WILLIAMS BLOG: Fred finally figures out what Hilton smells like

AMES — Hilton Coliseum smells. 

You all know what I’m talking about, right? When you walk into the historic building that opened on Dec. 2, 1971, you smell something. It’s been the same stench for decades, but I’ve yet to hear anybody identify what it is. 

During his final press conference at Iowa State before beginning his full-time duties as head coach of the Chicago Bulls, an emotional Fred Hoiberg finally figured it out. 

“Walking down that tunnel today, it was emotional coming in here," Hoiberg said. "I still remember when I walked in here as a coach for the first time. It smelled the same."

Wait for it…

"It smelled the same as when I came here. I kind of had that popcorn aroma going through this building. It had it here today. That’s something that I’ll miss a lot.”

While in Chicago, Hoiberg will miss his players. He will miss his colleagues. He will miss his longtime friends and family who reside in Ames. He will also miss the smell of Hilton Coliseum – the smell that we all can finally agree, is popcorn. 

Do you agree?

Chris Williams

Chris was hired as Cyclone Fanatic’s publisher in the fall of 2009. He is Iowa State football's postgame show host on the Cyclone Radio Network and can be heard daily from 4-7 on Des Moines' top-rated sports station, 1460 KXnO. Williams, a 2007 graduate of Iowa State’s Greenlee School of Journalism, is the former publisher of the old CycloneNation.com (Scout.com). He has also written for the Des Moines Register, the Ames Tribune, CycloneReport.com and is the former sports director at KMA Radio. When Williams isn’t working, you can usually find him doing something outdoors with his wife Ashley, daughter Camryn, and Golden Retriever Dierks. He enjoys golfing, boating, country music, the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Braves and is passionate about any and all motor sports so finding Williams at a local dirt track is very common.

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