Offensive coverage

Randall Huff

Please include defensive as well as offensive coverage of Iowa State football.

These players deserve as much recognition for their sacks, tackles and fumble recoveries as do their offensive counterparts.

I’m tired of reading that the defense played well without learning who they are.

Forgotten in the celebrations following this year’s football victory over Iowa, for example, was Breon Ansley’s failure to stop the Hawkeye stars on their way to the end zone in the prior year’s game.

A year ago, photographs of the Cyclone cornerback’s missed tackles dominated the front page of The Des Moines Register as well as its sports pages.

This year seemed to start out equally poorly when Breon was singled out as the television announcers set up the Iowa State defense in the first game.

His name was highlighted, an honor usually reserved for the outstanding player who is crucial to the team’s success.

Unfortunately, the announcer’s only comment at that time was that Breon is too short to play major college football.

I hope that Breon’s solid play in the first three games this year has begun to silence such critics.

Because he’s a second-year starter as a true sophomore, his seven unassisted tackles in this year’s Iowa game portend well for the entire team’s continued success.

Was Ansley the leading tackler in the Ball State game?

Your coverage of the team makes it impossible to tell.

Any football coach will tell you that turnovers are an important key to any victory, but you never mention who recovered a fumble or made an interception.

Acknowledging such contributions should make your readers aware if we have someone who is acquiring the statistics to eventually become an All-American.

Wouldn’t it be good to appreciate such players throughout their careers, instead of being surprised to learn of their post-season honors?


Randall Huff

Adjunct assistant

English