Shuffling in and already shuffling out, the message is the same: We are happy, no, thrilled to be going to the Independence Bowl.

The first to say so at yesterday’s press conference was ISU head football coach Dan McCarney.

“I’m very honored to represent Iowa State at the Independence Bowl,” he said.

Glen Krupica, executive director of the Independence Bowl, was in Lawrence, Kan. after the Cyclones 49-7 wind over the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 17.

In fact, a representative from the Independence Bowl was at six of Iowa State’s 11 games this year, McCarney said.

Iowa State does not yet know the opponent of their 12th game. This will be decided by Saturday’s Southeastern Conference (SEC) title game.

Should Tennessee win, Iowa State will face Arkansas. Should Louisiana State University win, the Cyclones will square off against Alabama, McCarney said.

He’s asked for old game tapes from both schools for his and his coaching staff’s perusal.

The team practiced three times last week.

Practice hasn’t been much different, McCarney said, save for not knowing his next opponent.

And he should know that either Saturday or Sunday.

McCarney, impeccable as ever, left the podium in a suit.

The players that followed dressed like, well, like college students, except for defensive lineman Willie Judd. With frayed bottomed khaki shorts and a Hawaiian shirt on, Judd looked more like a college student on leave.

Judd spoke first of Shreveport.

“I’m excited. We did once again what everybody said we couldn’t do.”

Going to a bowl game, Judd said, you get to do “neat stuff.”

When asked to explain himself, “I get to gamble a little bit.”

Shreveport’s gaming community is the third busiest, behind Las Vegas and Atlantic City, said Missy Setters, director of media relations for the Mainstay Independence Bowl.

Judd said he’ll spend his money on the poker table, not on college bowl games.

Running back Ennis Haywood said he might join Judd.

“[McCarney] will let us off our leash a little bit,” Haywood said. “I want to take advantage of every opportunity I get,” Haywood said.

One such opportunity will be with his family. Haywood is from Dallas – a three and a half hour drive from Shreveport.

“I’m going to be asking teammates for a couple of extra bowl tickets,” Haywood said.

Though the bowl game on Dec. 27 will be his last with his teammates, it won’t be the last for Haywood.

He’s been invited to three All-Star games in January. Then he prepares for the NFL combine (a test in Indianapolis measuring a player’s size, speed and strength) in March.

“I’m going straight home after the bowl game,” Haywood said.

He doesn’t plan on returning to Ames much next year because of the NFL. Haywood is two semesters shy of a degree in child and family services.

Offensive lineman Marcel Howard is also playing his last game with his teammates.

Howard remembers when the Cyclones were 1-10 his freshman year.

Now, “We have real quality Big 12 players. Ennis, Seneca [Wallace, quarterback] . those guys are play-makers.”

Reminiscing and fun aside, everyone agreed when it’s time for the game, that’s where the Cyclones thoughts will be.

“We want to take advantage of this experience,” Haywood said.

Full advantage of it.