Amid a season where the ISU football team hasn’t seen success translated to wins on game day, Paul Rhoads sees improvements.

With a bevy of young players seeing extended minutes on both sides of the ball for the Cyclones (1-8, 0-6 Big 12), the ISU coach is looking for two things out of his team: continued improvement and energy on the field.

“I’m always looking for improvement; whether you’re 9-0 or 1-8, I’m always looking for improvement out of a football team,” Rhoads said. “In addition to that, I’m looking for them to play with the same energy and emotion and passion that they displayed in Saturday’s game. Top-25 program in Oklahoma on the road in series that is as lopsided as exists in the Iowa State record books.

“I’m looking for a team to look forward to going to Norman, [Okla.,] and taking the field and playing with every ounce of energy that they have and then finishing it with two more conference games.”

Defensive back Jacques Washington knows that encouraging not just the starters on defense but also the younger players seeing repetitions is going to be vital for the rest of the season in preparing them for next year.

The active leader for Iowa State in career tackles (277) and interceptions (4,) Washington said the senior leaders got together and talked about playing for the love of the game and showing that love to their teammates.

“We just thought that we weren’t having fun out there even when we were making plays,” Washington said of the defense during games. “We weren’t really cheering each other on and high-fiving. This past weekend we celebrated every little thing on the practice field and people coming in for celebrations. We’ll probably do the same thing this week.”

Rhoads said one thing that stands out to him about Washington is his leading ability, first and foremost. What Rhoads has tried to instill in not just his team leaders but in everyone on the team is that for the most part, you will get what you earn in life and on the field.

“And you’ve got to go out and earn success, you’ve got to go out and earn victories and we haven’t done that nearly enough,” Rhoads said. “There’s so much work that goes ahead of that game-day experience that we’ve got to continue to put forward. There’s no problem with work ethic in our program.”

For linebacker Jeremiah George, getting back to the basics of playing for the love of the game is where he has been able to really see the growth in his teammates.

George, the Big 12 leader in tackles per game (11.3,) knows that even though his time in an ISU uniform is drawing closer to the end, he can still make a difference for his teammates as a team captain.

“Although I only have three weeks left, three games left, I’ll always be a part of this family, this program,” George said. “Seeing my younger brothers succeed is something that I cherish. Especially as a captain, having a new role within this family, that’s something I hold onto dearly.”