When it comes to heated rivalries, Iowa State and Iowa share a tenured relationship on the field that could easily be deemed one of the most underrated in college sports.

Each year when the Cyclones and Hawkeyes take the field, there is one element that holds a long-lasting tradition of its own – the game ball.

Although the game itself may get a little heated, the story behind the pigskin’s trip from Iowa City to Ames is anything but.

Friday, in correlation with the University of Iowa’s ROTC program, the ISU ROTC cadets will take part in the running and biking of the official game ball from Iowa City to Ames after a one-year hiatus from the event.

While the cadets from both schools don’t have a direct impact on the game itself, Major Nathan Hays, executive officer for ISU ROTC, said the run is a great way to keep the Cy-Hawk tradition alive.

“A couple of the older cadets will mention that it’s their chance to keep the competition alive between ISU and Iowa, and keep the rivalry alive,” Hays said. “Even though they aren’t actively participating in the game itself, it helps keep them involved.”

With the University of Iowa cadets slated to carry the game ball from Iowa City to Tama, the ISU cadets will take a 70-mile route from Tama to Ames. Cadets will alternate between biking and running, and the bikes will be used primarily to help get from town-to-town.

“We’ll get the ball around noon on Friday in Tama,” Hays said. “Then we’ll bike the balls between towns to pick up the pace and run in formation through the towns.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to show some pride in what we do and it certainly brings the ROTC to a forefront during a special time.”

One of the cadets that will be participating in the trip is Cadet Batallion commander Lanea Sudweeks. As a senior at Iowa State, Sudweeks will be participating in her first run, despite her four years on campus.

“I’m definitely most excited for running the ball out onto the field right before game time on Saturday,” she said. “This will hopefully bring the ROTC a whole bunch of publicity by running through all the smaller towns and when we get into Ames as well.”

Even though the University of Iowa and ISU cadets are, in reality, working together to get the game ball from Iowa City to Ames, come game time each cadet’s true colors are sure to come out.

“All bets are off when game time comes,” Sudweeks said. “Working together to get the game ball here takes a lot of work and both ROTC’s are on the same team in reality, but then all bets are off when the game gets going.”

Hays predicted that the ISU cadets would make their way through Ames Friday evening.

“I would imagine that we’ll be running through town between 5:30 and 6 p.m. on Friday,” Hays said. “We’ll run in formation and come in on Lincoln way then to Duff to Main Street and follow Main across Grand until it hits Sixth to Elwood.”