Oh, what a difference a decade makes in the world of college football.

During the late 80s, (1988 to be exact), Kansas and Kansas State played a meaningless football game near the end of the Big Eight schedule between two schools that featured shiny identical records of 0-8 going into the contest. Kansas won the vaunted Donut Bowl showdown that year, 20-13, and both teams preceded to lose the rest of their games that season.

Fast forward to the 1995 season. Kansas and Kansas State come into their match up on Saturday ranked 6th and 14th respectively. Kansas comes in with a 7-0 record and K-State weighs in with a 6-1 record. The game not only has conference championship implications, but national championship implications as well.

What has happened in the past seven seasons to bring about this change of fortunes in the Sunflower State?

Three things took place:

1) Both schools had administrations that were committed to bringing winning football programs to their schools and doing it the right way without bringing a police blotter full of problems to their respective schools.

2) These administrators brought enthusiastic coaches to their programs. Bill Snyder and Glen Mason breathed new life into programs that many had thought were DOA.

3) Just as importantly, both these schools invested millions of dollars to improve their facilities and bring them up to the level of teams in the Top 25.

The next question that comes to mind is, can the same thing happen at Iowa State?

It is way to early to tell, but so far things seem to be going in the right direction. It seems ISU has made a sincere effort to bring a winning football program to Ames. Dan McCarney and staff have created enthusiasm and excitement for the football team that has not been seen in nearly two decades. The ISU facilities are still lacking compared to other Big Eight schools, but the remodeling of the Olsen Building and installation of a natural surface on Jack Trice Field are much needed improvements.

What ISU football fans need to remember is if our football team is to reach the level of a Kansas or a Kansas State, it is going to take time. One or two seasons are not enough to cure ISU’s football woes. It took Kansas and Kansas State three seasons just to post winning records.

Many football experts consider three to be the magic number for turning around a program. It took Hayden Fry three seasons before he got the Hawkeyes on their winning ways. McCarney was a member of Fry’s coaching staff along side of Kansas State’s head man Snyder during those years. If Troy Davis and company can stick around for two more seasons, there is little doubt in my mind that Cyclone fans will be making bowl plans this time 24 months from now.

On the subject of Troy Davis, I think it is somewhat appalling to me all of the negative coverage this student-athlete has received the past couple of days.

What has this talented sophomore done to garner this controversy?

Absolutely nothing.

In an age of college transaction boxes that look more like police blotters everyday, it is refreshing to see an athlete who has put as much effort into his schoolwork as Davis.

I have not a chance to speak with Troy myself, but the members of the Daily sports department who have, say he comes across as very personable and pretty much down to earth. He does appear nervous when has had to speak in public, but what 20-year-old wouldn’t be nervous after having the national spotlight thrust upon them?

I think the governor should learn how to speak, before he puts his foot in mouth again.