The ISU football team will make its 2001 debut at the annual spring game Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium.

The first and fourth teams will suit up for the cardinal team and will be opposed by the white team, which will be made of second and third teamers. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.

The Cyclones are coming off a historic season that produced a 9-3 record and the school’s first-ever bowl game victory. The Cyclones have been fine tuning their skills in spring practices for three weeks and head coach Dan McCarney is ready to see how his team does in game conditions.

“I’m real pleased with the progress and improvement of this team,” McCarney said. “The work ethic and confidence in this team after last season is tremendous.”

The Cyclones lost 23 starters from that successful squad which has produced plenty of battles for starting spots and playing time.

“Saturday is real important because it’s a last evaluation for a lot of these kids vying for playing time,” McCarney said.

“There’s a number of positions where we have battles. Quarterback has been wide open, wide receivers and defensive backs has been real competitive to see who’ll start, and the defensive line is up for grabs without question.”

One of the more important positions that needs to be filled is at quarterback. The Cyclones lost two-year starter Sage Rosenfels to graduation and sophomore Gerrin Scott to an injury that has forced him to miss spring ball.

Junior college transfer Seneca Wallace is listed at the top spot on the depth chart at quarterback with redshirt freshman Cris Love at No. 2. Neither candidate has experience at the Division I level.

“They’ve made major strides because neither one of them has ever played a down of Division I football,” McCarney said.

“I just hope they look like it Saturday, this is with people in the stands and with game-like conditions. We’re hoping to get good weather and a good crowd.”