For Matt Word, the Nebraska game was great, but the matchup with Connecticut this weekend could turn into another great memory.

Word is one of 14 seniors that will be playing their last game at Jack Trice Stadium.

“The Nebraska game was a real big one for me, after getting thrashed for three years,” Word said. “Hopefully Saturday, with my parents coming up and it being senior day, I definitely want it to be a real memory.”

Names that will forever be etched in ISU football history books — Seneca Wallace, Zach Butler, Atif Austin, Jeremy Loyd and Word — will come to life one last time at home Saturday when the Cyclones face the Huskies.

The senior class isn’t as large as in past seasons, due in large part to the signing of 18 junior college players in 1998. But that doesn’t mean they are any less special, ISU head coach Dan McCarney said.

“Even though our senior class is not real big in numbers, it’s real big in character, class, leadership and what they’ve meant to this program over recent years,” McCarney said. “We really want to do all we can to have a great send-off for them.”

Butler, Austin and tight end Kyle Knock are especially unique as fifth-year seniors, having joined the program after the Cyclones were 1-10 the previous season. Now, Iowa State has qualified for its third straight bowl game appearance and has a chance to go undefeated at home for the first time in 85 years.

“They ought to all write books some day,” McCarney said.

Five years later, Austin has 171 career tackles from his cornerback position and was an honorable mention all-Big 12 pick last season.

Butler has blocked for two of the best quarterbacks in Iowa State’s history and a pair of 1,000-yard running backs. McCarney has reiterated all season that Butler is also regarded as the heart and soul of the offensive line and one of the best leaders he has ever been around.

Knock has provided valuable blocking and another receiving threat for the Cyclones while earning three letters under McCarney.

Although not a fifth-year senior, Word has left his mark at Iowa State as well. After playing significantly at the linebacker position as a true freshman in 1999, Word has amassed 308 career tackles, including 115 this season. He also earned honorable mention all-Big 12 status as a junior.

McCarney said the seniors have experienced losing seasons and record-breaking seasons. And they’ve been integral parts in the resurgence of the football program, he said.

“It’s easy to step in and be a part of something that’s already happened,” McCarney said. “But when you build it the right way and go through the darkest of days, the lowest of lows, the toughest of times and then you still win, and hold your head high and be proud of what you’ve done — those are the kids that mean the most to me.”

“It’s only fitting that they can have the chance to go out and play as seniors and have a chance to do something no seniors have ever done.”

After transferring to Iowa State in 2001 from Tyler Junior College in Texas, Loyd has produced some highlights of his own. Against Iowa, Loyd dropped Aaron Greving in the end zone for a safety, helping spark a 23-point second-half surge.

Against Texas Tech, Loyd stripped the ball from Anton Paige, caught the ball in midair and returned it seven yards. He has 158 tackles on the season and 18 tackles for loss in his ISU career.

Beau Coleman, another 2001 transfer, has been said by McCarney to have a motor that never quits in his pursuit of the quarterback. The defensive end has 107 career tackles and 18 quarterback hurries.

And then there is a guy by the name of Wallace. All he has done is make his mark as the best quarterback in Iowa State’s history with nearly 5,000 passing yards in two seasons. He’s improved his statistics in nearly every area from last season, despite the constant attention from opposing defenses.

Aside from all the statistics and the highlights, McCarney said he won’t forget the people behind the numbers. He said the whole team, including the seniors, has a tight bond between each other.

“It’ll be hard to watch all those seniors,” McCarney said. “We’ve got a real close football family.”