Will Iowa State ever get to the same level in football as Iowa?

Tough question, but only time will tell. One thing is certain, though, after Saturday’s in-state game— Iowa is not going to fall to the level of where Iowa State is at right now anytime soon.

That became apparently clear after viewing Iowa’s 21-20 victory over Arizona and then watching Iowa State blow an 18-point lead in the fourth quarter and lose in overtime to Wyoming.

Did Iowa show that they are the physical superior to Iowa State at every position and that tomorrow’s game will be a total physical mismatch?

Not at all. What Iowa showed is that they have a stong knowledge of what it takes to win what coaches call “field presence”, something ISU does not have.

What else would describe the seven minute and change drive that the Iowa offense launched that ended the game and iced the victory for Hawkeyes?

Did the Iowa offense dominate the Wildcats for 60 minutes?

Not by a long shot. The Hawk offense was pretty much befuddled by the “Desert Swarm” defense for most of 53 minutes, but when it came time to do the one thing it would take for the Hawks to win the game the Iowa offense did the job.

What happened a few hours later in Ames? The Iowa State offense pretty much had their way with the Wyoming defense for three straight quarters.

But as soon as the game was on the line, the Cyclone offense became the great disappearing act.

True, Wyoming did mix up its defense and throw the blitz at Iowa State on just about every down.

That is not the point. The point is the Iowa State offense did not do the things it takes win the game. You can make compliments or excuses for the Iowa State offense, but until they and the defense can come up with a way to beat a team like Wyoming, Iowa State will never get to the level of a program like the University of Iowa’s.

A big part of getting to the level of a program like Iowa’s is psychological. Starting Iowa State freshman defensive lineman Bill Marsau said as much at a press conference on Tuesday.

“I think what happens is Iowa starts beating us and pretty soon the reputation is that we can’t beat them and then everyone starts getting down on themselves,” he said. “We have to turn it around and get a 100 percent belief that we can beat them.”

Believing in winning and refusing to lose are two different things, but they go a long way toward building a winning tradition. According to Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney, the Cyclones are already showing progress in not accepting defeat.

“Sunday when we came in here and watched the tapes and made our corrections there was a lot of hurt, a lot of pain, and that’s a good sign, I think after a loss like that,” McCarney said on Tuesday. “When teams are used to losing and they accept losing, I think they get over them pretty quickly.”

Bill Kopatich is a senior in journalism from Des Moines.