Cyclones close to opening vs. FSU

The ISU football schedule for 2002 may include a national championship contender not named Nebraska.

The Florida State Seminoles, who played for the national championship last season, may face the Cyclones in the Eddie Robinson Classic to kickoff the 2002 college football season.

“Nothing stands between us (Iowa State) playing in that game,” said Tom Kroeschell, director of athletic media relations.

Florida State, however, must get a waiver to play in the game. The NCAA allows a team to play in a preseason game once every four years. The Seminoles played in a preseason game in 1999, the Pigskin Classic.

The game would be in Kansas City, Aug. 24.

Kroeschell said there was “no question (our fans) would travel well. We took 30,000 fans to the Insight.com Bowl and we’ve always traveled well to Kansas City.”

Another reason that a game in Kansas City would be positive for Cyclone fans is because the Big 12 basketball tournaments will have moved to Dallas.

“There is no Big 12 basketball tournament in Kansas City that year,” Kroeschell said, adding that it would be a less expensive trip for Cyclone fans than going to the basketball tournament.

“This would be a great thing for (Iowa State) and our fans,” Kroeschell said. “It’s an indication of how far Dan McCarney has taken this program.”

-Jeremy Gustafson

Kansas City cuts former Cyclone

Former ISU Cyclone J.J. Moses was cut from the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs on Monday.

Moses was trying to earn a spot on the Chiefs roster as a punt returner and wide receiver. The 5-foot-6 and 178 pounder was a crowd favorite at Chiefs training camp.

-Associated Press

McCann to start Hawkeye’s opener

After two weeks of preseason practice, with the candidates stuck in a dead heat, the Iowa football team finally has a starting quarterback.

Sort of.

Senior Kyle McCann will start in Saturday’s opening game against Kent State, coach Kirk Ferentz said Tuesday.

“I think it came down to a little bit more consistency and command of the system and the offense at this point,” Ferentz said. “But I’m not displeased with either one of the guys competing for that position.”

Ferentz also made it clear that the competition between McCann and sophomore Jon Beutjer will continue.

“Hopefully fairness is factored in there,” Ferentz said. “I don’t want a guy to think that if he makes one bad read or throws one interception it’s going to be the hook.”

Ferentz said he told the quarterbacks of his decision before Sunday’s practice. He did not make a team announcement.

-Associated Press