I’m like every Hawkeye. I was born a Hawkeye, raised a Hawkeye and to finish my cliche, will die a Hawkeye. My veins are black, my arteries gold and if I had a birthmark, it’d be a Hawkeye. It’s this crazed passion that makes Iowa fans want this game more.

I hate the Cyclones. Their colors look like ketchup and mustard; put that on a sandwich, not on a jersey.

Their mascot is senseless. Why on earth is an angry bird weighing less than a $2.50 flip-flop from Old Navy getting the best of a storm? Did anyone see the tornado damage to Iowa City? I don’t think a cardinal could take that kind of storm in a fight.

The fans annoy me. Yeah, we lost big last year. But come on, we’ve been whooping up on that farming school for decades, and we didn’t rub it in. We just took the state nickname, the Hawkeye State, and quietly watched Iowa in regular bowl appearances.

All I’ve heard for the last year from my western Iowan friend and roommate is why Iowa State cares so much more than Iowa about the rivalry. I can’t stand it. Listening to this former-Cyclone-now-Hawkeye is worse than listening to Ben Stein lead a pep rally.

My converted roommate is proof Iowa fans care more. There isn’t one Hawkeye who could stand converting to a Cyclone; there are no Anakin Skywalkers among us.

From Florida to Texas, New Jersey to Ohio, Illinois and back to Iowa City, every Hawkeye wants to pulverize the Cyclones, maybe even more than I do. Hawkeye nation is anxious.

Hawkeye players? Absolutely ravenous. Drew Tate hardly played in 2005 at Jack Trice Stadium. And the Big Ten’s biggest gamer would love to be the quarterback that rolls up Cyclone sausages and smokes ’em.

Iowans Mike Elgin and Marshal Yanda have the talent to put a porous O-line performance in the past.

Hawkeye receivers don’t want to hear about Todd Blythe anymore, especially home-staters Andy Brodell and Calvin Davis.

Best reason of all? Kirk Ferentz is 2-5 in his career vs. Iowa State, and top coaches don’t like losing to middle programs.

Sorry Iowa State, but you’re the little brother, and your big brother doesn’t like you mouthing off.

I can’t wait to be a hypocrite. I will brag and boast and rant and gloat to every Cyclone I know for the next year. Hawks win, BIG.

Alex Johnson is a reporter for the Daily Iowan.