Sunday, September 30, 2007

Memorial Stadium

We all knew Phillip Bates was an amazing player but after Saturday’s game in Nebraska, I have an even great appreciation for him. The freshman from Omaha had only two catches for 19 yards but the most amazing aspect of it was the mere site of Bates in a Cyclones uniform. His dad Phillip Sr. played fullback for the Cornhuskers before moving onto the NFL as a defensive back for the Detroit Lions and Kansas City Chiefs. He was recruited to go there, his friends signed there, but Bates picked Iowa State and walking around Memorial Stadium, its hard to figure out why.
You walk into the front doors and in a glass case you see five national championship trophies. You walk through the lobbies and you see walls filled with Sports Illustrated covers that have Nebraska athletes as centerpieces. Keyword: walls. State of the art training facilities are throughout the building. I half expected to be served lobster tails in the press box.
I didn’t realize just how important all these things were until another reporter turned to me and pointed at a picture of some female athletes wearing dresses in a team photo. “See, “ she said. “It’s small things like that would make them some good.” After some though, I completely agreed. Granted the photo was a nice touch, but what high school football star isn’t impressed by the site of cases filled with national championship and Heisman trophies?
Last week the Cornhuskers were getting booed after barely beating Ball State. With the trophies come expectations, to win weekly.
“I think we have to get better,” said Nebraska coach Bill Callahan after the Cornhuskers 35-17 win over Iowa State Saturday. “That’s the great thing about coming off a win like this. You’ll see plenty you can improve from and plenty that you’ll certainly learn from and get better.”
As a few of us were walking out, another reporter asked for a picture in front of one of the national championship trophies.
“This is as close as we’re ever going to get he,” said.
Rome and even Memorial Stadium weren’t built overnight.

Friday, September 28, 2007

History Lesson

They have history, tradition, and the worst road trip on just about anyone’s schedule. A road trip to Nebraska ranks on my excitement schedule somewhere between getting a physical and getting my wisdom teeth taken out. The most exciting part of the trip though is actually arriving at Memorial Stadium and getting a history lessen on college football. J.J. Bass told me earlier in the season how excited he was about the team’s first road trip, to Toledo. Imagine how pumped the junior college transfer must be heading to Nebraska. Looking at all of the national championship trophies has to make it inspiring for a young team with a new head coach and their entire futures ahead of them. Several of the reporters will be making the trip to Nebraska along with several other fans I’ve talked to. The game won’t be televised so will any of you be making it to the game?

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Goodbye Cy

It’s funny that he brought it up because right when I saw the new Cyclone’s uniforms, one of the first things that popped into my head was McDonalds. As Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard unveiled the new uniforms for the Cyclone’s football team, one distinct thing was missing, Cy.
“Much like Disney made the choice to promote the ears, but still uses Mickey and McDonalds promotes the arches but still uses Ronald, the Cyclones will still have Cy,” Pollard said at the press conference.
The Cyclones may still have Cy but what they now have are McDonald colored uniforms. To me, gold+red=McDonalds.
After the press conference, Pollard chatted with reporters. He asked what we thought. The most ironic thing was the first group of reporters he looked to were us, the four reporters from the student newspaper, the student. His first job of the day was announcing the new logo and uniforms. His job for the next year, selling it to students.
Throughout the process, fans could vote on which of the three designs they liked the most. While the voting started, fans started rallying around Cy like it was another most dominate mascot on the earth contest. Facebook groups popped up saying, “Save Cy.”
Throughout the day, I walked around campus showing students pictures of the new uniforms. Just about every time, the first question was, “where is Cy.” If the question didn’t come up, I could see eye balls wondering throughout the pictures looking for him.
Fans seemed to enjoy the new look but they miss Cy.
The most ironic thing out of this isn’t that Cy is missing, it’s the conversation that I had with an athletic department intern. I asked her what she thought of the new uniforms.
“I hate them,” she said.
Before the announcement, she along with several co-workers had plopped up side-by-side photos of the new uniforms with Southern California’s. Just about identical she said.
If they aren’t going to have the Trojan’s record right now, why not look like them?
“Whatever we need to do to win games,” one student told me. “If you need new uniforms to win games, then do it.”

