PHOENIX — The fans knew what to do, but Dan McCarney was entering new territory as an army of Cyclones rushed the field of Bank One Ballpark, slipping and sliding on the wet grass of what Sage Rosenfels called “Jack Trice Southwest.” Some ISU faithful rushed to their favorite players offering congratulations. Elated family members celebrated the momentous occasion. Flash bulbs popped, as those who had made the 1,500-mile trip attempted to capture their own piece of history.Others attempted to grab a tangible piece of history such as a piece of field sod. The goal posts lasted no longer than a few minutes.The feeling McCarney had will last a lifetime.Soaked in Powerade, the coach lifted a trophy that seemed out of reach only six years ago.As the first Cyclone coach ever to win a bowl, nothing could be sweeter. “We waited over 100 years for that first bowl championship so it was a lot of fun in the locker room tonight,” McCarney said Dec. 28. “I’m really happy for Iowa State, not just the football family, but the extended family. There’s a lot of things that go into a season like this; we had to overcome an awful lot. I will treasure this season the rest of my life, and I want my coaches and players to feel the same way.” The bowl victory culminated years of hard work for 25 ISU seniors who ended their Cyclone playing days in style. “It’s a great feeling just to be part of a special team,” ISU quarterback Sage Rosenfels said. “To be around a bunch of guys that believe in each other and our cause to win and get to a bowl game and win that bowl game.” Rosenfels, who was named the offensive player of the game, picked the perfect time to turn in one of the best efforts of his career. Rosenfels finished 23 of 34 for 308 yards with a pair of touchdown passes and completed passes to seven different receivers. “I thought Sage was outstanding tonight,” McCarney said. “The decisions he made, the checks he made, the throws he made — he was just outstanding.” While the seniors spearheaded the Cyclone run to Phoenix, it was freshman JaMaine Billups who turned the game around after a disappointing start to the second half. The Cyclones forced the Panthers to punt early in the fourth quarter, and Billups took the punt 72 yards for a touchdown. Billups found a hole and exploded down the right sideline to paydirt. “I got the ball and somehow it just popped open for us on the right side, and I hit the sideline, and all I saw was open field,” Billups said. “I saw the end zone, and it seemed like it was getting farther away, but I kept trying to run for it and hope that nobody would come up and get me.” The Cyclone secondary had the tough assignment of trying to contain Antonio Bryant, the Bilentikoff award winner for the best receiver in college football. Bryant caught five passes for 155 yards, including touchdown catches of 72 and 44 yards, but Timmons said he was pleased with the play of the secondary. “I’m proud of how the secondary has played all year,” Timmons said. “We’ve been scrutinized, but all we’ve done is come up with big plays. If you look at all of the games we’ve had, the Oklahoma State game, the Missouri game, this one today, the secondary has made big plays.”