Rory Walling is the man
If there is a player that is the best example of “trust the process,” it’s Rory Walling. A walk-on running back from Des Moines that mainly sees the field during special teams. Walling hasn’t broke any records, hasn’t gotten any recognition and he won’t make the Hall of Fame, but he plays his role.
In the fourth quarter, Tom Herman made a ridiculous decision to fake a punt at the Iowa State 48-yard line, Cameron Dicker found Cade Brewer with a lot of green in front of him. Walling, last resort, stayed home and made an incredible open-field tackle to force a turnover on downs. With Texas leading 20-13, that tackle held the lead to a one-score game. Walling arguably made the biggest play of the game, and he’s finally getting the recognition he has earned.
Just stay the course
It’s the line that Matt Campbell preaches over and over, stay the course. Iowa State started poorly, down 10. Sam Ehlinger was abusing the secondary, Iowa State was getting owned in the trenches and frankly, it looked like Iowa State was screwed.
You wouldn’t be able to tell from my Tweets or Slack messages, but I was extremely optimistic pessimistic all day. But the team and the staff settled in, absorbed punches and bounced back. Brock Purdy overcame some early inaccuracy and played one of the best games of the season. Breece Hall overcame his worst statistical performance of the season with the game-winning touchdown. Connor Assalley bounced back from a missed field goal with three timely field goals. The list goes on and on, the Cyclones started out horribly, but trusted the process. Now they are going to Dallas.
GOING TO DALLAS
THE IOWA STATE CYCLONES HAD ANOTHER BIGGEST GAME IN SCHOOL HISTORY AND DIDN’T CHOKE. AN OPPOSING KICKER MISSED A GAME-TYING KICK. THE CYCLONES DID IT. LOUD NOISES. THEY ARE GOING TO THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. TRUST THE PROCESS, BOOK IT.