CycloneReport.com - On the Cy'd: Rivalry game in perspective

September 10, 2009

John Doolittle
CycloneReport.com Columnist

Sometimes you can see things clearer from a distance. My friend Fred White, longtime Kansas City Royals broadcaster, always said the further away from the dirt (around home plate) you get, the easier the game becomes. It's probably like that in football, too.

The game looks easier from the press box or the stands. I'm going to take a shot at this from 250 miles away. (I'll be up from KC for the game in Ames.) It might be a little different perspective.

Iowa State- Iowa. Red vs. Black. New coach vs. veteran. Cautiously optimistic compared to solidly confident.

This may be hard for some Cyclones to admit, but Iowa State should strive to be, at least on the field and in the win-loss column, what Iowa has been. I know what you're thinking. You don't want to be a Hawkeye. Perfectly understandable. You're saying 'Hey, we beat 'em five times in a row under McCarney' and 'We got 'em the last two times at our place.'

All true. But the world is all about what-have-you-done-for-me-lately. And what ISU needs more than anything is well-rounded consistency in this game, that also goes beyond the Iowa game. Sure Paul Rhoads wants to beat the Hawks. Cardinal clad fans want to see the black and gold (bumblebees) folks head for the exits disappointed and humbled.

The problem has been Iowa State has focused so much on the Iowa game that other "big game" victories in the Big 12 just haven't come. McCarney loved to beat his alma mater. He really stressed the rivalry game, loaded the wagon for it, got his teams so geeked up for it, so much so that those wins were the highlights of his career.

Again, you want to beat Iowa. But you want there to be more to your season than the Cy-Hawk Trophy.

Through the years the Hawkeyes have come out of the Iowa State game better equipped to handle the Big 10 than the Cyclones in the Big 12. Of course, most would agree that the Big 12 has been and is still a much better conference.

Iowa State seemingly put all its eggs in the Iowa game basket. (Gene Chizik lost to Kent State and Northern Iowa, but thanks to Shaggy's right foot, beat the Hawks for his first college head coaching victory). It was great when Cy won, but it shouldn't be the end of the world (or the season) when he doesn't.

McCarney was always looking for his first major upset against a team not named Iowa or Nebraska. He never really got it.

Sure you need to beat Iowa for bragging rights and recruiting and to help close the gap in clothing sales. (I always hate to see "Parrot Gear" in Ames stores).

When you win regularly, you get to fly the flag. And it flies just as high when it's a win against somebody other than a rival. (OK, maybe the beer ain't quite as cold).

Maybe people inside the state disagree. To some it's life and death. You lose and it's 364 days of guff from the other guy. It's like that everywhere. Ohio State-Michigan. USC-UCLA. Alabama-Auburn... uh, by the way, good luck with that, Gene!)

So try to be like Iowa. Or at least try to be nice to them. I know it can be hard. Go ahead and beat them. Then put a stretch of bowl games together like them. Then Cy will really rule the roost.

See you Saturday at "The Jack!"

John Doolittle is a 30-year veteran radio journalist covering Big 12 and Big 8 sports. He is a Story City, Iowa, native and Iowa State alumnus.

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