Wednesday, December 4th, 2024

 Tonight Nolan and I enjoyed watching the #6 Iowa State Cyclones win a showdown against #5 Marquette, 81-70.  Tonight marks the TENTH time that I have witnessed the Cyclones defeat a top-10 ranked opponent.  The previous games were:

• #7 Kansas in 2024
• #7 Texas in 2023
• #8 Kansas in 2023
• #5 Kansas in 2019
• #8 Texas Tech in 2018
• #9 Baylor in 2017
• #1 Oklahoma in 2016
• #9 Kansas in 2015
• #7 Michigan in 2013

As for Nolan, today's game is the 38th men's basketball game that he has attended.  This was the third time that he has seen ISU play a top-25 ranked team.  The previous times were the win against #8 Kansas in 2023 and a loss to #1 Baylor in 2022.  Nolan did a good job of paying attention during the game, and he wanted to do a cute little handshake with me every time Iowa State made a basket.  We even made it onto the jumbotron in Hilton thanks to Nolan, as he was able to scan the QR code and take a video of us on his phone!

Today's game was great.  There was a sold-out crowd that packed into Hilton, and it was a "white out", where everyone was encouraged to wear white.  Iowa State started out strong in the first half and led 46-37 at halftime.  Marquette did battle back to tie the game at 61 before the Cyclones went on a 14-0 run that took control of the game in the second half.  The player of the game for Iowa State was Keshon Gilbert, who scored 24 points and dished out 7 assists.  He was joined in double figures scoring by Joshua Jefferson (15), Curtis Jones (14), and Dishon Jackson (11).  This win should come in handy for ISU's resume on Selection Sunday.  

GO STATE!

Saturday, November 16th, 2024

 Today Nolan and I had a fun day filled with tailgating and the ISU football game, where we witnessed the Cyclones defeat the Cincinnati Bearcats, 34-17.

Although the final score was a bit lopsided, Iowa State only had a 3 point lead with about 4 minutes to play, when Rocco Becht collected a high snap and turned a broken play into a 15-yard touchdown run to give the Cyclones a 10 point advantage.  My favorite play of the game came in the 3rd quarter, when Stevo Klotz picked up a 1st down on a fake punt.  It was 4th down and 9 to go, and Klotz took a direct snap and rumbled 22 yards.  With the win, Iowa State improves to 8-2 on the season.

Today's game was Nolan's 12th football game, and it was the 4th time that he has seen ISU defeat a conference opponent.  The previous Big 12 victories that he has seen were UCF this year, at Kansas State in 2021, and Texas Tech in 2020.  Today's game was a night game, as kickoff was at 7:00.  By the time game was over and we were back home, it was almost 11:00... so it was a late night for us!  

GO CYCLONES!

Monday, November 11th, 2024

 Tonight I was able to take Nolan to the Iowa State men's basketball game, where the #7 Cyclones defeated the UMKC Kangaroos, 82-56. UMKC is a public university that had 15,327 students (as of 2023), and the Roos are members of the Summit League. 

Today's game was actually the fourth time that Nolan has seem Iowa State play UMKC.  The previous times were in 2019, 2014, and way back in 2013 (which was Nolan's first ever basketball game).  Overall, this was the 37th time that Nolan has been to a men's basketball game.  One fun part about today's game was that Nolan got his picture taken with Cy!

As for the game, Curtis Jones was the player of the game for the Cyclones.  He led the team with 20 points to go along with 5 assists and 5 rebounds.  The other double-digit scorers for Iowa State were Milan Momcilovic (16) and Dishon Jackson (13).  

CY!

Iowa State 82, UMKC 56.

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!