TEMPE, Ariz. — In the last four years, they have been through three different head coaches, three different offenses and defenses and endured three losing seasons. When the seniors look back on their college career, however, their final memory will be of the 14-13 victory over Minnesota in the Insight Bowl.

“We get to go out the right way, going out on a win, on a bowl win,” said senior defensive end Christopher Lyle, who was named the game’s defensive MVP.

Although some of the seniors on the team were red-shirting in 2005, when the Cyclones went 7-6, their Cyclone career records while actually playing was 9-27, coming into the season.

“We’ve had some rough times here, and, to do it in this fashion, as seniors — it’s an indescribable feeling. It just feels really, really good,” said senior Nate Frere, who was beginning to tear up.

This year’s seniors also had to deal with a coaching carousel, each of whom brought with them different coaching styles and philosophies.

“All [of] the coaching changes and new offenses — everything we have been through — was worth it to get to here and finish it like this,” senior center Reggie Stephens said.

After the closing seconds of the game, as the team celebrated its victory, Stephens was watching the action by himself with a smile on his face.

“I was too happy,” Stephens said. “If I went over there and saw everybody, I would have cried.”

After giving it a few minutes to sink in, however, Stephens was closer to song than tears.

“It’s been a long time comin’,” Stephens sang, quoting the Bruce Springsteen song by that title. “There have been so many things we have gone through. I’m so happy to go out like this.”