I guess this is actually my first “official” article as a writer for WRNL, so I’ll attempt to make this as interesting as I can.
As you can see in the picture above, I have been around Iowa State football for most of my 20 year life. This picture is from 2003, featuring Tony Yelk and the late Stevie Hicks Jr., who came with other players for a “Fall fest” at my elementary school.
My first football memory is being a part of the 44,896 fans that made their way to see Seneca Wallace and company beat down Troy State 42-12 on a cloudy night. Following that season, I don’t really remember much about the 2003 season, whether it be because it wasn’t a good season, or that second grade was just very appealing. I do, however, remember the basketball team thanks to Jared Homan. I only knew about him because we have the same first name, which as a kid, that’s pretty cool.
I have other memories growing up (effectively in Jack Trice Stadium), most of which I’ll always treasure. I remember being at the 2005 Colorado game with my father (who took me to many games), and later that season I remember watching inaccurate Peter LoCoco beat us in the EV1.net Houston Bowl with my late grandmother.
Another fun memory would be coming home at 11 p.m. on a school night after beating Toledo in three overtimes in 2006, as well as beating Iowa in 2007 when I could’ve hung out with a friend from flag football instead. On the topic of flag football, I was often the center, but whenever I’d play catch with friends, I’d try to be a “Todd Blythe Jr.” of sorts.
In middle school, and still to this day, the name Jayne Appel sticks in my mind. For those of you that don’t remember, Appel dropped 46 points in the Elite Eight against ISU to send Stanford to the Final Four. The game against Michigan State to send the Cyclone women to the Stanford game is a classic, and winning 69-68 was pretty nice.
By the time I was in seventh grade, Iowa State football had hired a new coach named Paul Rhoads that had a fellow Ames guy at quarterback. The secret to success in bowl games, it seems, is to have an Ames High graduate play in them.
I have some regrets. I didn’t go to that many games in the Hoiberg era (I did, however, go to the Yale game in Niang’s first year), nor did I go to the 2011 Oklahoma State game as I was in Indianapolis for National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC). However, I haven’t missed a home football game in a while now, and I never leave a game early, even if the score is abysmal.
Lately, I’ve made family-friendly signs about the opponent, and it’s been one of my favorite parts about going to games. Unfortunately, my “West Virginia more like Worst Virginia” sign didn’t make it to Kansas City, but I did and that’s close enough.
From a Little Cyclone, to a Big Cyclone, I will always love Iowa State (and Ames’ great tap water).