Record low temperatures, a lackluster season and Thanksgiving Break didn’t keep fans away from Jack Trice Stadium on Nov. 23 as Iowa State hosted Kansas in its home finale. 

Recruits everywhere took notice. 

“There was a ton about that weekend,” said ISU coach Paul Rhoads on Dec. 18. “How many places in the country are riding a 7-game losing streak and had as many passionate fans in the stands as we did on that night?”

“There were a lot of things that happened on that night that made those three guys realize, ‘This is a special place, Iowa State.’”

Iowa State announced four junior college mid-year signees Dec. 18 as part of its 2014 recruiting class. Three of those signees — linebacker Jordan Harris, defensive back Devron Moore and defensive end Gabe Luna — were in attendance for the 8-degree kickoff, the coldest in Jack Trice history. 

The Cyclones ended up shutting out Kansas 34-0 for their first Big 12 victory of the season. One week later Iowa State battled back from a 31-7 deficit to end its season with a 52-44 triple overtime season-ending victory against West Virginia. 

Those games propelled Iowa State into an eventful recruiting period, including the mid-year signing of the four JUCO players, who will enroll at Iowa State beginning next semester.

“We’ve seen momentum in every direction from the last two games and the tremendous finish to our season,” Rhoads said. “With our fans base; with recruiting; with the coaches in this state and with the coaches nationally. Playing in a premier conference like the Big 12 Conference and having so many games and so much publicity from a national level, everybody is aware of what you’re doing.

”When you finish as strong as we did in November, it’s a very positive occurrence.”

Search for new offensive coordinator continues

ISU coach Paul Rhoads declined to comment on his progress of naming a new offensive coordinator to replace Courtney Messingham, who was let go a day after the season on Dec. 1. 

Rhoads only elaborated on one question, saying he hopes to have all coaching positions filled by mid-January when he and his staff again hit the road for recruiting. 

In addition to Messingham, Iowa State also let go running backs coach Kenith Pope. Both had been on Rhoads’ staff since he arrived in 2009.