The past two starting tight ends at Iowa State have either had good blocking ability or a great ability to catch and run. If those two skills could be combined, Iowa State would have the tight end that most teams dream about. With Mike Banks the Cyclones have just that. A tight end that can match Damion Gibson’s blocking ability and combine it with Andy Stenstrud’s ability to catch the ball. “Every offense has playmakers and big playmakers, potential playmakers and real playmakers and we feel like he is a playmaker on our offense and we got to make sure we get him the football,” said head coach Dan McCarney. “I knew I could do some things with the football in my hands,” Banks said. “I was just worried that I wasn’t going to get to play until I was a senior.” But Banks, who came to Iowa State from Ogden in 1998, impressed the coaches with his work ethic and soon earned a starting spot. “I’ve been around a lot of tough players in 25 years of college football, but he’s as tough as they come. He’s determined, he’s tenacious, he’s a tremendous leader, and he will not settle for losing,” McCarney said.. Banks credits his success to his work ethic on the practice field and in the weight room. “I worked as hard as I could,” Banks explained. “I worked hard both on the field and in the weight room. I just tried to impress the coaches and I made some plays in practice.” He also credits former Iowa State tight end Gibson, who was a senior when Banks was a freshman. Banks said watching Gibson gave him a good idea of how to be a “I knew I had to be a good blocker if I wanted to play,” Banks said. Now Banks is assuming the role of upper classman as he prepares for his junior season. A season that has many people expecting the Cyclones to do good things and go to a bowl game. He said the most important thing about being a good leader is to “lead by example”. Banks explained that if young guys catch players slacking off, then they will too. But if the veterans are showing a good work ethic, then the young guys will also. And for now Banks isn’t concerning himself with all of the preseason hype. He acknowledged there is pressure from the fans, but he said that the team isn’t worried about that. A talk from former Athletic Director Gene Smith has helped the team. Banks said Smith came and talked to the team before he left for his new job at Arizona State and told them not to worry about pressure from the fans, but to take the season “one game at a time.” As for any pressure that may be on McCarney to have a winning season, Banks says he supports his coach all the way. “He means so much to this team. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for him,” Banks said. “If he would have been gone last year, I would have been gone. I like to work as hard as I can to gain his respect.” McCarney has noticed Banks efforts. “I’ve been around a lot of [tight ends], but if he goes on and continues to improve he’s got a chance to be about as good a tight end as I’ve been around,” McCarney said. Banks has set high goals for the upcoming season. Besides playing for a winning team, his personal goals include being an All-Big 12 tight end. “I want to be a force, someone who needs to be respected,” Banks said. “If he continues to improve and he stays healthy, I can see that written all over him in the next couple of years,” McCarney said. The coaching staff will give Banks ample playing time to help him reach his goals. “We’ll use him any way and every way possible,” McCarney said. “He’s tough, he’s physical, he’s determined, he wants the ball as a receiver, he also likes to be at the point of attack when we are running the football. He’s a man playing the game of football and I’m proud he’s on my team.” As for the pressure of the upcoming season, Banks remains optimistic. “Hopefully the pieces will fall together in the puzzle,” he said. The 2000 season could see Banks being a big piece of the puzzle for the Cyclones. “He will not settle for second,” McCarney said. “He’s one of those guys you don’t want to play in checkers or tennis or table tennis or pool or football, he doesn’t want to lose. You can’t get enough of those guys on your team.”