It was an amazing run — a run that in the last five years produced four wins over Iowa, three bowl games, a win over Nebraska and a No. 9 national ranking.

For 27 fourth- and fifth-year seniors who were instrumental in many of those feats, Saturday’s 44-10 loss to Colorado marked the last time they would play in Jack Trice Stadium and in front of their home crowd.

“It’s not what you dream about for your last home game here in Jack Trice,” said senior linebacker Chris Whitaker. “It really doesn’t hit you when you think about it. When it finally gets here, it’s totally different.

“A lot of emotions go through, especially being a fifth-year senior. It hurts. You put so much into it and the result is not what you want.”

With just two games remaining in its final campaign, the team faces Kansas, who is looking to become bowl—eligible, and Missouri, who wants to continue to boost its chances for a better bowl.

“Speaking for me, I’ve only got two games left in my life,” said wide receiver Jack Whitver. “I’m not going to have any problem getting up. The games I’m going to remember are the games I last put on my pads.

“We try to tell [younger players] that your time here is going to go fast. The seniors told me that and I didn’t really believe it, but looking back on it, it does go fast.”

Whitaker said the team has been looking to win since it knew it was out of bowl contention.

“Don’t feel sorry for yourself, but go out and give the effort, be a senior,” Whitaker said.

“As a leader, do what you need to do to help motivate the guys around you. The next two games, we’re just going to try and go get them.”

After going 7-7 last season, the Cyclones are currently 2-8 overall and 0-6 in Big 12 Conference play.

“It’s all about pride — we’re not playing for a bowl game, but we are playing for pride,” Whitver said.

“We’ve had a lot of that taken away from us, a lot of respect taken from us in these last seven to eight weeks, but that’s what you have to play for.”

ISU head coach Dan McCarney said he was proud of his seniors’ contributions and wanted to reward them in the season’s final two games with wins.

“Our seniors did a wonderful job [Friday] night of talking about this game and finishing the season despite the disappointment and frustration,” McCarney said.

Former walk-on Jordan Carstens said it’s been tough to stay positive.

“We just haven’t been able to put a complete game together,” Carstens said. “We’ve played well in some areas and not so well in other areas. That’s kind of been the story of the season where we just can’t put a complete game together.”

This season has been a learning tool for the younger players.

“I tell them not to get used to this — don’t get used to losing,” Whitaker said. “I’m not used to losing, and this is a new experience for me, but you’ve got to be able to shoulder it and show the other kids that you don’t accept it. Keep plugging and work even harder in the off-season and get yourself ready.”

The team heads to Lawrence, Kan., Saturday.

“It’s tough coming out and playing like we did today,” Carstens said.

“We have to get that winning attitude back. This is my last game at home and definitely not the way I wanted to end it, but we came out and played hard. We’ve just got to look forward and concentrate on Kansas.”