The season-opening kickoff is still six months away, but the ISU football team was hard at work in their first day of spring practice Wednesday.

The Cyclones are coming off a 9-3 season, which included a 37-29 victory over Pittsburgh in the Insight.com Bowl.

It’s only been three months since that bowl victory and ISU coaches and players alike were ready to get back to business towards repeating last year’s success.

“Fortunately, for the first time in over 20 years, it hasn’t been very long of a break,” ISU head football coach Dan McCarney said. “It wasn’t that long ago that we were practicing in Phoenix, so it’s kind of our second spring ball and that’s what Iowa State has been missing out on for so long.”

The weather wasn’t the average spring day as the players practiced in cold, windy temperatures. Despite this, energy and enthusiasm were evident.

“The kids came out with great attitudes, and I’m proud of them,” McCarney said. “This team knows how to practice and even though there’s a lot of new faces, they know there’s a work ethic and a tempo of practice I expect.”

ISU defensive lineman Marcel Howard agreed with McCarney that it hasn’t been been much of a break but was happy to be getting ready for a new season.

“It feels good to be getting back out here,” Howard said. “I’m anxious to get this 2001 season started. We’re trying to get to a better bowl game next year so everybody is pumped and ecstatic.”

The first day of practice wasn’t passive as Howard mixed it up with linebacker Justin Eilers.

“We were just having a good time, that’s all,” Howard said.

The Cyclones will kick off the 2001 season on Sept. 8 at home as they take on UNI.