterback. Iowa State has six starters back on defense.
"The culture of this team is different," Rhoads said. "Would I say it's 180 (degrees) different? Absolutely not. But they have stuck to their guns. There's great resolve in this group. They've got both leadership and responsiveness from our football team.
"It's been an extremely positive training camp and first week of classes. Now, as the focus is solely on UNI this week, I look forward to that continuing and it has to for us to be successful Saturday night."
