FootballMen's Sports

An Oral History of Iowa State’s monumental 2011 win over Oklahoma State: Part I

Former Iowa State running back Jeff Woody celebrates after his touchdown sealed a 37-31 double-overtime win over then-No. 2 Oklahoma State in 2011. Photo courtesy Cyclones.com AUTHOR’S NOTE: I was able to connect with several former players who helped the Cyclones shock the college football world with a 37-31 double-overtime win over then-No. 2 Oklahoma …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

Where Are They Now: Former star running back Alexander Robinson

Alexander Robinson, ISU’s fourth all-time leading rusher, in action. (Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications). Alexander Robinson felt alone. He felt homesick — sitting in Ames, Iowa, three hours south of his home, the Twin Cities.  Spring camp of his redshirt freshman season was underway. Robinson was absent and at a crossroads. The coach who …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

WATN: Former ISU standout offensive lineman Carter Bykowski

Carter Bykowski in action during the 2011 Pinstripe Bowl. (Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications) Weight plates clinked and crashed. Players strained and shouted, powering through each set to the point of exhaustion.  It’s summer and it’s hot and it’s hard work — and back in 2008, former Iowa State standout Carter Bykowski was just …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

WHERE ARE THE NOW: Former ISU star LB -turned-NFL Draft guru Marc Lillibridge

Former ISU standout linebacker Marc Lillibridge making a tackle (Photo courtesy Iowa State Athletics Communications)  Marc Lillibridge stood on the sideline wearing a T-shirt and a neck brace instead of shoulder pads and a jersey. A devastating injury during camp with the New Orleans Saints in 1999 had robbed him of his best chance of …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

ISU standout Steve Wirtel’s long (snapping) journey could land him in the NFL Draft

Feb 26, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Iowa State st Steven Wirtel (ST02) speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports  He hops in his car and drives. It’s about a 40-minute jaunt that takes him deep into Iowa’s farm country. Once he gets …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

UPDATED WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Standout Defensive Lineman Ryan Harklau

 Former ISU defensive lineman Ryan Harklau in action against Iowa. Harklau beat the Hawks three times in his career — and played a key role in the 2000 Cyclones’ historic 9-3 Insight.com Bowl-winning season. (Photo courtesy ISU Athletics Communications). [Author’s note: During these many sports-less weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyclone Fanatic has been …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

UPDATED WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Former ISU star receiver and return man J.J. Moses

(Photo courtesy ISU Athletics Communications) [Author’s note: During these many sports-less weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyclone Fanatic has been re-running  many of my “Where Are They Now” features. Typically, we like to include an update at the end of these reissued articles, but that’s not always possible. Fortunately, I was able to catch …

Read more…

BasketballMen's Sports

UPDATED WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Allen Fieldhouse Silencer Kantrail Horton

Kantrail Horton, in action for ISU. Horton helped ISU to back-to-back Big 12 titles and an Elite Eight appearance. (Photo courtesy ISU Athletics Communications) [Author’s note: During these many sports-less weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyclone Fanatic has been re-running  many of my “Where Are They Now” features. Typically, we like to include an …

Read more…

BasketballMen's Sports

UPDATED WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Double-Double Maestro Marquis Gilstrap

Former Cyclone star Marquis Gilstrap playing against Texas in the 2009-10 season. (Photo courtesy ISU Athletics Communications).  [Author’s note: During these many sports-less weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyclone Fanatic has been re-running  many of my “Where Are They Now” features. Typically, we like to include an update at the end of these reissued …

Read more…

FootballMen's Sports

UPDATED WHERE ARE THEY NOW: Record-setting receiver Todd Blythe

 Former ISU star receiver Todd Blythe blasts through a Kansas State defender. (Photo courtesy ISU Athletics Communications) [Author’s note: During these many sports-less weeks because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cyclone Fanatic has been re-running  many of my “Where Are They Now” features. Typically, we like to include an update at the end of these reissued …

Read more…