Tornado Game - 10 Years Ago.

[dualthreat]

We were in the tailgate lots and headed up to the stadium. I think we were sent into the Olson building. A year or so after that I went to an Iowa State football camp and they sheltered us in the Olson building during a Tornado warning so I might have my memories confused.

Who could forget Gary Barnett's post game comments, right?

 

[MNCYWX]

Is there a map of where the tornado went?

And several other tornado recaps here... http://www.weather.gov/media/dmx/SigEvents/2005-11-12_Woodward_Stratford_Tornadoes.pdf

 

[VeloClone]

If I remember right, our kicker had hit like a 40 yarder right before Crosby's. Everyone was going crazy because that was a long FG for an ISU kicker. Then Crosby cranks a 57 yarder. "Oh, that's what a good kicker looks like"

The kickers just kept upping the ante in that game. Shaggy hit a 23 yarder and then a 30 yarder so Crosby upped it by hitting a 31 yarder and then a 42 yarder. Shaggy responded with a 45 yarder. Crosby then hit a 57 yarder and dropped the mic.

 

[CarlHungus]

I wasn't at the game because I went to visit my grandmother who was in the hospital in Iowa City. When we got back, I went to my parents house which is north of Ames a few miles between Ames and Gilbert. I went to get a drink, and looked out the kitchen window to see a fast moving funnel cloud about a half mile away. I only got to see it for about a second because it disappeared behind some tall trees, but I'll never forget that

 

[CyCrazy]

Never left the student lot, it was blast. Then Autyba Rubin, rumbling for a touchdown.

 

[CyCrazy]

Well, this means my ten year graduation anniversary is next month. God I'm old.

Ditto

 

[flynnhicks03]

Never left the student lot, it was blast. Then Autyba Rubin, rumbling for a touchdown.

It was "Big Play" Curvey, not Rubin.

 

[NorthCyd]

We were in the grass lots to the south. Kept hanging out and drinking. Honestly never realized just how serious it was or close the tornado came until later when we got in the stadium and realized the game was delayed and they had moved everyone to Hilton. I remember thinking "aww, we don't get tornadoes this late in the year. We'll be fine!". Still one of the coolest atmospheres for a game. That put a real charge in the crowd.

 

[cstrunk]

We were just walking into the stadium when it started to really get interesting. I remember looking west of the stadium and the funnel was taking shape. Like any weather nerd does I stood there and watched it the whole time. There was also a guy on top of the press box watching it and I just thought "I want his view". We were a couple of rows from the top of the west stands and people were losing their hats during the game when they stood up.

I had a similar experience. I had been paying attention to the weather that afternoon and knew about the tornado watch and storms heading our way. I knew when it looked like the storm (rain) was going to miss us to the west and the sirens were going off that it was going to be a close call if there was anything. I ran to the south end of the stadium and saw the funnel to the west, then caught a couple more views as it headed north.

Awesome experience coupled with the win over a ranked team that night.

 

[NickTheGreat]

We were in the student lots. I didn't want to walk to Hilton, but my GF (now wife) really wanted to.

I spent the 25 mile walk trying to convince her that the storm wasn't a big deal and we'd be fine. Got to Hilton, and got told we could go back. :twitcy:

 

[chuckd4735]

Two pictures I found quick on my Facebook. One showing the Sheriff's Department going through the lot telling everyone to "go to Hilton" (on the loudspeaker) and the other showing the sky, which was incredibly cool (not sure who the guy is in that picture looking at the sky, but if its you, LOL).

 

[ISUAlum2002]

Brent Curvey works in my building. I was standing next to him in line at the cafeteria this morning and thought about mentioning this game to him. But I didn't, for fear he would think I'm a weirdo or that it would turn into a Chris Farley and Paul McCartney type of moment.

 

[Cycsk]

And several other tornado recaps here... http://www.weather.gov/media/dmx/SigEvents/2005-11-12_Woodward_Stratford_Tornadoes.pdf

We had a ton of guests for dinner prior to watching the game at our house in West Ames. The power went out, so we served by candlelight. Didn't really understand what was going on until the next morning when we were asked to help a family move their remaining belongings from a house on North Dakota (north of town) that got destroyed by the tornado.

