I was shocked and very disappointed to find that our esteemed athletic department at Iowa State University was miserably out of line this week. They were so out of line that they did not even send Coach Dan McCarney, supposedly recruiting, or Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde, who just didn’t make it to the Humanitarian Bowl press conference. That is a pure lack of class.

The real problem I have is that not only does this make Iowa State look bad, it shows how winning can spoil sportsmanship. I am a 1994 graduate of Iowa State. As with most other people, I had actually only seen the Cyclone football team have one winning season (6-5) since I have been old enough to care. Then we made it to the Insight.com Bowl. Everyone was so excited to be in a bowl game that no one really cared where it was or that it had a .com name.

Now the athletic department has gotten too big for its britches in just three seasons. Iowa State has been a perennial loser. I am not putting them down for that — life is hard when you are a small school — but that is their history. You are not Clemson, who has a winning tradition, but sent their coach to the press conference anyway; you are Iowa State, who is trying to build a tradition. You are not there yet, but your fans have tried to stand behind you. I am sure that will be harder for me now that I know how foolish you are looking.

Iowa State University is not Florida, or Nebraska, who are traditional winners who haven’t exactly played up to par, but are they complaining and pouting? You have a 7-6 season. There are 9-3 teams out there who would love to go a bowl, even in Boise.

If you come in with the attitude you have shown, you will get your tails kicked.

Coach, next time, reschedule your appointment. You had to know in advance when this press meeting would be. Bruce, never just don’t make it. Make a point to make it, or the next time you are 7-6 you won’t get invited anywhere, and shouldn’t.

Clair Young II

Alumnus