The last time Iowa State was ranked No. 11 in the Associated Press poll I was three months and 20 days old, Ronald Reagan was president and Pac-Man had just been introduced in the United States, sparking an instant craze.

It’s now 21 years later and the Cyclones are back — toeing the line and attempting to break into the top 10 — and as far as I know, hell hasn’t frozen over, pigs have yet to fly and Larry Eustachy still hasn’t worn anything besides his signature mock turtleneck to a game.

What’s next?

Wet Veishea?

No parking tickets on campus?

Or how about a decrease in tuition?

Do you remember the days when it was an honor for Iowa State to get just one vote in the AP poll?

You’d run down the hall to tell your friends.

Search the Internet for stories on your beloved Cyclones.

Have a few beers and celebrate.

Or even call your parents to tell them about the newfound respect the Cyclones were getting.

In this week’s poll, Iowa State had 1,000 votes — exactly 132 votes less than the team at No. 10, Tennessee.

What would happen at Iowa State if the Cyclones broke into the top 10?

That’s a question everybody needs to have an answer for, because with a win against underrated Texas Tech, Iowa State could jump into the elite.

Tennessee plays at No. 6 Georgia and after the Volunteers’ lackluster performance last weekend against Arkansas, it wouldn’t be a shocker to see them lose. Georgia may be slightly overrated, but they’re still the No. 6 team in the country.

The No. 9 team in the AP poll, Florida State, plays at No. 1 Miami, the team who just six weeks into the season is head and shoulders above any other team in college football. A loss by the Seminoles and Iowa State would probably make it into the top 10.

No. 7 Oregon and No. 8 Notre Dame have what should be tough games as well.

The Ducks play 4-1 UCLA, currently No. 25 in the USA Today/ ESPN coaches’ poll, and Notre Dame plays 5-1 Pittsburgh.

Both games could and probably will be close, and a loss by either Oregon or Notre Dame would mean a first for the Cyclones — a top 10 ranking.

Through 110 years, 1,016 games and 30 rankings in the AP poll, Iowa State has never been ranked in the top 10.

Any time you have a chance to accomplish a first — whether it’s your first step, your first kiss, or your first top 10 ranking — it’s a big deal. Being one of the best teams in the country is a big deal.

Ask any ISU player if they care if the team is ranked in the top 10 and you’ll probably get the standard answer: “It doesn’t matter. You’ve just got to take it one game at a time. You can’t worry about what everybody else is saying.”

Let me let you in on a little secret: Most of them do worry about what everyone else is saying, and they take notice.

When Iowa newspapers, radio and television stations are talking about nothing but ISU football, it’s hard to avoid.

And why would they want to?

They should be happy.

ISU head coach Dan McCarney should be happy.

And maybe more importantly, ISU fans should be happy — happy that they don’t have to suffer through another losing season.

Emily Arthur

is a junior in journalism

and mass communication from Clark, S.D. She is the sports editor of the Daily.