ISU football coach Paul Rhoads has reached bowl eligibility, and Cyclone fans want to enjoy it. They just might need to borrow the example of the players and keep their feet on the ground.

“As the celebration unfolded, I started to make my customary approach to the student section; there weren’t any students left, there was nobody to sing to,” Rhoads joked at Monday’s weekly news conference.

Students may have rushed the field and Rhoads may have appeared on the edge of a Nebraska-like celebration in last Saturday’s home win against Colorado, but reaching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2005 hasn’t loosened the focus of the Cyclones.

The team still feels the task of one more game, and whether or not Saturday’s season finale against Missouri decides the fate of postseason play, players are handling the task like it was the middle of the season.

“Coach tells us we’ve got one more game if we want to be 7–5, rather than 6–6, so we’re just preparing for that,” said senior linebacker Fred Garrin.

The tone of voice for Rhoads comes down from animated coach on Saturday evenings to focused leader by Monday afternoons, but players and assistants have testified for his passion for the game.

“My demeanor certainly hasn’t changed in 21 years and anybody that was with me that first year or has been around me would tell you that,” Rhoads said. “I’ve never felt that the players deserved to have all the fun. I think the emotion, the enthusiasm and the passion spills out when you’re doing your job.”

Iowa State sits at 6–5, and heading into a game against an inconsistent, but dangerous Missouri team on Saturday means the goal hasn’t changed. Rhoads was in no mood to discuss bowl games and ideas of grandeur on Monday. The Tigers are 2–4 in Big 12 play, but defeated the North division-leading Kansas State Wildcats by 26 last Saturday and have shown the capability in the spread offense to light up the scoreboard.

“Have you seen [WR Danario] Alexander catch the football? I haven’t taken any team to peek at [bowl games],” Rhoads said. “We’ve got enough with our hands being full and preparing for a very good Missouri football team.”

Rhoads has guided the program to one more win than it saw in the last two seasons combined, and his mantra of constantly improving, working hard and building confidence hasn’t budged since the preseason. With a team of “blue collar” players, including nine starters that come from the state of Iowa, hard work has left the Cyclones only one win from securing that coveted bowl bid.

“Everything’s a lot better when you win,” said senior linebacker and Iowa native Jesse Smith. “Injuries don’t hurt as bad. It makes the offseason and all the stuff you do all year round worth it.”

Practicing hard and wanting bowl security won’t beat Missouri — a team that passes for 278 yards per game and is working hard to turn around its 0–3 start in conference play. Kansas was the only team to pass for more yards than that average against the Cyclones this season, but recent games against the spread offenses of Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and the aforementioned Jayhawks caused headaches for the ISU secondary.

“I’m going to do better in coverage, and I need to help out the corners and secondary in getting underneath routes and flat routes,” Garrin said. “It’s all I can do.”

The defense has been a highlight for Iowa State when the Cyclones win, holding three Big 12 opponents under 17 points this season, but the offense’s passing game is struggling as of late. Rhoads knows running back Alexander Robinson may not be able to shoulder the load against a tough Missouri front seven and that the season finale would be a fitting time for the passing game to catch their stride.

“Being the fact that we run the ball more proficiently than we throw it, that could potentially create some problems for us,” Rhoads said. “Our work, our accuracy, our timing in the passing game is going to have to be very sharp for us to have success.”

In order to cheer on the Cyclones this Saturday, students will have to make the trip to Columbia or tune in their radios, as the season finale is unavailable on television or webcast in Ames. The home team has won three of the last four matchups for the “Telephone Trophy,” and the Cyclones have split the last 10 games with the Tigers.

Garrin left last Saturday’s Colorado game with back spasms, but expects to return to action against Missouri. A lone depth chart switch was made this week as well, with wide receiver Darius Darks taking his old starting job back from true freshman Josh Lenz, but Lenz should still see playing time for Iowa State on Saturday.