Posted by: Pete Roussel on September 11, 2012

While it's only week #3, Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads says it's almost the midpoint of the year for his football team.

Rhoads explained on SiriusXM's College Sports Nation, "Teams are tired at different times."

"For instance, in 2009 when we won in Lincoln, we went to A&M the next weekend and you talk about a football team that was gassed.  Emotionally, yes, but physically our tank was (totally) empty."

He said, "You don't know when injuries are going to build up and you're going to need time to get healthy."

Rhoads shared the results of a study he did this morning.

Iowa State's first practice was on August 3.  At the end of next week, the Cyclones will have practiced 42 total times including 28 in full-pads, 9 in helmets, and 5 in jerseys.

From that point on, his team will only practice 45 more times including 19 in full-pads, 17 in helmets, and 9 in jerseys.

Rhoads said, "We're not at the mid-point of the season, but we are at the mid-point of the year, so I think it does come at a good time for us to rest a little bit, self-scout where we're at, and attack the Big 12 schedule with everything that we've got."

Iowa State is now 2-0 after defeating Iowa last weekend on the road.  Following the game, Rhoads congratulated each individual player in the tunnel back to the locker room.

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