BIG 12 11
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
AN
Cyclones ready for matchup with Wildcats
ASSOCIATED PRESS
lowa State's Kennard Banks breaks up a pass intended for Army's Damion Hunter during the second half of the Cyclones' 31-10 victory last Saturday. The Cyclones face the Kansas State Wildcats this Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.
By Chris Cuellar Iowa State Daily
AMES, Iowa — Addressing the media in his weekly press conference Monday, Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads was notably more subdued — in glasses and sporting combed hair — than he was last Saturday evening following the Cyclones' (3-1) victory over Army.
"In the locker room after the game Saturday, everybody was excited, but it's time to go back to work and we did yesterday," quarterback Austen Arnaud said. "We had a great shortened practice yesterday, doing things ... you just saw it in guys' eyes that we're confident and focused."
While the team enjoyed the victory that moved the team to 3-1 on the year, the Cyclone coaching staff and players are getting prepared for Saturday's Big 12 Conference opener against Kansas State (2-2) at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Rhoads echoed those sentiments, calling Sunday's practice the best weekend practice the team has had all year. He remains excited about the prospects of starting the conference season with a divisional foe. The Wildcats bring in a rushing game averaging just under 200 yards per game, and a defense
that hasn't allowed more than 23 points this season.
The game is called a neutral site, with the Cyclones being allowed the classification of home team, but being 100 miles closer to the stadium from Manhattan than from Ames, the players recognize it as a road game and opportunity to experience an NFL stadium.
"They are very excited about it," Rhoads said. "How many kids get an opportunity to play in an NFL stadium? And they are very much looking forward to that and the opportunity that that brings. It's maybe a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
The Cyclones' spread offense hasn't been seen by Kansas State in their four games this season and while the unit feels it is putting some things together, there is still a long way to go. Rhoads said after the Army game the system was still at infantile stages and players understand the challenges in front of them.
"Some of the formations we run they haven't even seen yet, so it'll be kind of how we think they'll play it as opposed to how they will play it." Amaud said.
Saturday's game kicks off at 2 p.m., with plenty of tailgating and travel activities offered to fans at the neutral site.
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
One-loss teams end up on top in recent years
By Luke Atkinson Oklahoma Daily
NORMAN, Okla. — There is a new craze sweeping college football, and as much as it is hated by hardcore fans who live week to week depending how their team performs, it may be here to stay.
The days of undefeated powerhouses teams are beginning to wane, making way for a new age of college football where the one-loss teams reign supreme.
Losing is becoming normal in the race to the championship, which has been throwing off teams, fans and, more importantly, the polls for nearly five years now.
The last team to go undefeated and capture a national title was the 2005 Texas Longhorns team under the direction of Vince Young.
Before that? The 2004 USC Trojans, 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes, 2001 Miami Hurricanes and the 2000 Sooners.
So what's behind this shake-up of power? Parity.
Today, we're seeing a number of great
coaches head programs that never had a chance, taking NFL-caliber players and cultivating them into studs who lead their team to top-25 ranks and ESPN top-10 plays each Sunday.
Don't believe me? Take a look at the current Top 25 and list the teams making names for themselves. Houston, a team that you probably haven't heard of since former Cougar Andre Ware won the Heisman in 1989 (if you paid attention to college football when you were a toddler), is being considered an offensive giant, especially after watching their yardage stack up after games with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State — which we know are programs of top offensive production.
Think about Texas Christian University, a team that has risen up as one of the nation's best defensive programs in recent times.
The Horned Frogs are now ranked No. 11, and could give any Top-10 team problems in the regular season. Before that, they were someone you wanted on your nonconference season because you were sure to emerge the victor.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Oklahoma's Frank Alexander, right, tackles Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinee as he throws a pass during the second half of the Sooners' 49-0 victory two weeks ago. Oklahoma takes on Miami in one of its biggest games.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE OCTOBER 2,2009