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Fixing the leak

One game it was Bret Culbertson missing kicks, the next it was Zac Sandvig muffing punt returns, now it’s a combination of special team errors. Iowa State coach Gene Chizik himself compared the problems of special teams to a leaking dam. When one problem gets fixed, another comes up.
But what is the problem with special teams?
Chizk thinks it could have something to do with switching up personnel, as many of his defensive players are also working special teams.
“There is a fine line when your defensive guys might be playing 70 to 80 plays a game and then they’re on every special team,” Chizik said.
Defensive back and punt returner Allen Bell said Chizik, “hit the nail right on the head.”
Defensive back James Smith said he knows it’s a problem but they’ll get through the current problems like they did the other ones.
“It’s really tough but we’re not going to give up on each other because we’re one team here,” Smith said. “We’re just got to fix those things and I think we’ll fine.”
The Cyclones enter Saturday’s game against Nebraska as 21 point underdogs.
Do you think they’ll have the problems fixed by then?

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Special Teams

He’s a guy who tells you it as straight as possible. Less than 24 hours after the Cyclones 36-35 defeat in Toledo, Jay Boulware, the Cyclones special team’s and running back’s coach was walking around the Jacobson Building with a hat on backwards and sweat dripping from the top. As the coach walked by reporters, I overhead him tell a Cyclone official, “I’m rejuvenated, I’m not looking down.” It’s not only hard to stay up after dropping three out of your four first games, but Boulware watched his unit make multiple mistakes. Long snapper Matt Purvis couldn’t connect with punter Mike Brandtner in the fourth quarter allowing a Toledo touchdown. With less than a minute remaining, field goal kicker Bret Culbertson’s bid to make back-to-back game winning field goals, was shot down when it was blocked. Next week, Iowa State faces a Nebraska team that ran for 552 yards offense against Ball State Saturday. Boulware may not be looking down, but are you?

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Hangover?

They’re pumped, they’re energized, and every Iowa State Cyclone is acting exactly as they did after losses to Kent State and Northern Iowa.
For the firs time in his coaching career, Cyclone’s coach Gene Chizik will be coaching his team through a week after a win.
Walking around the Jacobson Building, there was a different buzz in the building. Maybe it was Hickory Park food being catered that night, maybe it was the effects of a 15-13 win or Iowa, or maybe it’s just a team finally coming together.
Todd Blythe seemed as confident heading into Toledo as he did against Kent State and Northern Iowa. Sweat dripping down his face, the senior wide receiver talked with reporters Tuesday after what looked like his most intense practice of the year.
J.J. Bass was ready for his first road trip and didn’t utter a word about the previous game.
Defensive coordinator Wayne Bolt was ready to stop talking about the Hawkeyes.
Coach Gene Chizik doesn’t think there will be a hangover from the Iowa game, do you?

