Cyclones Storm to Best Start Since 1938

Iowa State’s football program is currently 7-2, following last weekend’s loss against Kansas on November 9th, which many see as a minor setback after a great start in recent months. 

Quarterback Rocco Becht’s team is now fourth in the Big 12 conference. Due to this remarkable success, some fans are wondering if they are starting to enter uncharted territory. Iowa State has not won a conference championship in 133 years, with the fan base having to be patient and put trust in the team they support. Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard said, “I feel like the fans have waited so long and I feel like they identify with the young men in our team. With there being no professional teams in the state of Iowa, I think that fans feel like this is their team.” 

Memorable moments from this season include a dramatic last-minute field goal to win against intrastate rival Iowa in the Cy-Hawk game and a victory at home against the UCF Knights. Pollard noted, “We have tried to stay true to our values and who we are. This has allowed us to not only survive, but to start to prosper.” 

Iowa State’s head coach, Matt Campbell, has been at the helm of the program since 2015. Many fans argue that Iowa State’s superb start to the season is attributable to his coaching methods and tactics finally paying off. Pollard stressed, “Matt is unbelievably consistent. It doesn’t matter if we win or lose, it doesn’t change his leadership style or who he is.”

This year Campbell added a new offensive coordinator to the program, Taylor Mouser. The players have embraced Mouser’s new strategies, which has so far brought success. Campbell and his coaching staff are getting the best performances out of players such as Darien Porter and Carson Hansen, with Rocco Becht and Jaylin Noel among this season’s standouts. 

Iowa State Director of Broadcasting John Walters, known as ‘The Voice of the Cyclones,’ added, “We have great leadership among these players such as Beau Freyler, who is one of the best leaders Iowa State has ever had in its football program, and J.R. Singleton. Guys like them lead the younger guys along and help them understand the importance of detail.”

All this adds up to a strong foundation with the potential for more wins to come, and that is exactly what the fans are hoping to see.  Des Moines Register Iowa State Football ‘Beatwriter’, Travis Hines, who specifically covers the Cyclones football team, said, “It’s exciting to be able to latch onto this football team of mostly homegrown players after a couple of rough years. When you have a program that hasn’t achieved things such as a conference championship or ten-win season, that makes the excitement really high.”