Before a near-capacity crowd of 48,931, bowl scouts, and a regional television audience tuning in to see just how good the previously 5-1 Cyclones were, Coach Dan McCarney’s team failed to show up for its showdown with the Aggies of Texas A&M.

Instead, in a game with very high stakes, the team that showed up was reminiscent of the Iowa State Cyclones of days past. They missed tackles, committed numerous penalties, blew coverages and failed to get anything going offensively.

In the first half, the Cyclone offense mustered a mere three first downs, were outgained by 147 yards, punted seven times and posted a zero on the scoreboard to A&M’s 20.

The second half was even uglier, as the first team offense produced 78 yards on seven possessions.

The Cyclone defense played hard all day but was dominated up front and gave up an inexcusable 255 yards of total offense to A&M in the first half.

The offense did little to keep the defense off the field and failed to capitalize on several opportunities provided by the defense.

In the third quarter, defensive end Reggie Hayward sacked Aggie quarterback Mark Farris on third-and-five to give the offense the ball back with plenty of time remaining and a chance to get back on track.

Yet, on the second play of the next series, quarterback Sage Rosenfels threw a pass into double coverage which was intercepted, giving A&M the ball back and forcing an already exhausted Cyclone defense back onto the field for more punishment.

These types of plays are going to be the difference in the Cyclones going to the Holiday Bowl in beautiful San Diego or the Motor City Bowl in filthy Detroit.

One comes away from this game with many questions for a coaching staff that was doing so well in disproving the previous notions about ISU football.

Why did the offense continue to attempt to run the ball, even late into the third quarter, against the nation’s 13th-ranked defense?

It was obvious to all that the offense’s 70 yards on 15 rushes just wasn’t going to get the ball into the endzone.

And why put Rosenfels, the key component in the team’s success, back into an out-of-reach game with 7:30 left on the clock.

The hardest pill to swallow as a Cyclone supporter was the complete lack of resiliency shown by the team. How does a team that plays No. 1 ranked Nebrasksa evenly for three quarters, show absolutely no heart for four quarters in front of an almost sold-out Homecoming crowd?

That is what led Holiday Bowl scouts to leave the game with 9:00 minutes remaining in the third quarter and was certainly the most baffling aspect of the team’s poor performance.

“We were outcoached. We were outplayed,” McCarney said following the game, and I for one, have to agree with him. Perennial powerhouse Texas A&M served up a large dose of reality to McCarney and his troops.

On a positive note, McCarney’s team will get a chance to rebound this week against Missouri and solidify the program’s first winning season since 1989. This game will also be played under the lights, before bowl scouts and in front of a regional television audience.

For the sake of his job and this program, McCarney needs to prepare his team for life in the limelight, and hope that the Cyclones of old don’t make a return appearance for this game or the rest of the season.