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Getting his game winner

One of the toughest interviews I had to do since becoming a sports writer was with Iowa State kicker Bret Culbertson. I remember walking up to him on media day. He was standing by himself taking in atmosphere of his final season as a Cyclone. What made the interview so difficult was not the type of person he was or any unwillingness to answer a question but the difficulty to ask such a grounded person a question he's probably been asked thousands of times. How do you possibly bounce back from missing two of arguably the most historic kicks in ISU history?
Standing there introducing myself to a guy that many have considered one of the greatest kickers in school history, Culbertson and I talked about everything from school (he's a journalism major) personal life (he'd just gotten married) to expectations for the upcoming season (they are always high). It didn't take long before he we got to the heart of the matter. Culbertson told me that he doesn't worry about the past. Whats happened has happened. He believed God had a reason for everything happening but hoped Cyclones would remember the kicks he's made, not missed.
"I just hope fans and coaches remember me as the guy that can get the job done when they need to count on it," Culbertson said.
After the Cyclone's 15-13 win over Iowa Saturday, fans seemed to remember only one thing, the 28-yard field goal he nailed as time nearly expired.
A man who many had pointed the finger at for Iowa State never winning a Big 12 North title was now being carried off the field. Fans carried, hugged, and cheered for Culbertson.
Just hours after his game winning kick, I checked his facebook profile. His wall was loaded with messages of congratulations. People who didn't know him took time to thank him.
"Bret I know you don't know me, but me and my family were moved to tears at how happy we were that got a chance to win it for us today after all the ups and downs in your careerl," wrote one individua. "As life-long Iowa State fans, I don't ever remember being this happy for an individual player."
Perhaps the most interesting thing Culbertson said to me when we finished up the interview was one the goals he hoped to have checked off the list by the end of the season.
"I want to hit a game winner this year," he said. "I think the few misses early in my career made me what I am on the field and off the field."
On Saturday he got that wish and took advantage of it.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Bass ready to roll

He's learned how to play in the juco level, the Big 12, now junior running back J.J. Bass is going to get a big taste of another level of football, Big 10. Bass and his Cyclone teammates host the Hawkeyes this Saturday for perhaps the biggest game of the young back's career. For the past week, he says teammates have been feeding him history on the big game.
"I've been getting it from guys all the time," Bass said. "Before I even got here, they were telling me, Iowa game, Iowa game."
What Bass has probably heard most about it is the Iowa defense which held Syracuse to just 103 total offense yards last Saturday. Coach Gene Chizik was impressed with it, but after watching tape, Bass wasn't phased.
"I think we're ready," he said. "We size up well with these guys, they put on their pads the same way we put on our pads. I really don't see much of a difference."
The difference is Iowa is 2-0. Iowa has beat the lower conference teams.
Bass, who transfered from El Camino Community College will get his first taste of the rivalry. Just hours after the Panther's 24-13 win, Bass talked to reporters about how excited he was for his first game. He was happy. He was energetic. He couldn't stop pacing. He was also confident.
"I've very pumped right now," he said. "Just watching the film, seeing all the big plays you made, we're going to put it all together this weekend. I've got a really good feeling about this game."
The Hawkeyes are currently 17 point favorites to win.
Bass thinks they can do it, do you?

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Fan Support

While time was expiring in Iowa State's last game against Northern Iowa, I casually walked around the stadium talking to fans about the ongoing season. Talk ranged from their first 0-2 start since the start of the Dan McCarney era, who the starting quarterback should be, and how many games fans would make it out to future games.
I outlined the responses of several fans in today's Iowa State Daily article. Check out the story at Iowastatedaily.com.
What the story doesn't include was some of the more negative feedback.
I had one student tell me with a group of friends he'd rather watch his family die in a plane crash then go to another Cyclone game.
Another kid called it the worst experience of his life. It's hard to imagine that a football game is really the worst experience of an 18 year olds life.
Finally when I was leaving Jack Trice Stadium I found a father wearing a red and black Cyclones jacket, holding his daughter over his shoulders. I approached the gentlemen to ask him his thoughts on the young season. "I don't want to talk about Cyclones football," he said.
He may not want to talk about it but he was still there with his family as the finally seconds came off the clock. Fans will be there for the Iowa/Iowa State game, but after that, will you be?

