The Cyclones

We had a really great time in Ames for the Texas/Iowa State game. Last year, the Cyclones beat us. At home. For the first time ever. We knew they were pumped up to play. We hope the Longhorns were too.

When we got to Ames, we hit the local college bar scene to catch the Texas A&M/ Arkansas game before heading to the stadium.

Here's the problem. It was 11:00 am on game day and we could not find a) an open bar or b) a place to park. We managed to solve both problems at once....as we rolled in to a 10 hour metered lot ($0.25 and hour?! In!) we saw a pair of Longhorns walking out. We rolled down the window and scared them by asking what bars were open. Once they realized we were friendly, they gave us a quarter to get our meter started and told us about a bar around the corner that was open.

I call them Gremlins!

We parked and were making our way to Es Tasas when I heard "Beth!" Since I was in Ames, Iowa, I assumed I was not being addressed. "Beth!" I heard it again. Slowly turning my head, I see "HeadButt" and his wife, along with a few of our other friends in a mini-van. Weird. After giving them parking instructions and pointing to the bar we were tracking, we quickly went from a small group of three girls to a herd of Longhorns, a dozen strong. 

 

Once in the bar, we located the A&M game and began to wait for the meltdown. At halftime, the Aggies were up 18.  Don't get too excited for them, though.  They blew the lead and lost to Arkansas.  After the previous week's failure against Oklahoma State, we were not surprised.  I guess we're not nice people:  we made sure "Gangsta's Paradise" was playing on the jukebox as time ran out on the Aggies.  Then we began a rousing chorus of the Aggie War Hymn, topped off with an obnoxious chant of "SEC! SEC! SEC!"

 Did I mention we'd had a few shots?  Dirty Girl Scout Cookies (thin mint in a shot) and Gremlins (these were just some kind of green thing)...Yum.

After the A&M game, we took cars back toward Jack Trice Stadium then began a very long walk to find a tailgate.  Along the way we saw some really interesting stuff.  There were lots of hideous yellow and red overalls, several "Cyclone Buses" and the most amazing game ever: Tailgate Jacks.  It's exactly what you'd think it was...a giant set of jacks made from PVC pipery and a foursquare ball.  Teams of two bounce and scoop.  Most fun.

Tailgate Jacks.  Amazing.

Eventually we made our way into the stadium.  Some points of note on the game:

1. The Longhorns looked pretty good.  Not great, not bad, just pretty good.  It was a fairly hostile environment - I'm pretty sure the Cyclones (or at least the Cyclone Fans) thought they were going to beat us again.  Last year's whipping at DKR was pretty awful, and the fact that no one is really talking about the 'Horns set up a recipe for success in the minds of the Iowa Statians.  With that being said....

2.  ...the Iowa State fans gave the refs a really hard time.  I've been to a lot of hostile stadiums before and I've seen a lot of teams and fans that really thought they were going to win, but this was over the top.  The fans booed pretty much every call.  They wouldn't even wait to see what the call was, they'd just boo it on spec.  One example of a two minute time frame.

Iowa State rushes the ball to the end zone, but appears to end up just short of the Touchdown.  Ref rules the ball on the one.  FAN REACTION: YELL "BOOOO!"

Time out is called so trainers can tend to an injured Iowa State player. FAN REACTION: YELL "BOOOO!"

Ref announces the play is under review.  FAN REACTION: YELL "BOOOO!"

Refs stand in the end zone discussing play. FAN REACTION: YELL "BOOOOO!" AND THROW WATER BOTTLES AT REFS.

Review is happening.  FAN REACTION: CHANT "F#*& THE REFS!  F#*& THE REFS!"

Ref walks out to announce the review outcome.  FAN REACTION: YELL "BOOOO!"

Ref announces the previous play was actually an Iowa State touchdown.  FAN REACTION: YELL "BOOOO!"  PROCESS WHAT WAS SAID AND STOP "BOOING."   

Come on now people, let's get a little perspective.  One Cyclone made the comment (when Texas was up 34-0) that "If it wasn't for the f#*&ing refs, we'd be in this game."  The Longhorns happened to sack the ISU quarterback on the next play.  Yeah, maybe the refs aren't the problem.  Whatever the case, it seemed pretty much like the longest game ever and it was hard to stay focused, but I personally got my second wind when I saw on the jumbotron that....

3.  ...SMU beat TCU at Amon Carter Staduim.  Talk about making my day!!  Pony Up!  That makes two losses already this season to unranked teams for TCU.  I don't put much stock in rankings, especially considering....

4.  ...Texas somehow ended up ranked 10 & 11th in the polls.  That's a little too good for my taste, as I enjoy flying under the radar, but it does make for and interesting Red River Rivalry game coming up.  I heard College Gameday & Crew will be at the fair for this clash of the unbeatens.  Look for me in the food pavilion underneath the....

Sad CATI Flag...

5.  ...Come & Take It flag.  Deb, Kacie and I always forget to take a CATI flag on the road with us, so this trip we got clever and made on out of a pillow case and a sharpie.  Thanks to Kacie's masterful artwork, we pere armed at ISU with an amazing mini-CATI flag.  Courtesy of the Renaissance Inn.   FYI - a pillowcase makes a fabulous travel flag.  It is small, disposable if necessary and can be tied to a stick and filled hobo-style with....

6. ...corny-dogs.  I'll be eating many of them.  Saturday can't get here fast enough.