Saturday night was the kind of night that could send any Cyclone fan into a fit of depression. This would have been the night to see an irate group of fans take to the street and run amuck.

The strange thing was that after the heartbreaking losses and controversial calls, the streets of Ames were quiet.

One might have thought it was Thursday night when both our men’s and women’s basketball teams’ seasons ended after a couple of questionable calls.

But Iowa State didn’t lose on Thursday. In fact, the men won, by a lot. Fans were excited and wanted to celebrate. Who can blame them?

Iowa State was picked to win the game against UCLA by one point even after more than 30 wins over some great teams. Many people thought Iowa State couldn’t beat the team that was considered the “hottest team in the nation” even though Iowa State was the only No. 2 seed left in the tournament.

Iowa State fans watched as the men pretty much embarrassed the “hottest team in the nation” by 24 points. The fans could not contain their excitement, which is completely understandable.

The fans wanted to scream from the top of their lungs that Iowa State was the best in the country, and they did, as well as a few other phrases that have become popular riot chants over the past couple years.

The fans were in a giving mood and simply wanted to share their excitement with the city of Ames. They did this by flocking to the streets and “rioting,” which is apparently becoming the way that Iowa State students do just about everything.

Our team wins a big, important basketball game? Let’s riot! Tired of dry Veishea? How about we riot? Good sale on cargo pants at the mall? Bring on the riot!

This just makes me wonder: Doesn’t it seem a little backward

that when we win a great game we break stuff, but when we lose a controversial game, we all relax, stay inside, and play “Scrabble”?

Personally, I was more willing and eager to break things after the game on Saturday, but I guess I am the exception.

Don’t get me wrong. I am all for a big party in the streets that blocks traffic and generally makes it a pain in the neck for anyone driving. Bring it on.

I guess I just don’t understand the connection.

“Oh, goodie. Our team just won a great game and we made it to the Elite Eight! Let’s go rip that ‘No parking between 2 and 6 a.m.’ sign down!”

It’s not the actual wanting to rip the sign down that I don’t understand. I have tried to park in Ames before.

It’s the cause and effect relationship between the two that I apparently missed.

A happier, less destructive reaction seems more appropriate.

Let’s keep the part where everyone gathers in the street. I still really like that part. The loud cheering for our team can also stay. However, instead of the destruction and chaos, let’s go for a more celebratory approach like hugging and dancing.

This would destroy less property, but it wouldn’t be less entertaining. Hundreds of drunk fans hugging and dancing in the streets is always good quality entertainment.

There was one part of the criticism of the events on Thursday that bothered me more than what the actual rioting.

On the news report aired right after the late game, News Channel 8 reported on the activities that were taking place in Ames. One of the anchors then made a comment about how that isn’t how they should have acted after a win.

I agreed that some of the fans may have gone too far with their celebrating.

However, the next day on the news on the same channel, they reported similar instances at a few other schools whose teams had also won their basketball games. The students they talked about had not only ripped down street signs like ISU students, but they had also been tipping cars over.

The anchors then made a comment about how students were just excited and wanted to celebrate. They didn’t actually defend what the students did, but they made it seem like it was nothing to get concerned about.

They gave the impression that a little good-natured car tipping is an acceptable way to celebrate, but once you cross that line of knocking down street signs, you have just gone too far.

This confuses me more then our fans’ actions. Oh, well.

Congratulations to the men’s and women’s teams and coaches on great seasons, and thank you for giving us crazy fans some of the most exciting games we will probably ever see. Except, hopefully, for next year.

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Jenny Joanning is a junior in journalism and mass communications from Norwalk.