Iowa State faithful gather 'round
By Steven Allspach, Journal sports writer | Posted: Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Jamie Pollard was rallying the Iowa State faithful. And, literally, kids from six to 60 were no less pumped than any Cyclone team that might be celebrating a Big 12 championship. Championships that have been few and far between, incidentally, since ISU and its former Big Eight brethren joined with the biggies of the Southwest Conference to form the Big 12. Pollard, Iowa State's peripatetic athletic director, a mover and shaker to the nth degree, was in Sioux City Monday to drum up enthusiasm for Cyclone athletes.
He succeeded famously.
In the parking lot of the Long Long Lines Recreation Center, amid several games set up for kids and the big tent that housed less active adults, Pollard was busy shaking hands, patting Cyclone boosters and graduates on the back and making sure the coaches and administrators who work with him were getting their just do.
Inside the tent, on a big stage, Pollard gathered dozens of kids around and led them in some cheers and chants their Cardinal and Gold clad parents appreciated immensely.
Pollard urged the kids to chant "Once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone'' and "It's a Cyclone State.''
The kids brought the tent down in loud unison.
The occasion was the fourth of seven stops on the new Cyclone Tailgate Tour, a summer concept designed to be more friendly to fans.
"This is our third stop and the turnout is great, once again,'' said Pollard, an uncontroversial guy who has raised a tad bit of controversy, to some, by making three major coaching changes in the short time he's been athletic director.
The three coaches were at the tailgate Monday -- Greg McDermott (men's basketball coach), Gene Chizik (football coach) and Cael Sanderson (wrestling coach). The Cyclone women's gymnastics coach, Jay Ronayne, was also on the tour, as was the most popular guy in the lot -- ISU masot Cy the Cyclone.
Cy was the hit of show primarily because of his status as "Most Dominant College Mascot on Earth.''
Cy won that honor recently after voting conducted by CBS Sportline's interactive Internet poll.
Pollard's mission is to bring Iowa State ahletics kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
"I believe Jamie Pollard is making all the right moves and all the right decisions for Iowa State to make a more signficant impact on Big 12 athletics,'' said Chizik, who replaced the popular Dan McCarney as football coach not long after the conclusion of the 2006 season. "We're all excited and looking forward to the football season.
"Spring practice was very positive. We put the guys through a pretty tough spring, but the only way we'll know how to play the game is hard-nosed and with discipline.''
Chizik spent two seasons as a Texas assistant before taking the Iowa State post.
The Cyclones were 4-8 last season.
Meanwhile, McDermott's first Cyclone basketball team last season was 15-16 and the former Wayne State College and University of Northern Iowa coach will have a roster that includes eight freshmen and sophomores in 2007-08.
"The good thing about the first year is that it is over and we're looking forward to the second year,'' said the personable McDermott. "We'll be young, very young, but competitive.
"Three or four of our freshmen are going to have to play.''
That group includes the latest recruit, 6-9, 245-pound Clayton Vette of Waverly-Shell Rock, the 2007 Mr. Iowa Basketball.
Also in the group is 6-10, 220-pound Craig Brackins of Palmdale, Calif.
While Chizik and McDermott will be putting together some building blocks, Sanderson has a lot of them already in place.
In his first season at the helm he guided the Cyclones to a runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament.
"No, we weren't satisfied with second,'' said Sanderson, an undefeated four-time NCAA champ at Iowa State. "You're never satisfied until you win a championship. That's always the goal.''
He succeeded famously.
In the parking lot of the Long Long Lines Recreation Center, amid several games set up for kids and the big tent that housed less active adults, Pollard was busy shaking hands, patting Cyclone boosters and graduates on the back and making sure the coaches and administrators who work with him were getting their just do.
Inside the tent, on a big stage, Pollard gathered dozens of kids around and led them in some cheers and chants their Cardinal and Gold clad parents appreciated immensely.
Pollard urged the kids to chant "Once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone'' and "It's a Cyclone State.''
The kids brought the tent down in loud unison.
The occasion was the fourth of seven stops on the new Cyclone Tailgate Tour, a summer concept designed to be more friendly to fans.
"This is our third stop and the turnout is great, once again,'' said Pollard, an uncontroversial guy who has raised a tad bit of controversy, to some, by making three major coaching changes in the short time he's been athletic director.
The three coaches were at the tailgate Monday -- Greg McDermott (men's basketball coach), Gene Chizik (football coach) and Cael Sanderson (wrestling coach). The Cyclone women's gymnastics coach, Jay Ronayne, was also on the tour, as was the most popular guy in the lot -- ISU masot Cy the Cyclone.
Cy was the hit of show primarily because of his status as "Most Dominant College Mascot on Earth.''
Cy won that honor recently after voting conducted by CBS Sportline's interactive Internet poll.
Pollard's mission is to bring Iowa State ahletics kicking and screaming into the 21st century.
"I believe Jamie Pollard is making all the right moves and all the right decisions for Iowa State to make a more signficant impact on Big 12 athletics,'' said Chizik, who replaced the popular Dan McCarney as football coach not long after the conclusion of the 2006 season. "We're all excited and looking forward to the football season.
"Spring practice was very positive. We put the guys through a pretty tough spring, but the only way we'll know how to play the game is hard-nosed and with discipline.''
Chizik spent two seasons as a Texas assistant before taking the Iowa State post.
The Cyclones were 4-8 last season.
Meanwhile, McDermott's first Cyclone basketball team last season was 15-16 and the former Wayne State College and University of Northern Iowa coach will have a roster that includes eight freshmen and sophomores in 2007-08.
"The good thing about the first year is that it is over and we're looking forward to the second year,'' said the personable McDermott. "We'll be young, very young, but competitive.
"Three or four of our freshmen are going to have to play.''
That group includes the latest recruit, 6-9, 245-pound Clayton Vette of Waverly-Shell Rock, the 2007 Mr. Iowa Basketball.
Also in the group is 6-10, 220-pound Craig Brackins of Palmdale, Calif.
While Chizik and McDermott will be putting together some building blocks, Sanderson has a lot of them already in place.
In his first season at the helm he guided the Cyclones to a runner-up finish in the NCAA tournament.
"No, we weren't satisfied with second,'' said Sanderson, an undefeated four-time NCAA champ at Iowa State. "You're never satisfied until you win a championship. That's always the goal.''
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
