One of linebacker Michael Bibbs’ nine tackles this season preserved a moment the seniors of the ISU football team will always remember.

Bibbs dragged down Iowa kick returner Derrell Johnson-Koulianos at the ISU 25-yard line on the final play of the Cyclone’s 15-13 win over the Hawkeyes.

His roommate, Alvin Bowen, thinks the junior will give fans plenty more to remember him in the next season-and-a-half.

“Michael Bibbs is going to be a familiar name,” Bowen said.

Coming out of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, the 6-foot-2 Bibbs’ “first love” was basketball. He was an All-State point guard and said he had an offer to play basketball for Kentucky.

But because of his size, he decided to play football. Originally a cornerback, he committed to Arkansas, but didn’t qualify academically.

He played at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi before coming to Iowa State – the same school as current San Diego Charger and former Cyclone Tim Dobbins.

Bibbs came to Iowa State as a fan of Bowen after seeing him play on TV. Bowen was his host on a recruitment trip, and said he now looks at him like a brother.

Bibbs, who turns 21 next Thursday, said he looks at Bowen almost as a parent for all of the advice he has given him. Bowen is similarly undersized for a linebacker, which Bibbs said gives him confidence that he can excel.

Bibbs’ third roommate, Jamar Summers – Bowen’s 12-year-old brother, is the other member of his second family in Ames.

“He’s not an average 12-year-old, you know,” Bibbs said. “I mean he knows our expectations. He listens to me, do what I tell him to do when Ace is away . it’s a trust to trust thing. If Ace ain’t got it, Jamar might come to me and I might have it.

“It’s just one bond that we created. I probably won’t forget him for my, for the rest of my life. I’ll probably get a little sad emotionally when he leaves.”

Bibbs said it has been a great experience living with Jamar. He has two younger brothers of his own – a 17-year-old and a 5-year old.

He said both talk ISU football. It’s a good thing too, because the oldest – Anthony – is a 6-foot-2-inch, 200-plus pound junior in high school that is being recruited by the Cyclones.

Bibbs said Jamar is like a little brother to him as well.

“Pretty much, I love him, man. I love him as a brother,” Bibbs said. “I wish he was my little brother, as a matter of fact. Just certain people God put in your life for a reason. That’s how I look at it now. Maybe there is a reason God put Jamar as a presence for me to know how to treat my brothers when I go home.”