Monday, September 10, 2007

Congrats Mac

It used to be that one of the biggest upsets Dan McCarney was a part of was claiming Iowa State's first victory over the Hawkeyes in 15 years in the Cy-Hawk Series in 1998. Now, the former Cyclone's coach had a hand in perhaps an even bigger one as his South Florida team upset N0. 17 Auburn on the road Saturday.
I talked to McCarney early Sunday, around 11:00 a.m. Florida time. He'd gotten back from Auburn at around 6:00 a.m. and his phone had been ringing off the hook non-stop. Calling him back several hours later, he was losing his voice. It was the same voice you could hear looking back at the Mediacom replays of the Insight.com Bowl win as he was celebrating his team's first bowl victory ever. He had been answering calls all morning, the most he'd gotten since his final game at Iowa State.
Gene Chizik is the new head coach but players haven't forgotten about their former leader. Bret Culbertson told me on the Cyclone's media day he still routinely emails McCarney. Many of the players came to his father's funeral over the summer. Quarterback Bret Meyer said he caught the tail end South Florida game.
When I spoke with McCarney earlier in the week about what the annaul Cy-Hawk series meant to him, he told me had only a few minutes in between team meetings. We talked for about 15. One of the last things he told me wasn't about the Hawkeyes or any of Todd Blythe's performances against Iowa.
"I sure do miss it up there at Iowa State," he said.

Friday, September 7, 2007

Meyer's his man

He wasn't afraid to say it before Kent State and ISU Gene Chizik is still hinting about playing backup quaterbacks Austin Arnaud and Phillip Bates. After practice on Wednesday, I asked Chizik if Cyclone fans would see either of the backups Saturday against Northern Iowa.
"That'll be a game time decision," Chizik said. "Right now we're always preparing for a backup to play in case something happens to your starter."
Meyer brings three years of experience while Arnaud and Bates give Cyclone fans a few seasons of hope down the road.
Who would you start?

Lower league but high class

ISU coach Gene Chizik said he didn't watch the Appalachian State game, but he wasn't suprised by the outcome.
Appalachian State, who upset No.5 Michigan with a 34-32 victory, shocked many people but not Chizik.
"I think its a great eye opener for everyone to see what kind of talent they have in those other leagues," Chizik said.
Chizik's eyes were opened up wide as he watched another small conference team, Kent State of the MAC, defeat his Cyclones in week one of their season. Now he's preparing for another one in Gateway Conference runner up Northern Iowa.
Last year the Cyclone's slipped away with a 28-27 victory when Panther's kicker Brian Wingert missed a 51-yard field go attempt.
Regardless of the Michigan game, ISU quarterback Bret Meyer was already prepared for another small school matchup.
"If Michigan would have blown them out, it wouldn't have changed the way we thought about them anyways," Meyer said. "That's not going to change. I know based on the way they played last year, it wouldn't have taken another team to open my eyes."
As for Appalachian State, Meyer said he was impressed with quarterback Armanti Edwards who passed for 227 yards in the victory.
"They're a good team," he said. "Good quarterback, good receiever, and you saw speed. He was running away from Michigan like they were the Division IAA team."
Outside of Edwards, he said he was shocked more of the players weren't in bigger conferences.
"You watch those guys and wonder how they didn't get picked up by anyone else," he said.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Bret Meyer or Austin Arnaud?

Fans could hear it in the stands and reporters could hear it in the press box. As soon as senior quarterback Bret Meyer threw his second interception against Kent State last Thursday, the talk around the stadium was when Cyclone fans would see redshirt freshman Austin Arnaud. Even with a dismal opening season performance, Chizik said he isn't ready to sit Meyer.
"Everything out there was correctable," Chizik said at his Monday press conference.
But how much time is there to fix things? After an SEC title with Auburn and a national championship with Texas last season, Chizik said he wasn't going to accept anything average.
Losses cost Dan McCarney his job. Mistakes prevented Chizk from his first win.
"We've got to get back to the drawing board and make sure we protect the football which we didn't do a good job of tonight," said Chizik after the Cyclones loss to Kent State.
While Meyer remains at number one on the Cyclones depth chart, the question will be, for how long? In his opening season press conference, Chizik was asked at least three times about the possibility of playing Arnaud or third stringer Phillip Bates.
"Bret Meyer is our quarterback," Chizik said at the end.
While Chizik had to clarify exactly who his opening night starter was, its a question he might be seeing througout the season, especially if there are more games like Kent State.
"He can't throw two interceptions and turn the ball over twice and expect us to win against anybody, ever," Chizik said.