Iowa State head football coach Dan McCarney regained the look of satisfaction on his face after the Cyclones’ 38-14 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Not only was it the first Big Eight win for ISU this season, it was also the Cyclones’ first Big Eight win since the a 27-23 upset over 18th-ranked Kansas State on Nov. 6, 1993.

“It’s extremely important, and hopefully there will be many more of them [victories] in years to come. You’ve got to break the ice to get the first one. Not only break it to get the first win, but to win it the way we did,” said McCarney. “I thought we went out and played about as good as this football team could play in the second half.

“Despite what the paper said today, I do smile once in awhile, so I’m smiling real big right now.”

OSU head coach Ron Simmons was in agreement with McCarney.

“They dominated our offensive line the entire second half. We just couldn’t get anything going or make the right plays,” Simmons said.

The game also introduced ISU freshman quarterback Todd Bandhauer as a starter for the injured Todd Doxzon. Bandhauer, who was competing in only his third college football game, finished with 137 yards on 11 of 18 passing with three touchdowns.

“I couldn’t be more proud of him. He was outstanding. I thought he threw some excellent balls. He carried himself like a veteran, not a guy who’s only played three games in college football,” McCarney said.

Simmons was also somewhat surprised by the performance of Bandhauer.

“All I knew was that he was a young kid who hadn’t started a game. He made some good throws, but we gave him all day. If we don’t, then maybe he’s a horse of a different color, but he did play well,” Simmons said.

Saturday’s win also marked Troy Davis claiming two more records. Davis surpassed Blaise Bryant’s single season rushing and all-purpose yards record. Davis tallied 202 yards on 37 carries to bring his total rushing yardage to 1,526 yards, eclipsing Bryant’s record by 10 yards.

Davis’s all-purpose yardage increased to 1,768 yards compared to Bryant’s 1,718 yards. Davis still has three games left in the season.

“Davis is as fine a college running back as there is in the country. He does it every week. He’s been consistent. The Heisman is supposed to be synonymous with the most outstanding football player in college football and I would put him up with any top player in America,” McCarney said.

“He’s got a huge challenge coming up against a national championship caliber team in Nebraska. Don’t sell him short. There’s been a lot of backs that lined up to play football for Iowa State for a lot of years and he just broke the rushing record.”

When Davis was asked who he would vote for in the Heisman race, his answer was short and simple.

“I would vote for myself for the Heisman,” Davis grinned.

The Cyclones will pack up and head for Lincoln this Saturday to take on the newly-crowned number one ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers.