ISU's Grant Rohach: From 'pretty poor' to 'outstanding'

 By Rob Gray

 Correspondent

 AMES - Iowa State quarterback Grant Rohach has heard, seen and done it all.

He's had “pretty poor” performances.

“Better” ones.

And, finally - in last Saturday's 34-0 drubbing of Kansas - an overall body of work Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads deemed “outstanding.”

“He was a different guy,” said Rhoads, whose team (2-9, 1-7) seeks to close out its season with a second straight win at 3 p.m. Saturday at West Virginia (4-7, 2-6). “This is a young man that's growing up.”

Rohach clearly appreciates the praise.

He stopped short of “outstanding” in terms of self-assessment, though - despite a career day that included 300 yards through the air, completing 30 of 40 attempts and doubling his touchdown passing total to four.

“I felt it was pretty good,” the redshirt freshman from Moorpark, Calif., said. “Still, there are areas I can improve in. You never want to have an interception. … Minimizing turnovers is something I need to work on.”

Rohach threw one interception and also fumbled late.

On frozen turf, you take the bad with the good.

And come spring, Rohach will take the first snaps with the No. 1 offense.

That's a recent development.

What does it mean?

Not much - yet.

“Somebody's going to take the first snap,” Rhoads said. “It will be Grant when we take the field that first spring practice in March. He'll be with the ones that first snap, but she'll be open.”

Saturday, Rohach will attempt to dissect a reeling Mountaineers defense that has allowed an average of 40 points in the past five games.

But West Virginia has beaten Big 12 leader Oklahoma State - as well as TCU, which clipped ISU 21-17 earlier this month.

The Mountaineers haven't played since falling 31-19 at Kansas two weeks ago.

“I expect they're going to have a butt load of energy, regardless, whether they won or lost (the Kansas game),” Rohach said. “It's going to be their senior (day) - and a huge game no matter what.”

It's also very important for the Cyclones - especially those who go from senior day to simply their last day in donning the cardinal and gold.

“I just see 21 seniors who are going to run around and play every down like it's their last, because we know that eventually it's going to be our last play and we want to go out on a high note,” ISU senior linebacker Jeremiah George said. “That's what we're going to aim for.”

Steady improvement continues to rank as Rohach's chief goal.

Spring's a distant season.

And it's not like his rivals Sam Richardson, Joel Lanning or Trevor Hodge are ceding him the top job.

“It truly comes down to continuous game reps,” Rohach said. “You can practice all you want and simulate as fast-paced as you want with scout (team), but going into a live opponent that's trying to take your head off really helps in gaining that confidence and gaining that maturity.”