 

[Cycsk]

I was in the band at the time. We got all the way to the north side of the stadium and were told to turn and go back to Hilton. No one knew why, we were told to break formation and go back as quickly as possible.

I remember doing pep band songs to keep everyone entertained. That was a good time.

If I remember right, our kicker had hit like a 40 yarder right before Crosby's. Everyone was going crazy because that was a long FG for an ISU kicker. Then Crosby cranks a 57 yarder. "Oh, that's what a good kicker looks like"

I've heard several people say that hearing the whole marching band play inside Hilton was incredibly cool!

 

[CtownCyclone]

Man this makes me feel old.

I was a student at the time in the student lots. Cops kept coming by with their lights flashing telling everyone to go to Hilton, I remember most people just tailgating harder while it happened. I know I have a bunch of pictures with friends with the police cars driving through.

This is my recollection as well. Lights started going off, so I keyed up the truck and turned on the radio to find out what was going on. Grabbed another beer and tried to find some high ground to see if I could actually see it. Kind of disappointed that I wasn't able to.

If memory serves, that was the second tornado of the football season - a weak one touched down the week of the Iowa game.

EDIT: Found a link to a story about the campus tornado. http://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/article_005a7e50-88ad-11e0-a628-001cc4c03286.html

 

[VTXCyRyD]

[video=youtube;kt5ysZs_Nwo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt5ysZs_Nwo[/video]

First and only tornado I have ever seen with my own eyes. I was walking to the game with my dad from Freddy Court, about the area where the horse pens used to be. Looked west and saw it passing by.

I still remember how cold it turned as the game went on... and how windy it was sitting in the upper deck. Also can't forget Curvey rumbling in the endzone with that pick.

Crazy to think what could have been with TENS of THOUSANDS of people in a wide open area tailgating or going into the game. 3 miles away from what would have been a major disaster.

Were you there? What was your experience?

I was moving back to central Iowa. I happened to be right on I35 just outside of Ames as the warnings went off wondering if the truck and trailer would be blown off the road. Good times

 

[chuckd4735]

Video taken from Highway 69 looking southwest towards Gilbert. The last video shows power flashes as it crossed 170th St (Gilbet blacktop) This tornado just missed hitting the City of Gilbert by a couple hundred feet. It went right over top what is now the new Gilbert High School (was just famground in 2005).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYDDdoTD1Qg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFcX9cymT28

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqhP8dtv06k

 

[oldman]

We were tailgating. I was standing under my buddy's van's back hatch, with a tall-boy.

 

[cdnlngld]

Happen to have a friend(hawk friend) who's mom got a couple of tickets through work, invite me to go to this game. I remember standing at the top of the NW stadium hill watching it blow through the NW side of town. I remember hearing how they wanted everyone to go to Hilton for shelter, and saying **** it, by the time the storm gets here we'll be in the middle of the tailgating lots, so we decided to stay. First and only time I have ever seen a tornado.... and then that game.... it was a good one!

My current home is only a few blocks from the tornadoes path.

 

[BCClone]

Drove down 69 and couldn't figure out why everyone was outside their houses. Also heard a siren, being from a small town I told the wife, I don't remember a supper siren (happened in small towns last century). Got to Hilton to park and was informed what had happened by parking attendant. He told us that Hilton was basically full so stay in our vehicle. I parked and wife asked why I was getting out, I said if he thinks I'm dumb enough to stay in my vehicle when people aren't pushing on hiltons doors he's an idiot.

Walked in and walked out, been around enough that I have unfortunately became a little immune to them. So we walked to a tent and ate.

Best part was sitting in upper deck and having an extremely bombed dude look at everyone while we were talking about it ask," what happened? I didn't know there was a tornado, how close? I was wondering why people were walking the wrong way, I just kept tailgating". All this while his buddies propped him up so he wouldn't fall down the bleachers. Glad ad he was below me because he was getting close to yakking on someone.

Then i saw someone from the same town coming up the steps and he said he saw the tornado while on 69 by Gilbert. I asked what he did, he said, drove faster.