The similarities are absolutely uncanny. Both are ISU’s. Both have red birds as their mascots.

Heck, I’ve even attended classes at both schools. I’m convinced, Illinois State and Iowa State are related.

In the fall of 2003, I left everything familiar to me and set off for Bloomington-Normal, Ill., a place I would call my home for the next nine months. Illinois State University, proud home of the Redbirds, was my destination, and I was ready for anything that would be thrown my way.

Being a sports reporter for the Daily Vidette, Illinois State’s daily newspaper, helped me get my feet wet in the journalism world. Not long after, I applied to Iowa State, who quickly accepted my admission.That’s when the oddities started to show themselves.

•At the Vidette, I covered women’s basketball. When I met Illinois State coach Robin Pingeton, I was surprised to learn she was hired from Iowa State, having served under coach Bill Fennelly for multiple years.•My psychology teacher at Illinois State actually taught at Iowa State first.

•Cy and Illinois State’s mascot, Reggie, are eerily similar. In fact, even when I wear Illinois State gear at Iowa State, people rarely notice a difference.

•Illinois State track and field has traveled to Ames for the Iowa State classic multiple times, including a trip scheduled for this year.

•Brian Thompson, Illinois State’s tailback, began his collegiate career as a Cyclone.

•Illinois State’s Ramon Barber was teammates with Iowa State’s Cephus Johnson at Palm Beach Gardens High School.

•Illinois State’s basketball player Nedu Onyeuku and Iowa State’s running back Stevie Hicks were on the same high school basketball team at Creighton Prep.

•Iowa State football’s last outright conference championship came in 1912 when the Cyclones were in the Missouri Valley Conference — With the exception of football and gymnastics. Illinois State is in the MVC.

•Do I even need to mention the schools’ initials?

• Even the schools’ nicknames, the Cyclones and Redbirds, have the same amount of letters in them — eight.

OK, maybe that’s stretching it, but I think you’re starting to get the picture.

From Redbird Country to Cyclone Nation, the connections are bountiful.

Here in Ames I am a proud Cyclone, and truth be told, much happier than I was at the other ISU. Athletics are on the up, and being a member of the Big 12 can’t be topped. With that said, I will never forget my roots.

So remember this as the older brother from central Iowa is beating up on the younger brother from central Illinois Saturday, we’re linked in more ways than one, and forever connected with students, faculty and family.