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ISU bowl eligible after Colorado win
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-11-14
Alamo Bowl. Independence Bowl. Texas Bowl.
For the first time in three seasons, warm weather bowl destinations are more than just a dream for the Iowa State football team as the Cyclones became bowl eligible with their 17-10 win over Colorado on Saturday.
“College football is all about bowl games and the pageantry and what goes along with them,” coach Paul Rhoads said. “So you start the season and you work for one and at this particular point, we are bowl eligible, and we are thrilled with that.”
When Rhoads first addressed the team on Jan. 12th he challenged a team that had lost its last 10 games to make a bowl. That goal likely became a reality Saturday with what Rhoads called a complete team win.
The rushing game got back on track as Alexander Robinson ran for 138 yard and topped the 1,000-yard mark on the season. The passing game made plays in the red zone as Marquis Hamilton and Robinson each had touchdown receptions.
But an opportunistic defense insured that ISU (6-5, 3-4 Big 12) became bowl eligible for the first time since 2005.
Even though the Cyclones gave up 390 yards, they made plays when it had to in the red zone — Colorado (3-7, 2-4) scored three points off four trips inside the ISU 20-yard line — and forced three turnovers.
It all started for the defense with a first quarter fourth-and-goal stop on the ISU 1-yard line, and continued on the rest of the game. Defensive tackle Nate Frere had his first career interception. Cornerback Kennard Banks and safety James Smith each broke up a pass in the end zone. Safety David Sims forced two fumbles.
“We wanted to play smart as a football team, and it’s those little things that we did today that helped make a difference,” Rhoads said.
It also allowed the Cyclones to start dreaming about the postseason.
“It’s great. Our goal is to win a bowl game,” linebacker Jesse Smith said. “Everyone is doing their job, and I think we are going to get there.”
“This is my first time going to a bowl games, so I mean I am pretty pumped,” cornerback Leonard Johnson said.
Possibly having the chance to experience a bowl game means a lot to the underclassmen. But it may hold more value to the seniors, who have been to the postseason before and wanted to get ISU back there before they left.
“It means a lot,” senior wide receiver Marquis Hamilton said. “The years in the middle were very rough. When we first got here, we went to a bowl game. For us to, not secure a spot in a bowl game, but get that sixth win and make us bowl eligible was tremendous.”
The Cyclones aren’t booking their bowl trip just yet.
They know that 11 Big 12 teams have a chance to be bowl eligible and that the conference only has eight bowl games. The only way for ISU to assure itself a bowl berth is to get a victory next week at Missouri and finish the season with seven wins.
That’s why Rhoads said it’s too early to look back on all that the Cyclones have accomplished in his first season as coach.
“If I took a second to reflect on what we’ve achieved, my wife would chew me out for that, so I have no time for that,” Rhoads said.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2009-11-14
Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads celebrates with his team after ISU defeated Colorado 17-10 on Saturday.
Tribune photo by Ronnie Miller
Tribune photo by Ronnie Miller
Alamo Bowl. Independence Bowl. Texas Bowl.
For the first time in three seasons, warm weather bowl destinations are more than just a dream for the Iowa State football team as the Cyclones became bowl eligible with their 17-10 win over Colorado on Saturday.
“College football is all about bowl games and the pageantry and what goes along with them,” coach Paul Rhoads said. “So you start the season and you work for one and at this particular point, we are bowl eligible, and we are thrilled with that.”
When Rhoads first addressed the team on Jan. 12th he challenged a team that had lost its last 10 games to make a bowl. That goal likely became a reality Saturday with what Rhoads called a complete team win.
The rushing game got back on track as Alexander Robinson ran for 138 yard and topped the 1,000-yard mark on the season. The passing game made plays in the red zone as Marquis Hamilton and Robinson each had touchdown receptions.
But an opportunistic defense insured that ISU (6-5, 3-4 Big 12) became bowl eligible for the first time since 2005.
Even though the Cyclones gave up 390 yards, they made plays when it had to in the red zone — Colorado (3-7, 2-4) scored three points off four trips inside the ISU 20-yard line — and forced three turnovers.
It all started for the defense with a first quarter fourth-and-goal stop on the ISU 1-yard line, and continued on the rest of the game. Defensive tackle Nate Frere had his first career interception. Cornerback Kennard Banks and safety James Smith each broke up a pass in the end zone. Safety David Sims forced two fumbles.
“We wanted to play smart as a football team, and it’s those little things that we did today that helped make a difference,” Rhoads said.
It also allowed the Cyclones to start dreaming about the postseason.
“It’s great. Our goal is to win a bowl game,” linebacker Jesse Smith said. “Everyone is doing their job, and I think we are going to get there.”
“This is my first time going to a bowl games, so I mean I am pretty pumped,” cornerback Leonard Johnson said.
Possibly having the chance to experience a bowl game means a lot to the underclassmen. But it may hold more value to the seniors, who have been to the postseason before and wanted to get ISU back there before they left.
“It means a lot,” senior wide receiver Marquis Hamilton said. “The years in the middle were very rough. When we first got here, we went to a bowl game. For us to, not secure a spot in a bowl game, but get that sixth win and make us bowl eligible was tremendous.”
The Cyclones aren’t booking their bowl trip just yet.
They know that 11 Big 12 teams have a chance to be bowl eligible and that the conference only has eight bowl games. The only way for ISU to assure itself a bowl berth is to get a victory next week at Missouri and finish the season with seven wins.
That’s why Rhoads said it’s too early to look back on all that the Cyclones have accomplished in his first season as coach.
“If I took a second to reflect on what we’ve achieved, my wife would chew me out for that, so I have no time for that,” Rhoads said.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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