Fumbles are about to become even more costly to the ISU football team.

Forget about Greg Coleman’s fumble on the 1-yard line against Baylor, a seemingly game-changing turnover. Forget about Jason Harris’ drop that Missouri picked up and returned for a touchdown – this week in practice, the entire team will suffer.

“Coach Cotton makes sure that everyone knows you fumbled, and this week if you fumble [in practice], you have to watch the rest of the team do up-downs,” Coleman said. “It’s a big deal; it’s not like they’re joking around with you.”

Although the Cyclones have only lost 12 fumbles since the start of the 1997 season, six of those have come this season. Iowa State has fumbled 10 times.

Part of the reason for the team’s ball-handling woes stems from injuries to the starting and backup tailbacks, Stevie Hicks and Jason Scales.

“[Hicks] is a great ball-security back,” said ISU coach Dan McCarney. “You have over a 1,000-yard rusher, you can check his turnovers – there’s not many of them.”

Therein lies the problem for the Cyclones. So many uncharacteristic fumbles, yet, seemingly no answer. Even McCarney said there’s no easy way to fix the problem.

“You can’t be so relaxed that you can’t go out there and play, and if you’re real relaxed carrying the football, they’re going to take it away from you,” he said. “Take care of the ball like we should have done, and we wouldn’t be sitting here saying, ‘God bless it, what’s wrong with Iowa State?'”

Harris’ fumble, although costly for Iowa State, was even more costly for him.

Harris did not return to the game after his fumble in the first quarter against Missouri.

“When we needed him the most, he didn’t do a good job,” McCarney said. “He was careless with the ball, he turned it over and, not only did he turn it over, but they got seven points out of it.”

He added, though, Harris should expect to see some time against Oklahoma State.

Coleman managed to take better care of the ball against the Tigers, rushing for 104 yards, his first career 100-yard performance.

“I couldn’t go through what I went through last week again,” Coleman said. “It was a big deal for me to take care of the ball. I’ve always taken care of the ball all my life.”

The tough-love tactic being shown this week in practice, in response to turnovers, is one that is intended to unite the players, not divide them.

This week, however, may reveal just how unified the team is.

“You don’t want to let your teammates down,” said tight end Ben Barkema.

“Any turnover [in practice], the whole team is going to do something, and they’re going to stand there and watch it. You don’t want to be that guy.”

If motivation from inside the organization doesn’t work, a certain Cyclones’ homecoming may be the spark Iowa State is looking for, and the coaching staff is going to let him loose on the team.

“Ellis Hobbs has got an open week, he’s coming back to watch the Cyclones,” McCarney said. “I’m going to let him holler at the kids this weekend, too.”

The Cyclone athletes are looking forward to the return of Hobbs, who plays for the New England Patriots.

“Ellis is a great motivator,” Coleman said. “Everyone loves Ellis.”