Raw chicken.

Kind of makes you think of a dead duck or perhaps what Cyclone fans everywhere are going to look like after our intrastate rivals dismantle our whole inflated self-image, produced after actually having won a single game in over a year. (Yep, I passed Psych 101.)

However, I certainly hope a football game doesn’t have that much affect on your well-being, but unfortunately, I am haunted by the image of raw chicken whenever I think of the age-old rivalry between the state schools.

Right now you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about. Let me take you back to last year…

There were happy times and there were sad times. I was a freshman—a time for new starts, new friends and a new life. Then there was Jim Walden, need I say more.

I was in search for something to be involved in when I first got here, so I joined the flagline in the Iowa State Marching Band. The band was OK, even though I quit halfway through the semester, but that’s for another column on another day. Sooooo, on with the story.

Every year wherever the mismatched battle of the gridiron is to be held, the bands have a kind of showdown also. Well, before getting on the field to perform for the soldout Kinnick Stadium last year, the other flag twirlers and I had to walk in front of the Iowa student section.

Let me tell you — it was pure Hell.

We were barraged with crude remarks from the fans. Their quite unoriginal outbursts ranged from how stupid we were to how we should get excited because at this stadium they had grass for us to graze on.

I stood apalled and disgusted. And right after, I saw someone get pelted with a chicken breast.

I admit I laughed at that, but come on. Is that the way fellow Iowans should be treated?

Don’t get me wrong. I know how fans can get caught up in the game, just look at the recent removal of the goal post by ISU students at our first game. My dad and I ran all the way to Lake Laverne to see the action.

I guess the point I’m trying to get across to all you readers is if someone hands you a piece of meat this weekend and tries to get you to throw it, JUST SAY NO!

It’ll be hard to resist the urge to hurl the meat at an unsuspecting Iowa fan, but in the end we’ll all be better people for it. Trust me. I speak from experience.

I still avoid the frozen meat section in the grocery store.

However, if you do get the urge to throw a vegetable, namely corn, brought on by some self-proclaimed guru, I condone it 100%.

I think the reason we have such a bitter rivalry and some resort to throwing raw meat is because of how personal this rivalry is. I know probably every one of you out there knows someone who attends the University of Iowa. My boyfriend even goes there and I still like him.

The students aren’t the only ones who have personal ties to this ball game.

For the coaching staff here at ISU, Iowa football was a way of life for almost 12 years. Our leader in the battle for this mythical state championship, Coach Dan McCarney, played for the Hawks and then assisted under legendary coach Hayden Fry.

Hopefully Coach “Mac” will dispel from our minds the thought of the 13th straight loss against our foes on Saturday. He’ll make us forget that the Hawks are favored by two touchdowns and give us another reason to tear down the uprights.

Then when the words “raw chicken” are mentioned maybe we’ll think of the looks of disbelief on the faces of the fans of the black and gold, when we beat them on Saturday, if I’m there. I’m still looking for a ticket, hint, hint. (Call me.)