Honor and respect. That’s what Iowa State head football coach Dan McCarney is trying to restore to the Cyclone football team.

“When you talk about bringing back honor and credibility to a football program,” he said, “it’s a weekly thing. Sooner or later in this program we’re going to beat somebody we’re not supposed to beat.”

McCarney would like to see that happen this week when the “underdog” Cyclones take on Texas A&M in a game to be televised on local station WOI Saturday.

In his weekly press conference, McCarney said scoring quickly is the key to victory over the Aggies. “We have to get off to a fast start,” he said. “No doubt about it.”

What the Cyclones will be facing is a team that’s hungry for their first ever Big 12 conference win.

The powerhouse Aggies currently lead the conference in total offense. Quarterback Branndon Stewart threw a record 64 passes against Colorado while wide receiver Albert Connell ranks eighth in the nation in receptions with 37 for 498 yards.

McCarney called the Aggie offense his “biggest challenge from a defensive standpoint” since he became ISU’s head football coach.

And their defense sizes up just as well as their offense.

“You look at them and you break them down physically,” McCarney explained. “there are no weaknesses defensively, none — zero.

“When you play five football games and those five teams are only averaging 60 yards per game rushing, that’s phenomenal.”

Turnovers remain a thorn in the side of both teams. Throughout the first four games of this season, Texas A&M had 16 turnovers but performed to perfection last week against Louisiana Tech. Iowa State is fourth in the league in turnover margin.

“Texas A&M had 16 turnovers, which is extremely high,” McCarney said.

“Then last week they had zero. They solved the problem.

“Turnovers are going to be a major factor in the outcome of this game,” he said. “We’ve got to get some turnovers in this game.”

After a week off of play, the Cyclones return to Jack Trice field ready to take on their new conference rivals. With “fresh minds and bodies,” the Cyclones hope to add a third consecutive win to a 2-2 record.

ISU quarterback Todd Doxzon said the team is ready to take on Texas A&M and score their third consecutive win for the first time since 1989.

“If you get a streak of games,” he said, “you get confident. Ninety-eight percent of my game is confidence. I feel good right now.”