Monday, November 4th, 2024

Tonight Maxwell and I went over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the season opening game for Iowa State, as the #5 ranked Cyclones defeated the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, 83-44.

As with most season opening games, there are a number of new faces to get used to on the team.  A pair of transfers started the game for Iowa State, including Joshua Jefferson (transfer from Saint Mary's) and Dishon Jackson (transfer from Charlotte).  I thought they both looked good in their first action as Cyclones.  I would say that Tamin Lipsey was the player of the game for Iowa State, as he had 16 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals.  Lipsey was joined in double figures scoring by Keshon Gilbert (17), Joshua Jefferson (10), and Milan Momcilovic (10).  

Tonight marks the 32nd time that Maxwell has attended an Iowa State men's basketball game.  Recently I had looked back on previous blog posts and discovered that I had actually been off on my count of Maxwell's basketball games, so after double checking this is number 32 for him.  I gave him the choice today of getting a clone cone, a soda, candy, or popcorn to enjoy at the game... and he went with popcorn.

As for myself, this is the 5th time that I have watched the Cyclones take on the Delta Devils.  Previous games were: 2019, 2016, 2014, and 2011.  Another thing that I would like to note is that they updated the jumbotron and ribbon boards inside of Hilton.  It all looks very nice, but they did take out the old corner scoreboards that I liked to take pictures beside at the end of games.  I settled for a different scoreboard picture today...

Our selfie at our seats in section 216 before the game.  

Cyclones 83, Delta Devils 44.  

Saturday, November 2nd, 2024

Well, it's homecoming for the Iowa State Cyclones, but unfortunately it was not a "happy homecoming" this year, as Iowa State lost a close one to Texas Tech, 23-22.  

Like usual, I pushed Lavonne around in her wheelchair for the homecoming football game.  We got out the the Bergstrom practice facility around 8:45 this morning, and we spent a good amount of time practicing the songs and formations for the halftime show with the Alumni Band and Varsity Band.  Between the two bands, there was over 700 people on the field for halftime.

After the band practice and some photos, I pushed LaVonne over to the Scheman building where the Alumni Band had lunch and their annual meeting.  After that the band gathered outside of the building and marched into the stadium.  I believe that this was the 10th year that I have helped LaVonne for the homecoming halftime show.  The other years were: 2023 vs Kansas, 2022 vs West Virginia, 2021 vs Oklahoma State, 2019 vs Oklahoma State, 2018 vs Texas Tech, 2017 vs TCU, 2016 vs Kansas State, 2015 vs Texas, and 2014 vs Toledo.  

Today's game came right down to the wire.  Iowa State actually took the lead with 2:11 left in the 4th quarter, when Rocco Becht found Carson Brown for a 44-yard touchdown pass.  However, the Iowa State defense could not hold onto the lead, as Tahj Brooks scored for the Red Raiders on a 5-yard touchdown run with only 20 seconds left on the clock.  Today's game is the 5th time that I have seen Iowa State play Texas Tech in football.  The previous games were Cyclone wins in 2020, 2018, and 2002.  Texas Tech also won back in 2012.  

I am also anxiously awaiting the 2024 presidential election that will take place in just a few days.  I sure hope that we can finally put an end to this Donald Trump nonsense that has plagued the country since he was first elected in 2016.  

Saturday, October 19th, 2024

 Oh wow.  I am feeling a mixture of excitement and exhaustion right now after a long day of tailgating and a stressful football game.  The #9 Iowa State Cyclones came from 14 points down in the second half to defeat the UCF Knights, 38-35.  

It really did not seem to be Iowa State's day, but somehow the team found a way to win.  Iowa State gave up over 350 rushing yards, and Rocco Becht threw two interceptions which each resulted in a touchdown for UCF.  Still, the Cyclones kept fighting and were able to finally go ahead on a Rocco Becht 1 yard TD run with only 30 seconds left to play.  It was SO STRESSFUL.  With the win, ISU improves to 7-0, which is tied for their best start to a season ever!  

I took Nolan with me to the game, and this was his 11th ISU football game.  He has now seen the Cyclones defeat 3 conference foes, including UCF today, Kansas State in 2021, and Texas Tech in 2020.

Of course this was also my first football game against UCF, as they are in only their second season in the Big 12.  

