What is cardinal and gold, weighs a combined 23,854 pounds, and should have a winning record?

No, I am not talking about the five members of the Women’s Intramural Mud Wrestling Team, even though there are many striking similarities.

I am talking, of course, about our football team.

The Iowa State Cyclones fell to the Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday, 27-28. Yup, that’s right, one point. Am I happy? No. Am I surprised that the Cyclones lost? Not really.

The Cyclones are making it a habit of doing something really good, and then turning around and blowing it. They take their opponent to the edge, but fail to push them over the cliff.

But alas, the bad habits are the toughest to break.

The Iowa State Football team should be 5-1 overall. But they aren’t. And it’s all over a difference of 7 points.

First the Wyoming disappointment. Then Texas A&M. And now, Oklahoma State. History does repeat itself.

I can see why every university schedules their homecoming festivities around the Cyclones. No better way to butter up the alumni than roast the Cyclones.

Sure, there are a lot of “what-ifs” and “could have beens”, but let’s get down to the basics.

A 17 point lead in the third quarter. Where did that go? Down the tubes, a little reminiscent of Wyoming. And to make matters worse, four of the Oklahoma State starters were on the sidelines with injuries.

When the Cyclones have a big lead, and their opponents a little downhearted, they have to stomp out what little dignity the other team has left.

Our football team is loaded with talent. They have what it takes to win. The team is getting close to having a winning season. It is not too far away.

But you have to remember that it’s all part of a big cycle — win, recruit, win some more.

Lose and you potentially lose the top recruits, too. It’s got to be at the top of Dan McCarney’s mind.

But even in the loss, something positive did happen. Troy Davis broke Dexter Green’s record for all time yards rushing, getting 238 yards in Saturday’s game, making Davis the best running back in Iowa State history.

Davis now has 3,482 career yards to put on his resume, not to mention the 4,252 all purpose yards he also possesses, another school record.

Anyways, a little forecast that anyone with even one iota of sports knowledge can confidently make — that the worst is yet to come.

If you think that Wyoming or Oklahoma State was tough, then you just have to wonder what kind of impression Nebraska, Colorado or Kansas State will leave on the team’s record.

Terms such as carnage and slaughter could be used to describe their outcomes.

The team takes to the road next weekend against Baylor. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. It might be the team’s last (reasonable) chance at a win this season. So fly on down and enjoy Waco, Texas’, hospitality.

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Rory Flaherty is a junior in construction engineering from LeMars.