The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in American football.
Overview Early history (1892–1967)
Football was first played on the Iowa State campus in 1878 as a recreational sport, but it wasn't until 1892 that an organized team first represented Iowa State in football. In 1894, college president William M. Beardshear spearheaded the foundation of an athletic association to officially sanction Iowa State football teams. The 1894 team finished with a 6–1 mark, including a 16–8 victory over what is now the University of Iowa. One of the pioneers of football, Pop Warner, spent time at Iowa State early in his career. In 1895, despite already being the coach at Georgia he was offered $25 per week to come to Iowa State, whose season started in mid-August while Georgia's started a month later, as well as provide weekly advice during the rest of the season. Soon after Warner left for Georgia, Iowa State had its first game of the season. Iowa State came into Evanston as the underdog, but defeated Northwestern 36–0. A Chicago sportswriter called the team "cornfed giants from Iowa" while the Chicago Tribune'''s headline read, "Struck by a Cyclone". Since then, Iowa State teams have been known as the Cyclones. Overall, the team had three wins and three losses and, like Georgia, Iowa State retained Warner for the next season. In 1896 the team had eight wins and two losses. Despite leaving Cornell in 1898, Warner remained as the head coach of Iowa State for another year. During his last three years at Iowa State the team had a winning season but Warner was unable to match his 1896 triumph. After playing at Iowa and then serving as an assistant coach for two years, Clyde Williams came to Ames as an assistant coach for ISU. Williams served as the Cyclones' head football coach for six seasons from 1907 to 1912. During that time, he had a coaching record of 32–15–2. This ranks him fifth at Iowa State in total wins and fourth at Iowa State in winning percentage.Iowa State Coaching Records In addition, he led Iowa State to two Missouri Valley Conference football titles in 1911 and 1912, which are currently the only two conference football championships in school history.CFB Data Warehouse . In addition to his football contributions, Williams was the school's first men's basketball coach from 1908 to 1911, where he compiled a 20–29 record. He also served as Iowa State's baseball coach, and was their athletic director from 1914 to 1919. In 1914, Iowa State completed construction of their new football field and it was named Clyde Williams Field in honor of the former coach. Williams was inducted into the State of Iowa Hall of Fame in 1956. He is also one of the few people inducted into both the University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame (inducted 1993) and the Iowa State athletics Hall of Fame (inducted 1997).Williams' Iowa State Hall of Fame bio .
The early success of Iowa State football was not repeated for most of the mid-20th century. In 1922 after having two different head coaches in two years, ISU hired up-and-comer Sam Willaman away from East Technical HS in Cleveland, OH. When Willaman came to Iowa state, he brought with him six of his former East Tech players, including an African-American, Jack Trice. Trice was the first African-American player at Iowa State, and one of the first to play football in the mid-west. Trice suffered a severe malicious injury during a game at Minnesota in 1923, and died from complications. In 1997, Iowa State's Cyclone Stadium was renamed Jack Trice Stadium in his honor. In his first season, Willaman's team finished with a 2–6 record, but posted a winning record in each of the three years that followed. His career coaching record at Iowa state was 14–15–3. This ranks him 16th in total wins and 13th in winning percentage in Iowa State football history.
In February 1931, George F. Veenker accepted an offer to become the head football coach for Iowa State. Under Veenker Iowa State experienced a brief period of success. When Veenker joined Iowa State, the school's football team was coming off a winless season in 1930 and had lost 16 consecutive games dating back to October 1929. In his first year, the 1931 team defeated Missouri 20–0, Oklahoma 13–12, and Kansas State 7–6, compiled a 5–3 record and finished in second place in the Big Six. In November 1931, the Ames Daily Tribune-Times'' called Veenker "a veritable miracle man of football" for taking a school where "Cyclone football morale couldn't have been lower" and turning the program around in his first season. The highlight of Veenker's career as Iowa State's football coach was a 31–6 victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in 1934. The game was the last meeting between the two schools until 1977. Veenker resigned in 1936, his overall record was 21–22–8. Shortly after his death in 1959 the university owned golf course was renamed Veenker Memorial Golf Course in his honor. During the 1938 season, James J. Yeager was in his second year as head coach. Despite going 3–6 in 1937, the Cyclones would go onto a then-best record of 7–1–1. The team was led by the outstanding senior guard, Ed Bock. At the conclusion of the season Bock became the first consensus first team All-American in ISU history. Bock was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1970. In 1942 Iowa State hired former Green Bay Packers All-Pro guard and three time NFL champion Mike Michalske to be the new head coach. Michalske achieved a moderate level of success while at Iowa State, finishing with an 18–18 record after five seasons.
Johnny Majors era (1968–1972) In 1968 in an attempt to turn the team around, Iowa State hired former standout Tennessee running back and up-and-comer Arkansas assistant as the 24th head coach in program history. The Cyclones finished 3–7 in his first two seasons, but in 1970 the team tied for 6th in the Big Eight and had a final record of 5–6.
1971 Sun Bowl
The 1971 team was picked to finish last in the Big Eight, but overcame the odds to finish 4–3 in the conference and 8–4 overall. The team was led by junior running back George Amundson, whom Majors called "the finest athlete I have coached in any job I have had." Iowa State had one defensive all-conference pick, LB Keith Schroeder. Offensively they were led by Amundson who rushed for 1,260 yards as a running back, including a then school record of 15 touchdowns. End Keith Krepfle had 40 receptions for 570 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Dean Carlson threw for a then school record of 1,867 yards. These efforts were enough to receive a bid to the 1971 Sun Bowl, this was the first bowl game in program history. Iowa State was slated to play against LSU on December 18, 1971.