During the halftime show today there was a fun drone show, which kept displaying different ISU logos.  

Nolan with the drone show in the background

Saturday, October 5th, 2024

 I'm pretty worn out right now, but I'm also pretty excited.  I took Maxwell over to Jack Trice Stadium today, where we watched an exciting win for Iowa State, 43-21 over the Baylor Bears.  

Baylor got out to an early 14-3 lead in the game, thanks to a pair of touchdown passes from Sawyer Robertson.  The Cyclones would bounce back to take a 19-14 halftime lead, after Caden Matson recovered a blocked punt and took it in for the score.  Iowa State pretty much dominated the second half, as Jaylon Jackson had a pair of rushing touchdowns.  With the win, Iowa State improves to 5-0 on the season, and it is their first 5-0 start since 1980!

Today's game was a "white out", where the fans were encouraged to wear white.  It was also a sellout crowd and a night game, so it was a very fun atmosphere.  One fun thing that happened during the game was I caught a shirt from the t-shirt cannon!  We were seated in the 11th row of section Y, so they really had to launch the shirt quite a ways to get it that far into the upper deck!

Today's game was the 9th football game that Maxwell has been to, and it was the second time that he has seen a game vs Baylor (2022 was the other).  This was the fifth time that I have seen Iowa State play Baylor.  That includes wins today, 2018, and in 2012.  Baylor came out on top in 2022 and 2005.  

Maxwell enjoying the game.

Here I have the shirt that I caught!

Saturday, September 21st, 2024

 Today I took Maxwell over to Jack Trice Stadium, where we watched the #20 Iowa State Cyclones absolutely destroy the Arkansas State Red Wolves, 52-7.  

Today was the eighth time that Maxwell has been to an ISU football game, and the 52 points was the highest point total that he has seen for Iowa State.  The previous game that Maxwell attended was last year vs. Kansas.  

Today's game was a blowout from the start.  Carson Hansen and Rocco Becht each ran for a touchdown in the first quarter, and the Cyclones led at halftime by a score of 31-0.  Maxwell and I ended up leaving in the third quarter, after Iowa State had scored again to go up 38-0.  He was getting a little board of the blowout game.  I am happy that the Cyclones were able to finish off the nonconference portion of their schedule a perfect 3-0 this year!

Thursday, September 5th, 2024

 Today after work I took Nolan over to Hilton Coliseum, where we watched the Iowa State volleyball home opening game.  The Cyclones would go on to defeat the Toledo Rockets in straight sets,  25-20, 28-26, and 25-17.  The second set was particularly entertaining, as both teams had chances at a couple of set points.

Nolan really enjoyed himself at the game.  He was on the jumbotron early in the match during a "dance cam", which he was quite proud about.  He got his picture taken with Cy.  I bought him a Clone Cone.  Then he also ended up grabbing one of the little souvenir volleyballs that they throw out to the crowd.  

It had been quite a while since I've taken one of the boys to a volleyball game.  As best as I can remember, the previous time was way back in 2019, when Iowa State defeated TCU.  I can't believe that we haven't been to a volleyball game since before Covid!

Nolan with his Clone Cone before the game.

Nolan posing with Cy... while holding the little volleyball that he got at the game.

Saturday, August 31st, 2024

 After the long wait of the offseason, I can finally say that it is Cyclone football season again!

Today our family all enjoyed a nice tailgate, just north of the Scheman building.  It was a nice but fairly warm day,  so we tried to stay in the shade for most of the tailgate.  

I took Nolan with me to the game, where we watched Iowa State defeat the North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 21-3.  The first two plays of the game were quite exciting.  On Iowa State's first offensive play of the day, Rocco Becht connected with Jaylin Noel on a 54 yard bomb into double coverage.  Then on the next play Becht found Jayden Higgins for a 21 yard TD.  The Iowa State defense did have some troubles getting off of the field on 3rd downs today, and it seems like they have a lot that they need to work on.  Our linebacker Caleb Bacon did get injured early in the game, which did not help.

Today was the 10th football game that I have taken Nolan to.  He seemed to enjoy the game, and he was continuously asking how many yards each team needed to gain for a first down, so it seems like he is understanding the game better.  The previous game that I took Nolan to was last year's UNI game.  

Here Nolan is climbing inside the Jack Trice "Breaking Barriers" sculpture.