COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: 44 days

Each day leading up to Iowa State’s season opener against South Dakota State, Cyclone Fanatic will check another day off the calendar with a memorable statistic, player or game as part of our Countdown to Kickoff presented by Tailgate Clothing. 

We are now officially 44 days away from South Dakota State rolling into Jack Trice Stadium for the 2018 season opener. It just so happens, the last time Iowa State hosted the Jackrabbits they opened their season with a 44-17 victory on Aug. 28, 2008.

The Cyclones rushed for 229 yards on 42 carries while Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates combined to pass for 159 yards and a pair of scores on 13-of-19 passing. Defensively, Iowa State intercepted five Jackrabbit passes, including one returned for a touchdown by Derec Schmidgall.

As a team, Iowa State compiled 388 yards of total offense and won its first of two games in the 2008 season. It would be Gene Chizik‘s last season as the head coach in Ames before leaving the program to take over at Auburn.

In 44 days, Iowa State hopes to duplicate the result from its last meeting with the Jackrabbits to open a season.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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