LSU opened the game with two early Jay Michaelson field goals, but Iowa State responded with a field goal of their own to make it 6–3. The Tigers had the ball at the ISU 4 late in the half, but they turned it over on downs just before half soon ended. In the second half, LSU broke the game open. Bert Jones threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter, one to Andy Hamilton from 37 yards out, and one to Gerald Keigley from 21 yards out to make it 19–3. Iowa State responded late in the quarter with a Dean Carlson 30-yard touchdown pass to Larry Marquardt to make it 19–9. In the fourth, Carlson threw a 1-yard pass to Keith Krepfle to make it 19–15 early in the fourth. Jones responded with his third touchdown pass, this time to Michaelson, to make it 26–15. Jay Michaelson. With 3:00 remaining, Jones ran for a touchdown to make it 33–15. Iowa State wasn't able to mount a comeback and the Tigers won the game. Matt Blair was named the defensive MVP for the game.
1972 Liberty Bowl
1972 saw the loss of five starters and the move of George Amundson from running back to quarterback to replace Dean Carlson. The Clones lost linebacker Matt Blair to a pre season injury which forced him into a medical redshirt. The Cyclones tied Nebraska 23–23 on a missed extra point by Iowa State's Tom Goedjen. Three players went on to be named to the first team All-Big Eight team as well be honored as All-Americans, offensive lineman Geary Murdoch, defensive end Merv Krakau and quarterback George Amundson. George Amundson was named Big Eight player of the year over Heisman Trophy winner, Johnny Rodgers. It was in this year that Iowa State became known as D-Tackle U, similar to Penn State's moniker "Linebacker U". Iowa State's 5–6–1 record was enough to earn them an invitation to the 1972 Liberty Bowl against Georgia Tech.
Iowa State led 14–3 after the first quarter and a Willie Jones Liberty Bowl record, 93-yard kickoff return gave the Cyclones a 21–17 halftime edge. Georgia Tech regained the lead, but the Cyclones took advantage of a Tech turnover late in the game. Amundson hit Ike Harris on a 5-yard TD pass with 1:36 left to cut the Tech lead to 31–30, but Amundson's two-point conversion pass fell incomplete to end the Cyclones’ chances for victory.
At the conclusion of the 1972 season Majors announced he would be leaving Iowa State to take the head coaching job at Pittsburgh.
All-Americans under Johnny Majors
All-Americans Player Position Year George Amundson QB 1972 Merv Krakau DE 1972 Geary Murdock OL 1972Reference:
Record under Johnny Majors
Record Year 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 Record 3–7 3–7 5–6 8–4 5–6–1Reference:
Earle Bruce era (1973–1978)
In order to continue the success experienced under Johnny Majors Iowa State hired Earle Bruce out of Tampa. With new found excitement around ISU football, the university broke ground on a new $7.6 million stadium that would eventually become Jack Trice Stadium. Despite future Minnesota Vikings star linebacker Matt Blair being a first team All-American, the Cyclones struggled to a 4–7 finish in Bruce's inaugural 1973 season. Over the next two seasons the cyclones experienced moderate success but both seasons ended again with 4–7 records. However, Earle Bruce's fourth team blossomed as one of the best teams in school history. En route to their 8–3 final record the Cyclones scored wins against #7 Missouri and #9 Nebraska. Iowa State was ultimately snubbed by the bowls but finished the 1976 season ranked #19 in the AP Poll. Bruce was selected as Big Eight coach of the year.
1977 Peach Bowl
Iowa State followed up their strong 1976 campaign with another eight win season. The Cyclones beat #9 Nebraska for the second time in a row and were ranked as high at 16th in the AP Poll at one point during the season. Their 5–2 conference record and 8–4 overall record were good enough for a bid to the 1977 Peach Bowl against North Carolina State.
The Wolfpack opened the game with drive all the way to the ISU one yard line, however Iowa State was able to prevent the touchdown and recover an NC State fumble. The stout ISU defense was not able to hold up and NC State scored three first half touchdowns. Iowa State mounted a fourth quarter come back scoring back to back touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to outscore the Wolfpack. Iowa State lost 14–24.
1978 Hall of Fame Classic
The Cyclones returned 14 starters from the 1977 Peach Bowl team including Heisman Trophy candidate, Dexter Green and Outland Trophy hopeful, Mike Stensrud. Iowa State's post season hopes came down to their last game against Colorado which was nationally televised. The game was close throughout, with ISU clinging to a 17–10 halftime lead. The second half was a defensive battle, but the ISU defense came up with big plays down the stretch. Mike Stensrud had 16 stops and caused a fumble to help ISU preserve a 20–16 win over the Buffs. The win earned ISU a bid to the 1978 Hall of Fame Classic against Texas A&M.
Iowa State opened the game with two touchdowns but was unable to convert for extra points on either attempt. The Cyclones were not able to contain future first round NFL draft pick Curtis Dickey who rushed for 278 yards and a touchdown. Iowa State lost 28–12.