If this story has been told already, my apologies. It needs to be told...again..and again...and again. If it has NOT been told, here goes:
I have been following Iowa State football since 1963. Yep, the fall President Kennedy was assassinated...46 years. In all that time, I don't think I have ever..ever been more proud of a group of young men that I am of the current football team. Wow, you might say, that covers a lot of years....and teams. Why do I say that? Let me list the reasons:
1. The current team is LOADED with talent. It's a young team, but it's a very, very talented one who full potential is yet to be realized.
2. Perhaps more importantly, it is a team with CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY. These young men committed themselves to Iowa State University and its football team. They are sticking to that commitment and, while they were kicked to the curb by their former head coach...they are sticking together as a team and sticking by their/our university. It would have been easy for them, especially the younger men, to jump ship, find somewhere else to get an education...and play football. Not this bunch. Not only did they stay, but they helped sell the university, its football program to others....and as a consequence many other young men who were being recruited to attend Iowa State and play football kept their commitment too.
3. It isn't always easy to be an athlete at Iowa State. Iowa State University has not historically been one that year-in and year-out has grabbed national headlines for its athletic successes, especially in football. Rather, we have some really great (and fun) years, but there are seasons when we have really taken our licks. I've seen some Iowa State teams quit, give up, well before season's end. It's a painful thing to watch. This group never, NEVER quits. NEVER! Their inexperience have never affected their effort and commitment to one another.
Our athletic program doesn't have the kind of budget some of the bigger universities do.
It gets cold in Iowa and some people don't like that.
But, what has stood out to me in the current Iowa State University football team is that a history of success...a lot of money...and warm weather are not the things that are most important to them.
This group has said "this is MY team. These are MY team members. This is MY university. This is where I want to get and education and to play football --- Iowa State University...Ames, Iowa, home of the Cyclones".
The head coach who recruited many of these young men kicked them to the curb after last season to take a "dream job" with another university and football team. That move was a low blow, delivered with shocking dishonesty by the former head coach. He put himself first, ahead of his players, AD, fans and university. His promises to all were merely words, manipulations, means to an end...for him. You see that a lot today.
Did OUR university stoop to such low levels? Nope! From the university president...to the athletic director...to the players themselves, they all handled themselves with class and dignity. You don't see THAT a lot today.
To be sure, a significant amount of the credit for very quickly and skillfully becoming the "new head coach" belongs to Paul Rhoades. A fair amount of credit belongs to Jamie Pollard and to President Geoffrey. But, the greatest credit belongs to these young men who somehow, somewhere along the line learned honor, commitment, respect, hard work, perseverence and the importance of a man's word. You can't "buy" these qualities today. They are priceless commodities, but there seems to be an abundance of it with this bunch.
There are undoubtedly other young men being recruited right now to Iowa State University and its football team. They have a decision to make about where they will get their education and play their game. I'm an Iowa State alumnus, have followed Cyclone football for a long, long time and I want them...and others..to know that the current team is a group of young men of whom we are all very, very proud. They play good football....and it's getting much better. But, there is something more...much more.
I'm not sure I can put a finger on EXACTLY what it is, except to say that when these young men were let down, they didn't whine, they didn't quit. They lifted themselves together and moved forward....together. And, they want to share it all...with you.
I'm not sure Iowa State University will see a national football championship in the near future. We may not see a conference championship. I am sure we will see good football. I am even more sure that if a young man wants to play football with a fine group of athletes and prepare himself for the rest of his life, you can do no better than Iowa State University....home of the Cyclones.
Thank you, Cyclone footballers. You have inspired us all!
I have been following Iowa State football since 1963. Yep, the fall President Kennedy was assassinated...46 years. In all that time, I don't think I have ever..ever been more proud of a group of young men that I am of the current football team. Wow, you might say, that covers a lot of years....and teams. Why do I say that? Let me list the reasons:
1. The current team is LOADED with talent. It's a young team, but it's a very, very talented one who full potential is yet to be realized.
2. Perhaps more importantly, it is a team with CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY. These young men committed themselves to Iowa State University and its football team. They are sticking to that commitment and, while they were kicked to the curb by their former head coach...they are sticking together as a team and sticking by their/our university. It would have been easy for them, especially the younger men, to jump ship, find somewhere else to get an education...and play football. Not this bunch. Not only did they stay, but they helped sell the university, its football program to others....and as a consequence many other young men who were being recruited to attend Iowa State and play football kept their commitment too.
3. It isn't always easy to be an athlete at Iowa State. Iowa State University has not historically been one that year-in and year-out has grabbed national headlines for its athletic successes, especially in football. Rather, we have some really great (and fun) years, but there are seasons when we have really taken our licks. I've seen some Iowa State teams quit, give up, well before season's end. It's a painful thing to watch. This group never, NEVER quits. NEVER! Their inexperience have never affected their effort and commitment to one another.
Our athletic program doesn't have the kind of budget some of the bigger universities do.
It gets cold in Iowa and some people don't like that.
But, what has stood out to me in the current Iowa State University football team is that a history of success...a lot of money...and warm weather are not the things that are most important to them.
This group has said "this is MY team. These are MY team members. This is MY university. This is where I want to get and education and to play football --- Iowa State University...Ames, Iowa, home of the Cyclones".
The head coach who recruited many of these young men kicked them to the curb after last season to take a "dream job" with another university and football team. That move was a low blow, delivered with shocking dishonesty by the former head coach. He put himself first, ahead of his players, AD, fans and university. His promises to all were merely words, manipulations, means to an end...for him. You see that a lot today.
Did OUR university stoop to such low levels? Nope! From the university president...to the athletic director...to the players themselves, they all handled themselves with class and dignity. You don't see THAT a lot today.
To be sure, a significant amount of the credit for very quickly and skillfully becoming the "new head coach" belongs to Paul Rhoades. A fair amount of credit belongs to Jamie Pollard and to President Geoffrey. But, the greatest credit belongs to these young men who somehow, somewhere along the line learned honor, commitment, respect, hard work, perseverence and the importance of a man's word. You can't "buy" these qualities today. They are priceless commodities, but there seems to be an abundance of it with this bunch.
There are undoubtedly other young men being recruited right now to Iowa State University and its football team. They have a decision to make about where they will get their education and play their game. I'm an Iowa State alumnus, have followed Cyclone football for a long, long time and I want them...and others..to know that the current team is a group of young men of whom we are all very, very proud. They play good football....and it's getting much better. But, there is something more...much more.
I'm not sure I can put a finger on EXACTLY what it is, except to say that when these young men were let down, they didn't whine, they didn't quit. They lifted themselves together and moved forward....together. And, they want to share it all...with you.
I'm not sure Iowa State University will see a national football championship in the near future. We may not see a conference championship. I am sure we will see good football. I am even more sure that if a young man wants to play football with a fine group of athletes and prepare himself for the rest of his life, you can do no better than Iowa State University....home of the Cyclones.
Thank you, Cyclone footballers. You have inspired us all!
