Saturday, August 30th, 2014

Part of being a sports fan is suffering through the disappointment of defeat .  You are not always able to enjoy victory.  You try to enjoy the big wins when you can, but you have to realize that losing is part of the game.

Having said that, today's loss by the Cyclones to North Dakota State was especially difficult.  Iowa State was dominated by an FCS team.  At home.  For a second year in a row.  It seems like this entire football season has basically finished before it ever began.  My prediction that the Cyclones would win 5 games?  It looks like a joke.  I hope they can win two...

I was able to capture a couple good videos early on in the game when it looked like Iowa State would have a good day... one is Allen Lazard's first career pass reception (48 yards), and the other is the 3 yard touchdown run by Aaron Wimberly that was set up by Lazard's big play.

I believe that I have been to 31 Iowa State football games so far.  In those games, Iowa State has won 18 and lost 13.  I would say that my top 5 most disappointing ISU football losses that I have attended are:
1) Today's 34-14 loss vs. NDSU.  Losing by 20 to an FCS team is unacceptable for ISU. 
2) Last year's home opening loss to UNI, 28-20. 
3) 2009 loss to Iowa, 35-3.  It always stinks to lose to the Hawkeyes, but this was a blowout and an embarrassment. 
4) 2011 loss to Texas, 37-14.  This one was 34-0 at halftime and never even close.
5) 2002 loss to Connecticut, 37-20.  Iowa State was actually good that year (we had Seneca Wallace), but they found a way to lose to underdog UConn by 17 points. 
Honorable mention disappointing losses: Houston Bowl loss vs TCU in 2005 (27-24), Liberty Bowl loss to Tulsa in 2012 (31-17).  It's always disappointing when you make along car trip to a bowl game just to see the team lose.

What are my 5 favorite wins for ISU football that I have attended?
1) 2005 win vs. Iowa, 23-3.  The Hawkeyes were rated #8 in the country.
2) 2007 win vs. Iowa, 15-13.  I always enjoy a win against the rival Hawks. 
3) 2002 win vs. Nebraska,  36-14.  It was the first ISU/Nebraska game that I went to, and it was a fun victory.
4) 2004 win vs. Nebraska, 34-27.  I'm happy to say that Iowa State is 2-0 against Nebraska when I have been there.
5) 2002 win vs. Texas Tech, 31-17.  This was Seneca Wallace's "The Run" game.