As the Cyclones are about to lose yet another in-state stud recruit, I got to thinking about the entire program’s lack of ability to bring in the big names.

Think about it, folks. Let’s look at the highly-touted recruits that have come to Ames in the ’90s.

First there was Fred Hoiberg. He was from Ames. They called him “The Mayor.” If he wouldn’t have attended the home town school, he would’ve been lynched.

So, because of location, location, location, ISU got an All-American.

Let’s move ahead a few years to Marcus Fizer. The first ever McDonald’s All-American to attend Iowa State came here because (and stick with me here) one of his guardians in Louisiana took care of Tim Floyd’s wife’s grandmother.

Fizer was introduced to Floyd’s wife Bev at age 14, and Floyd was coaching at New Orleans.

Again, a connection to a coach or a city that brought a student athlete to ISU and not necessarily anything else.

How about the football program? Well, the fact that Dan McCarney has nine wins in four years should tell you that not many studs have been brought in, but one good example does show itself.

While the rest of the area schools (Miami, Florida State, etc.) gave up on Troy Davis when he failed to qualify academically, ISU kept knocking on his door.

When he did qualify at the eleventh hour, he showed tremendous loyalty by opting to wear cardinal and gold for his collegiate career. He subsequently became the first player in college history to rush for over 2,000 yards twice in a row.

In the process, he brought record crowds to Jack Trice Stadium and gave ISU the chance to win in most games.

Another important thing he did for the program was bring his siblings. Brother Darren has been a solid contributor the last two years, netting over 1,000 yards in each occasion, while younger brother Jason will look to pitch in this season.

And look at the recruits we have gotten in. I will use quarterback Ben Dougherty as an example.

Coming out of high school, this man was all-world. He broke Drew Bledsoe’s records in the state of Washington and looked like the next coming of John Elway, or at least Bret Oberg, to many Cyclone fans.

So, as I have become accustomed to doing, I asked myself, “Why did he come here?”

I think I know now. Dougherty currently stands as the third-string quarterback who is being considered for a move to linebacker. Hmmm, maybe he wasn’t as good as his numbers indicate.

Maybe that’s why ISU got him.

And now Mason City hoopster Nick Horner, who narrowed his choices to Iowa and Iowa State some time ago, appears ready to commit to Iowa. The score now reads Steve Alford one, Larry Eustachy zero. And it’s not going to get any easier for the head man at ISU.

The state appears enamored with Alford already, and besides Horner, he has signed a stud junior college recruit and may just have sharpshooter Luke Recker in his back pocket as well.

It’s too bad Eustachy’s wife never baby-sat for Horner when he was a child. Maybe then he would be playing for instead of against ISU.

---

Josh Flickinger is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Rockford, Ill. Has anyone seen Matt Craft?