CLEAR LAKE, Iowa — The song Smoke on the Water is dead — well at least at Iowa State football games.
It was becoming clear that Deep Purple’s 1972 hit wouldn’t be returning as the Cyclones’ entrance song over the past several weeks but head coach Matt Campbell slammed the coffin and hammered in the nail during Wednesday’s Cyclone Tailgate Tour stop in Clear Lake.
“I don’t even know Smoke on the Water, so that’s out,” Campbell said with a laugh. “We’ve been going anywhere from WWE to, potentially, some good rap. You know, we’ll figure it out.”
The Cyclones ran out to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin’s intro music for the spring game last month but the permanent song hasn’t been decided.
“It will be cool,” Campbell said. “I can promise you that.”
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.
