Iowa State, you will be missed.
As long as I can remember, you were an underdog. But a noble, scrappy, feisty underdog. A couple of times a season you could count on the 'Clones to upset someone. They played hard and the played well even if they were under-sized and under-resourced.
But, oh dear god, the uniforms. The combination of fire engine red and bright yellow is utterly ghastly and inevitable evokes references to Ronald McDonald. The only thing missing is oversized clown shoes.
And the mascot. What the hell is that all about? The name is Cyclones but the logo is a giant, angry tornado chicken. Scary? I guess.
ISU is a good University. I misspoke when I wrote previously that, of the original Big 8 schools, only Colorado and KU possessed academic legitimacy. ISU is actually a good school with a fine Engineering department. ISU, I respect you.
My most painful memory of ISU was 2007 at Ames when a certain referee of Nebraskan pedigree nullified not one but two last second field goals thereby sending the Buffs to a bitter and undeserved defeat. I don't hold accountable ISU for this injustice but its memory will forever boil in my blood. Damn you, Clete Blakeman! [shakes fist]
So lo and behold, in this final year of the Big XII ISU is a legitimately good football team having beaten Texas and Texas Tech and come within a ballsy 2 point conversion of toppling Nebraska in OT.
And meeting that improved 'Clone team in Boulder this weekend is a down on their luck Buff team who just fired their head coach. They are winless in their final season of the Big XII and searching for redemption. Can they find it in this final match with our old friends, the Tornado Chickens?
Yes, hell yes! The Buffs will rise from the ashes of the Hawkins administration and strike a blow to the 'Clones on a crisp fall day. And the win will announce the beginning of a resurgence of Buff football. A hearty farewell to ISU and their midwest neighbors and a shot across the bow of the of the Pac 12. Victory, yes, VICTORY will at last be ours!
But, oh dear god, the uniforms. The combination of fire engine red and bright yellow is utterly ghastly and inevitable evokes references to Ronald McDonald. The only thing missing is oversized clown shoes.
And the mascot. What the hell is that all about? The name is Cyclones but the logo is a giant, angry tornado chicken. Scary? I guess.ISU is a good University. I misspoke when I wrote previously that, of the original Big 8 schools, only Colorado and KU possessed academic legitimacy. ISU is actually a good school with a fine Engineering department. ISU, I respect you.
My most painful memory of ISU was 2007 at Ames when a certain referee of Nebraskan pedigree nullified not one but two last second field goals thereby sending the Buffs to a bitter and undeserved defeat. I don't hold accountable ISU for this injustice but its memory will forever boil in my blood. Damn you, Clete Blakeman! [shakes fist]
So lo and behold, in this final year of the Big XII ISU is a legitimately good football team having beaten Texas and Texas Tech and come within a ballsy 2 point conversion of toppling Nebraska in OT.
And meeting that improved 'Clone team in Boulder this weekend is a down on their luck Buff team who just fired their head coach. They are winless in their final season of the Big XII and searching for redemption. Can they find it in this final match with our old friends, the Tornado Chickens?
Yes, hell yes! The Buffs will rise from the ashes of the Hawkins administration and strike a blow to the 'Clones on a crisp fall day. And the win will announce the beginning of a resurgence of Buff football. A hearty farewell to ISU and their midwest neighbors and a shot across the bow of the of the Pac 12. Victory, yes, VICTORY will at last be ours!
But Iowa State, you scrappy old friend, we will miss you. We wish you well. But realistically when the Big XII finally disintegrates in two years, you will almost certainly not land in a BCS conference. But, hey, the Mountain West ain't bad. I advise you to jump all over that with every ounce of gusto your Tornado Chicken selves can muster.
Goodbye 'Clones. Safe travels.
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