Sep 1, 2018; Ames, IA, USA; Fans wait out a rain delay during a game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits at Jack Trice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reese Strickland-USA TODAY Sports
AMES — Matt Campbell and his staff have told us for two years the storm was brewing, but we never saw it coming to this.
After 4 minutes and 55 seconds of the Cyclones’ 2018 season-opener against South Dakota State and a 55-yard Deshaunte Jones touchdown catch, lightning in the area forced a delay. Then it did again, and again, and again.
Finally, shortly after 9:40 p.m., the game was canceled with no end to central Iowa’s severe weather woes in sight. As of this writing, there is no plan to reschedule the game or resume it with 10:55 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
None of the stats recorded in the first few minutes of the game will count. Jones’ dash to the end zone, Mike Rose‘s first collegiate series and the beginning of Kyle Kempt’s sixth-year of eligibility will only exist in the memories of those who were there to see it live.
It is the first time an Iowa State football game has been canceled since 1963 when a contest against Drake was canceled following the John F. Kennedy assassination. Obviously, this is not as sad as that reason, but it is still a pretty dang disappointing start to the most anticipated season in the history of Iowa State football.
We’ll try to start again next week in Iowa City, but this time the stakes will be slightly higher. We all hate the way things came to an end Saturday night at Jack Trice Stadium, but the reality is hate week has only just begun.
