When I came to Iowa State four years ago, I had never even heard of the Cyclones.

Back in Illinois, they never received any publicity. It didn’t take more than a couple of games to realize why.

Despite the fact that the team was bad, my friends and I never missed a home game that year. I was fortunate enough to be there when the Cyclones played the game of their lives and defeated the Orange Bowl-bound Huskers.

In the years to follow, I and a few other fans sat through games in snow, rain and cold. We survived a winless season that threatened the future of many key players. I went to games where there were almost no fans in the upper deck. Games where the opposing team had more vocal support than the Cyclones did.

Iowa State fans went to the game expecting to lose and were rarely disappointed.

This will, with a bit of luck, be my final football season as an ISU student. It is difficult to describe to someone who was not here during the winless season just how much things have changed.

The program has improved dramatically in the past year despite the win/loss record. As everybody knows, we have been in a position to have a winning season but have been unable to slam the door in key situations.

Some say that the team is so used to losing that they don’t know how to close out a game. The fans here, for all of their increased support, are guilty of the same lack of faith.

I was talking to a friend here from Nebraska following the Texas A&M game. He made a statement that knocked me backward for a moment. He said that Iowa State fans were pitiful.

This, following a contest in which the Cyclones played their best game since the above-mentioned Nebraska game. A contest where the stadium was as loud as I have ever heard it. Once he explained what he meant, however, I reluctantly had to agree with him.

When the Cyclones make a mistake, our fans sit down and you can hear the murmuring begin. What should happen is that the stadium gets so loud the opposing team can’t hear anything.

A perfect example of this concept occurred Saturday in Colorado. Our defense forced a critical fumble during the third quarter and set our offense up in a perfect position to score.

There was only one problem: the offense couldn’t hear anything and ended up going 15 yards in the wrong direction. Instead of scoring a touchdown or kicking a field goal we were forced to punt. Ask our offensive line if crowd noise can’t play a part in deciding a game.

This Saturday will mark the final home game of the season. It will also, in all probability, be the last time Troy Davis runs wild through an opponent’s defense in Ames. There is no better player in all of college football.

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to see him play know this to be true despite the ranting of a washed-up, ex-coach employed by a certain sports network.

There is a possibility that Troy will reach 2,000 yards this weekend. Even Lee Corso would be forced to show him the respect he deserves if this happens.

There is an old saying: “You don’t know what you have until it is taken away.” With no disrespect for Darren, this community may not see another back this good in a long time. If you have not seen him run in person, do whatever you have to do and secure a ticket to the game.

I am presenting this challenge to the ISU community: Go to the game. Be as loud as you possibly can. If you leave the game able to speak, you didn’t give everything at the game like our players do each week. If the Cyclones make a mistake, stand up and get LOUDER.

If it’s freezing outside, take your gloves off so the team can hear you clap.

There will likely be 10,000 Husker fans in attendance at the game. Take this opportunity to show their team and fans that Jack Trice Stadium (as it always should have been named) is no longer an easy place to show up and collect a win.

Back in Illinois, Iowa State football is now covered in the newspaper. I can’t wait to come back after I graduate and watch the Cyclones win.

At my final game as a student I would like nothing more than to see ISUgo out the same way Isaw them come in. IT IS POSSIBLE!

The fans have to believe that and let everyone in attendance know it. Be LOUD this weekend.

GO CLONES!!!

Brian Resac

Senior

Mechanical Engineering