The Iowa Hawkeye team that will be hosting the Cyclones Saturday are a drastically different team than I have seen most of my life. Iowa State is actually favored going into Iowa City, something that hasn’t happened in a blue moon. I’ve been a Cyclone fan forever, and a large proportion of that time, football was dominated by the Hawks. In the 21 years of my existence, the Hawkeyes have a record of 16-5 against Iowa State. The tables, however, are turning. This season, the Cyclones will be going for their third win in a row against Iowa. There is just one thing missing. A blowout. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy with any win. If the Cyclones come away from Iowa City with a victory, I won’t care if the score is 3-0. I will be running in the streets giddy like a schoolgirl in May. I am just hoping for the best. In the past, I used to think that if Iowa State only won one game a season, and it was against Iowa, I would be happy. Now that thinking is foolish, given the talent that the Cyclones have accumulated. This is not just another season. So Iowa State, go into Kinnick Stadium with the intention to score and score big. God knows that the Hawks have never had a bit of sympathy against Iowa State, no matter how bad it’s been around here. Here are a few scores to prove my point. In 1983 the Hawkeyes steamrolled ISU 51-10. This was the beginning of “The Streak” in which Iowa took 15 years of dominance in the state. Other nail-biters in this series were the 59-21 drubbing Iowa handed down in ’84, the oh-so-close 57-3, yes 57-3, beating the Cyclones suffered in `85. In `86 things improved, the Hawks only scored 43, while the Cyclones put seven on the board. 1987 – Iowa 48, Iowa State 9. The series saw some close games (honestly) up until `94 when the Cyclones lost 37-9 on the way to an 0-10-1 season. The last beating came on Sept. 20, 1997. The 11th ranked Hawks walloped the Cyclones 63-20 at Jack Trice Stadium. Then the tide turned. In 1998, the Cyclones shocked the Hawkeyes, and even the world as they went into Kinnick and came out victorious, 27-9. Iowa State won last season, dominating the Hawks more than the final score will ever show, 17-10. That brings us to 2000. No better year for the Cardinal and Gold to go in and run away with the game. Do I think that the game will be a blow-out? No. Iowa is playing for a reason right now. The talk of the team going 0-12 after their loss to Western Michigan this weekend has angered Coach Ferentz and his players. Do I think Iowa is going to win? No. But then again, I am a Cyclone fan, I’ve been predicting ISU the past 15 years. And just like in 98, there could be a surprise in the making. But if we are going to win big, let’s do it now. It would be great for Cyclone fans to be able to hang one over the intrastate rivals. Hawk fans have had their time; we need ours. The most points that Iowa State has scored in this series is 35, so this year would be the time to improve. And if all cylinders are working it could happen. The defense has been solid in both Cyclone wins this year. Against Ohio the rushing attack was stellar, racking up 206 yards, led by Ennis Haywood’s 159 yards. The passing attack appeared rusty, but help was on the horizon. Quarterback Sage Rosenfels had a great game two, passing for 286 yards and two scores against UNLV. The rushing game wasn’t overly impressive as Haywood only had 60 yards. But the stage is set for both rushing and passing to be in sync. If that is the case, it would be hard to stop the Cyclones. And unless the Hawkeye offense can start producing a few more yards and scores, things could get ugly. I’m not predicting a blow-out, but I sure would be happy to see one.