The Wiz of Odds

Another Cyclone Celebration

No one thought Iowa State would give Texas much of a tussle. The Cyclones entered Saturday's game at Austin having been outscored, 120-27, in their two previous games.

But the Cyclones did the unthinkable by stunning the Longhorns, 28-21. The victory set off a wild celebration in the locker room that was highlighted by an emotional speech from coach Paul Rhoads.

If this looks familiar, you're right. A year ago Iowa State stunned Nebraska, 9-7 in Lincoln, and Rhoads was at his best while celebrating with his players.

Upon their return Saturday night to Ames, the Cyclones were greeted by about 2,000 fans. "If you saw the look on our players faces when they walked among you here tonight, you would have a full appreciation for how much they appreciate your support," Rhoads said.

Cyclones Hold Off the Red Raiders

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin made his way to Jack Trice Stadium in Ames for Saturday's Big 12 game between Texas Tech and Iowa State. The Cyclones won, 52-38, and set up a showdown against Utah this Saturday.

To view Greg's gallery from the game, click here.

Iowa State Players Battling Floodwaters

Iowa State players who arrived at the Jacobson Athletic Building for a Wednesday morning weight-lifting session instead experienced a different workout. Three nights of heavy rain sent the Squaw Creek over its banks and onto the grounds of the Iowa State Center, which is home to Hilton Coliseum, the Jacobson Building and Jack Trice Stadium. Players were asked to sandbag around facilities and move equipment in an attempt to minimize damage, but floodwaters continued to rise and could surpass record levels of 1993. That flooding resulted in millions of dollars in damages to the Iowa State campus.

Hilton Coliseum, home to the Cyclone basketball and wrestling teams, had eight feet of floodwater on the arena floor (see video after the jump). The Jacobson Building houses most of the athletics department, including the football team, and players were moving as much equipment as possible to the second floor.

Players were also sandbagging entrances to Jack Trice in hopes of keeping the water from spilling onto the field. The Des Moines Register has an aerial shot of the flooding looking north. Hilton is at the top of the photo and the Jacobson Building is on the north side of Jack Trice Stadium. The indoor football practice facility is on the left side of the photo, next to Jack Trice.

Iowa State

Who can forget Iowa State's celebration last season after a 9-7 victory at Nebraska, the Cyclones' first win in Lincoln since 1977. Paul Rhoads made quite the impression in his first season as coach, guiding Iowa State to a 7-6 record that included a 14-13 victory over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl. The Cyclones are in a familiar position entering 2010. Little is expected of the team, but perhaps Rhoads and his players prefer it that way. It makes the highs even better.

As a run up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. In the meantime, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Click the image for an enlarged view. Thanks to Steve!

A Cyclone Celebration

Watch Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads and his team celebrate a 9-7 victory over Nebraska, the Cyclones' first win in Lincoln since 1977.

Updated: Cyclone fans are wasting no time making fun of the Cornhuskers' eight turnovers in Saturday's game. Check the image after the jump.

Fighting a Big War With a Short Stick in the Big 12

There's trouble brewing in the Big 12, which has evolved into a league of haves and have-nots.

North Division members Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado are being left in the financial dust by free-spending Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald breaks it down this way: Texas makes about $7 million for a home game with its stadium capacity of 101,000. Nebraska makes about $4.5 million with its 85,000 seats.

Iowa State, Kansas State and Colorado, each with stadiums seating slightly more than 50,000, bring in about $1.2 million to $1.5 million per home game.

Barfknecht writes: "Multiply that differential by seven games a year, stretch that over four or five years and you can see why Texas has flat-screen TVs in its football complex bathrooms while other schools are happy to find soap and paper towels."