Saturday’s game against Kansas marks the last time Iowa State fans will see the likes of Reggie Hayward, James Reed, Ryan Harklau, Derrick Walker, Ab Turner, Jamarcus Powers, Ryan Sloth, Breon Ansley, Doug Densmore and Dustin Avey play defense in Jack Trice Stadium.

Head coach Dan McCarney commented Tuesday about making this week “real special” for his outgoing seniors.

However for this group of seniors on defense, things couldn’t be more special for them heading into their last home game.

“I’m excited about it, but then again, I’m going to miss [playing for ISU],” said cornerback Jamarcus Powers. “It’s way more exciting this year knowing that we’re having a winning season and another game to go besides this one. Being 2-9 or 3-8 would have been really hard to handle, instead we’re going to a bowl game.”

Iowa State’s winning season and eminent bowl bid have overshadowed the strides taken by the Cyclone defense this season; for the first time in several seasons a defensive linemen, Reggie Hayward, leads the team in tackles rather than a safety or linebacker.

Also, the defense is allowing 27.6 points per game, compared to the 44.8 points per game given up in 1997. The defense has blocked seven kicks, forced 16 fumbles, intercepted 10 passes, and sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times.

Credit all these accomplishments to the hard work of the senior class, and the standard they have set for the future of the ISU defense.

“You go to Nebraska, go to a lot of bowls, and you take it for granted. You come here, you work your tail off, and then you finally get somewhere and go somewhere, I think you have to get more pleasure out of it,” defensive end Reggie Hayward said.

Going into his last home game, there are only two things that Hayward said he hasn’t done that he’d possibly like to do on Saturday. “I would like to get into the endzone personally. I got there one time before, and we had a personal foul on Sloth. This time I’d like to get there penalty-free and celebrate in the endzone one time before I go. I’d at least like to get an interception. I’ve yet to get an interception. Those are the types of things d-linemen very rarely get a chance to do and something like that would really put lead in my pencil.”

“I want to be remembered. I want the 2000 team to be remembered as the team that went 8-3 in the season, and then went and won a bowl game and finished 9-3. That’s special,” said Powers.

“But, I just want to be remembered. Not just me, but the coaching staff and the team as the ones who turned the program around in 2,000, and it carried on to 2,001, 2,002, 2,003, and so forth,” he added.

Hayward echoed Powers’ sentiments: “I want to be remembered as one of the best teams that Iowa State has ever had. We win this game and go to a bowl. We win that game, and maybe they’ll put us up there in the top three — that’ll be enough for me. Iowa State hasn’t had a lot to talk about when it comes to the football team, but this year we’ve given the fans a lot to talk about, hopefully. What we leave and what we started will continue on.”