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Cyclones swirling to rare heights
Posted: Tuesday October 19, 1999 09:51 PM
By Tim Griffin, Special to CNN/SI Long-suffering Iowa State fans might have something to do in late December rather than watching snow drift. The frigid climate of Ames has been all too familiar for the Cyclones after missing out on bowl bids since Earle Bruce’s team went to the Hall of Fame Bowl in 1978. But a couple of more victories like the Cyclones’ gutty 24-21 triumph over Missouri might get them thinking about leaving town for some post-season football. The Cyclones (4-2) already have matched the best win total for any ISU team in the past 10 seasons. They are only two victories away from being bowl-eligible. “Sooner or later, some Iowa State team is going to turn the corner,” coach Dan McCarney said. “I hope it’s this one. I’m tired of waiting, and I know our players, coaching staff and fans are, too.” The Cyclones spotted Missouri two quick touchdowns before charging back for 24 unanswered points in the victory. ISU’s last conference road triumph came in 1991 at Missouri. ISU tailback Darren Davis scored two touchdowns and rushed for 111 yards -- his seventh consecutive 100-yard performance this season. Davis also extended his string without a fumble to 625 carries. His last bobble came in 1997 against Texas A&M. “We’ve got some good players with good hearts and we’re just sick of losing,” Iowa State offensive tackle Bill Marsau said. “That was the difference.” The Cyclones got an inspirational boost from defensive tackle Ryan Harklau, who missed the last five weeks with a broken foot and came back at least a month ahead of schedule for the Missouri game. His presence helped the Cyclone defense come up with two defensive stands inside the ISU 5 and forced two fumbles. With the victory, the Cyclones will face Colorado this week in a game McCarney terms “the most meaningful game at Iowa State in several years.” “Every game gets bigger as we put ourselves in position to do something that hasn’t been done around here in many, many years,” he said. “There are some real positive things about this team. But none of that matters unless we win some more games.”
Cowboys' QB still questionableOklahoma State could have projected starting quarterback Tony Lindsay back for the Cowboys’ game against Kansas State on Saturday.Lindsay suffered a strained knee ligament in the Cowboys’ season-opening victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 4 and has not played since. “Tony is making progress,” Oklahoma State coach Bob Simmons said. “He is getting stronger based on the reports I’m hearing from the trainer and what I’ve seen of him in practice. If he is cleared, I would hope he would be a big part of my game plan.” Backup quarterback B.J. Tiger has played well in Lindsay’s absence, rushing for 212 yards and completing 40 of 76 passes for 565 yards and five touchdowns. KSU coach Bill Snyder said the two quarterbacks have comparable skills. “Tony and what I have seen of B.J. Tiger in these last few ballgames are very similar,” Snyder said. “Both of them are fine athletes. Both throw the ball well. Both have provided leadership.” Snyder said K-State would prepare exactly the same way whether or not Lindsay would be playing. “It doesn’t mean we wouldn’t see some different things,” Snyder said. “But we would anticipate seeing some things we haven’t seen no matter who the quarterback might be.”
Red Raiders on the riseThe ultimate schizoid team in the Big 12 is Texas Tech, which has been unable to notch back-to-back victories all season.Last week’s biorhythms were “up” for the Red Raiders, who responded with an impressive 31-10 triumph over Colorado. The victory follows a disappointing loss at Oklahoma State, which followed an upset victory over Texas A&M and a humiliating defense to North Texas. Freshman tailback Shaud Williams keyed Tech’s attack by rushing for a career-best 230 yards. It marked the top performance by a freshman running back in Tech history. “Hopefully, the team you saw today, that’s the real Tech team,” Williams said. “Hopefully, this will be the team that finishes the season.” Coming into Saturday’s game, Williams rushed for 218 yards earlier this season. But the big game didn’t impress Colorado linebacker Jashon Sykes. “He’s an average back,” Sykes said about Williams. “We made him look good.” But Williams’ big performance convinced Baylor coach Kevin Steele, who will face the Red Raiders this week. “If we find a running back in the state of Texas that has the last name of Williams, we're going to recruit him -- no matter what,” Steele said. Shaud Williams has replaced Ricky Williams, the Big 12’s leading rusher last year who was shelved with a season-ending knee injury in Tech’s season opener. The Williams are not related.
Pair of missing WildcatsKansas State will play the next two or three weeks without top tailbacks Frank Murphy (high ankle sprain/arthroscopic surgery) and David Allen (right knee strain). Coach Bill Snyder hopes to have both back for the Wildcats’ final three games of the season against Colorado, Nebraska and Missouri. With the tandem out, massive Joe Hall has stepped up. The 300-pound junior college transfer rushed 25 times for a career-high 195 yards and two touchdowns against Utah State. “For a guy that big, that’s a lot of carries,” Snyder said. “We’ve addressed with him that he keep himself well-enough conditioned so he can keep doing that, carrying as much weight as he is. But he’s a good athlete.”
Dykes staying putTexas Tech coach Spike Dykes said reports that he is considering quitting at the end of the year are false. “I’m not thinking about it at all,” Dykes said. “A lot of people are thinking about it for me, but you know how that works. That’s part of the deal.” The Red Raiders are in a three-way tie with Texas and Texas A&M for the South Division lead at 2-1. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are a half-game behind at 1-1 in conference play. “It’s been talked about way too much,” Dykes said. “When they turn on the heat in the kitchen, you don’t throw up your hands and surrender. We’re still trying to win a championship here. I know that sounds ludicrous to a lot of people, but that’s what we’re trying to do.”
Worth notingNebraska extended its record consecutive appearance streak in the Associated Press poll to 300 weeks. The last time the Cornhuskers were unranked was Oct. 5, 1981. Florida State has the second longest current streak at 174 weeks … Can you say “Air Slocum”? Eleven of Texas A&M quarterback Randy McCown’s 21 passes against Kansas went for at least 10 yards, including bombs of 78, 44, 41 and 37 yards. McCown’s 362-yard effort was third-best effort in school history, trailing only Branndon Stewart (385 yards against Colorado in 1996) and Edd Hargett (376 against SMU in 1968) … Saturday’s upcoming battle between Texas and Nebraska matches the third- and fourth-winningest programs in history (Nebraska 737, Texas 731). Iowa State has been Missouri’s toughest homecoming opponent. The Cyclones have posted a 5-1-2 record including Saturday’s victory, with Missouri’s win coming in 1968 … Kansas’ loss to Texas A&M extended the Jayhawks’ 12-game conference losing streak … Coming into Saturday’s game, Texas Tech’s defense had generated only seven turnovers in five games. The Red Raiders produced six miscues (four fumbles, two interceptions) against Colorado … A&M starting TB Dante Hall played briefly before suffering a sprained ankle against Kansas. He is listed as doubtful for Saturday’s game against Oklahoma. FB D’Andre Hardeman (sprained ankle/groin injury) and LB Jason Glenn (sprained ankle) are listed as probable, according to Slocum. A&M K Terence Kitchens and Kansas K Joe Garcia both had their fourth blocked field-goal attempts of the season in Saturday’s game.Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News. Check back every Tuesday for his latest CNN/SI Insider.
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