Playing under the lights on a Friday night typically represents the days of homecoming queens, not college athletics.

The ISU football team is geared up for its first showdown on a Friday night since 1959, when the “Dirty Thirty” won 28-12 in Denver. The Cyclones’ opponent, Army, has never played a Friday night game in Michie Stadium.

Iowa State heads into the game ranked No. 22, and will be its first game as a ranked team since Nov. 9, 2002.

ISU coach Dan McCarney said playing in front of a national audience for the second straight week is a plus, but he prefers the traditional Saturday game.

“It’s part of the feel of college football – the exposure that’s out there and the opportunities and the possibilities, but hopefully this will be the last time we play on Friday night,” McCarney said.

“I’m sure it will be this year, unless we work our way into something at the end of the season that will be on Friday night.”

Several ISU players also said the face off with the Black Knights should be a good one.

Senior defensive lineman Nick Leaders said the team isn’t going to be hindered by a shorter practice week, simply because the Cyclones didn’t play last weekend.

“We’ve never done it, but we played in high school. You get used to it,” he said.

“We had an extra week to prepare for Army, so we’re going to be ready to go; it’s not like it’s been a short week or anything.”

The team also faces different preparations for the game.

Because it is a night game on a Friday, McCarney said the team is likely to practice late Thursday night and sleep in on Friday.

Even then, it is the responsibility of the coaches to help keep the players’ minds on football for the entire day.

“It’s different; normally on Saturdays when they’re waiting around to play, there’s college football [to watch],” McCarney said. “I don’t want them watching ‘Days of Our Lives.’

“We may try and hook up the Baylor-Army game in their room on their television so they still can be watching college football.”

Sophomore receiver Todd Blythe said he agreed with McCarney.

“They’ll keep us busy, and they’ll keep us focused on football, so that will be good,” Blythe said. “It will be different not being able to go back to the room and watch football on TV, but we’ll have to keep ourselves occupied, and I’m sure they’ll do that for us.”

Focus remains a large priority for the Cyclones, who, after surprising the Iowa Hawkeyes 23-3 on Sept. 10, don’t want to fall into a false sense of security.

TCU, who upset Oklahoma in the first week of this season, was caught off guard by SMU the very next week.

“There’s always a chance, but I wouldn’t say I’m worried about it,” said senior kicker Tony Yelk. “The coaches have done a nice job of keeping us focused.”

Yelk also said the team is eager to get between the sidelines after the bye week.

“I think we have a good sense of urgency right now,” he said. “We just want to get back out there and play after the bye week, and notch out another win.”

McCarney said Iowa State has yet another chance to show the nation the caliber of team the Cyclones are. Traveling into a venue as historic as Michie Stadium, he also said they need to capitalize on the opportunity.

“We’re going to be honored to represent Iowa State,” he said. “We’re going to cherish the moment and try to come back with a victory.”

The game is being televised by ESPN2, airing at 7 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast across the globe for troops overseas.