The first public event of the football season kicked off Wednesday in Ames, as the Iowa State football media day brought together players, coaches and journalists from every outlet in the state.

It seemed a bit out of place for the ISU football team to sit together in uniform on the field of Jack Trice Stadium without the scent of grilled meat and empty beer cans filling the air, and even stranger that the grandstand was empty.

Even though the official kickoff to the Cyclone’s season isn’t until Sept. 2, coach Paul Rhoads’ voice was at mid-season pitch, and expectations for continued success permeate the program.

The coach discussed success like a two-pronged approach, praising the team’s academic work, as well as athletic accomplishments as the Cyclones posted the highest grade point average of any Big 12 school. Development in the classroom helps get student-athletes on the field, but 55,000 cardinal and gold covered fans show up to see the team sprinting through grass on the field.

“There’s a lot of excitement around our football program right now, I see that in our staff, I see that in our players,” Rhoads said. “The reason that exists is because of the development that has taken place in our football program in the last 19 months. We have a group of improved football players.”

Questions remain about whether the team that went 7-6, including a bowl victory, can reproduce their success in Rhoads’ second season, but in the typical optimistic and unified fashion, the feelings running through the team are for improvement.

Going just 8-27 in the three seasons prior to Rhoads’ arrival and the subsequent arrival of his conglomerated staff, a difficult schedule that includes perennial powers Utah and Nebraska, and road trips to Iowa, Texas and Oklahoma will put the Cyclones in a tough spot to duplicate 2009.

“We’ve already brought it up, they know its out there. They know by some folks they’ve been ranked as having the toughest schedule in all of Division I football,” Rhoads said. “They also embrace that. If they didn’t, we have the wrong kids in the program, we’ve been recruiting the wrong kids. They’re excited about that challenge.” Winning isn’t the only tradition the Cyclones are attempting to build, but also improve upon the implementation of offensive coordinator Tom Herman’s offense.

Coming off of record breaking years at Rice University, Herman’s spread offense changed recruiting patterns and the culture of Iowa State’s offense. Third year starting quarterback Austen Arnaud is a key in the offense’s development, and his personal development has turned a struggling unit into one the coaches believe is a strength in the program.

“From the time [Austen] got back from the short Christmas break, he came in and watched all 13 games of us, and didn’t just watch them, he took notes on every single play and critiqued himself and criticized himself,” Herman said.

“When he was done with that, he went back and he watched Texas games, he wanted to see Colt McCoy play, he watched [Oklahoma], he wanted to see Sam Bradford play … how are the great ones in the league getting it done. I think he’s taking the necessary extra steps maybe to get himself to where he needs to be.”

Arnaud is one of seven returning starters on offense, and his leadership and profile made him the last player through the media gauntlet Wednesday.

Completing 59 percent of his passes, and logging 22 total touchdowns in 2009, Arnaud is betting his sixth year as a starter for an Ames program will be his best.

“Learning that offense was one of the toughest things I’ve done in my life … and I had a tough last fall, I’ll be the first one to tell you that,” Arnaud said. “I wouldn’t change my experiences for anything, I really love what I’m doing and where I’m at.”

The defense doesn’t have the field experience or the hoopla that exists for the offense, in their second year under defensive coordinator Wally Burnham.

A speedy but smaller defense that is being reassembled from last years team is helped up front by the return of defensive end Rashawn Parker, but the linebacking corp was a constant buzz around the field.

“Be careful how close you get to the practice field, because Wally might grab you and coach you too,” Rhoads said. “We’re that thin at the linebacker position, and we need all the numbers and bodies that we can get. But I don’t think we have a hungrier more intent group of players than our linebacking corps.”

Media day lines up players and coaches in front of cameras and tape recorders for a possible cover photo or genuinely controversy sparking quote, but just like last year’s event under the Rhoads regime, went by without incident. A chance for team photos and up close access, the event turns into a media circus, minus the buffet line.

Down to earth, and ready for the season, the 2010 edition of the Iowa State football team just wants to finish up training camp and hit the field dressed out in pads. They’ll have to wait a few more weeks.

“I’m starting to get a lot more comfortable and once we get going, it’s going to be great,” said starting middle linebacker Matt Tau’fo’ou.

Kickoff for Sept. 2 game against Northern Illinois is set for 7 p.m. at Jack Trice Stadium.