150 MOMENTS that defined Cyclone Athletics

[jaretac]

It is a good read for new Cyclone fans who would like more of a background in Cyclone Athletics, or for old fan who just want to reminisce. I'm sure that someone probably posted last year, but this is the first time I've seen it.

“No school tomorrow” is the pleading chant of more than 300 students who converge on the lawn of Iowa State president James H. Hilton on Jan. 14, 1957. Earlier that day, Roland Rocket Gary Thompson outscored Kansas’ Wilt Chamberlain 20-19 and Don Medsker scored a last-second basket to lift the Cyclones past No. 1 Kansas. To this day it remains ISU’s only men’s hoops win over a No. 1-ranked team. The win vaulted Iowa State to its highest-ever national ranking – No. 3 in the polls.
Cyclone sports herstory: Winifred Tilden becomes direct-ress of physical culture in 1904. She would go on to develop competitive sports for women at Iowa State during her 40-year career, growing a program with fewer than 100 participants into one thousands strong. In 1939 Tilden successfully lobbied the Iowa legislature for the construction of a campus gymnasium for women.
Beat Iowa: Iowa State wins the first-ever Iowa State vs. Iowa football game, 16-8, in 1894. .....

VISIONS Spring 07 | ISU Sesquicentennial Coverage

[cybsball20]

My fave

Home run: The ISU baseball team, playing with the knowledge that the program would not be returning in 2002, picks off a string of nationally-ranked Big 12 foes – including taking two of three from No. 1 Nebraska – to qualify for postseason play for the first time since 1996.

[jaretac]

I thought this one was funny:

How pro can you go? The University of Iowa proposes a rule that would prohibit professionalism in the Iowa Intercollegiate Baseball Association, an annual baseball competition dominated by Iowa Agricultural College (Iowa State), which won the first three “Silver Bat” trophies in the series. The University of Iowa and Cornell College objected that Cyclone pitcher Charles “Yank” Brown was “too big” for the conference.

[dinger]

My fave

i agree. i like bringing this up when huskers start talking baseball. this usually follows a cyclone victory on the football field. "yeah well how did your baseball team do last year? oh wait." <insert 2 out of 3 statement here>

[keepngoal]

Interesting one:

“Poor reasons for existence:” In 1916, the U.S. commissioner of education calls for a survey of the athletic competition between Iowa State and the University of Iowa, resulting in a report being presented to the State Board of Education calling the rivalry “the occasion for the revival of feuds, charges and counter-charges, the reassertion of differences and criticisms, which, at best, have had only poor reasons for existence.” In 1920, the football series is suspended for what would be 13 years.

[jaretac]

Why have I never heard of this?

Tragedy: The Iowa State women’s cross country team is returning from a second-place triumph at the NCAA meet on Nov. 25, 1985 when one of the team’s planes crashes into a Des Moines neighborhood, killing all on board, including head coach Ron Renko and three student-athletes. Ten days later, an emotional memorial service at Hilton Coliseum opens with the song “Ain’t Nothing Gonna Break My Stride,” the tune Renko had adopted as the team’s anthem.

[theshadow]

That was the reason for the black armbands on the MBB team in the 85-86 season (beating Miami and Michigan in the Dome).

[djkent01]

I didn't know this...

A safe bet: In one of Sam Willaman’s final games as Iowa State football coach, the Cyclones intentionally take three safeties to avoid having to kick off to rival Drake and therefore preserve victory – 7-6 after leading 7-0. The following winter, Iowa State’s brilliant strategic move results in the NCAA changing its safety rule to stipulate that the team surrender-ing a safety must kick off to the opponent following the score.

[dinger]

The Cy-Hawk Trophy comes home: The ISU football team ends 15 years of futility with a 27-9 win over instate rival Iowa in 1998, inspired by injured center Marc Cortez’s emotional letter to his teammates. The team wouldn’t lose to the Hawkeyes again for five years.

can someone elaborate on this? the injury and/or what the letter said. where it was sent from. (im guessing maybe the hospital?)

[jaretac]

That was the reason for the black armbands on the MBB team in the 85-86 season (beating Miami and Michigan in the Dome).

I'm sorry, but I was like 2 years old at that time- don't really remember that. My question is, why is there not a memorial somewhere- and if there is, where is it. I'm senior and have been almost everywhere on campus either while working for the university or as a student and I've never seen nor heard anything about this.

[theshadow]

I believe there is still a memorial either out at Veenker (where they used to run), or somewhere on campus.

Tezzy's letter is reprinted in the media guide.