KANSAS CITY, Mo. — ISU football coach Dan McCarney said the arrest of quarterback Cris Love could cost the junior more than a chance to play in the 2003 season-opener — it could possibly keep him on the bench the whole season.

Love, who had been battling Waye Terry and Austin Flynn for the job, was considered the favorite when spring practices concluded, but was suspended from the Aug. 30 matchup with Northern Iowa following an arrest for drunken driving on July 3. McCarney said Love will play with the third-string offense at least through two-a-day practices, which means precious opportunities to prove himself — and gain experience with first-team players — will be lost for the junior.

“He’s got a lot of catching up to do,” McCarney said, speaking at a Big 12 media event. “It’s not impossible, but it’s going to be hard, given the ability of those other two quarterbacks, to beat them out.”

Neither Terry nor Flynn have played a down of major-college football. Terry sat out last year for the Cyclones after transferring from Foothill College and Flynn is a redshirt freshman. McCarney said he has confidence in either quarterback and that the two are dead even in their quest to earn the starting nod. Both Terry and Flynn are expected to see significant time on the field in the first game, he said.

“We’d like to get those guys some experience, because there’s no doubt they’ve got the ability,” McCarney said. “Just ask my defensive guys.”

All three quarterbacks are attempting to replace Seneca Wallace, who earned All-Big 12 honors last season after passing for 3,245 yards, and is now with the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

Senior wide receiver Lane Danielsen said whoever assumes the starting role behind center is capable of producing a winning football team. “We know we have three good guys that have the talent to lead us where we want to go this year,” said Danielsen, a former walk-on who is on track to break several records in his final season.

“I think all three bring something a little different to the table. Hopefully, we’ll be able to have offense to surround the quarterback so they don’t have to make every play.”

Iowa State finished a 7—7 season last year with a loss to Boise State in the Humanitarian Bowl. After a 6—1 start and establishing a No. 9 national ranking, the Cyclones struggled, dropping six of their last seven games. McCarney said many reasons contributed to the decline, including playmakers failing to step up and key turnovers.

“[Turnovers] really impacted us as much as anything,” he said. “We’ve got to stop that, because we were one of the top teams in the country for weeks and weeks from a turnover ratio standpoint. When we started turning it over, we really got in trouble.”

“Short fields for the defense and less opportunities for the offense leads to losses.”

With the Cyclones a preseason pick to finish fifth in the Big 12 North, McCarney said he embraces the underdog role and looks forward to exceeding the expectations outsiders have for his team.

He said the loss of Wallace will hurt, but expects improvements in many other areas, especially on defense.

Linebackers Matt Word and Jeremy Loyd have joined Wallace in the NFL after successful senior seasons with the Cyclones, but McCarney said junior Brandon Brown is by far the best he’s had at that position since he took the job in 1995.

The Cyclones return players with game experience to every defensive position but two — defensive end and strong-side linebacker.

“Fortunately, I think our supporting cast will be stronger this year, both with the defense and with our offense,” McCarney said. “All of those things thrown together gives our quarterbacks a better opportunity for success even though they’re going to be brand new.”