Voices from the Stands and Week - Dublin edition

[ISUCyclones2015]

Think this one would be a good one for this week. I have a few I’ll share but I’ll start with just one for now….

Random drunk Irish guy comes up during the beginning of the 3rd quarter and starts chatting our row up.

“I was rooting for the purple team because I was sat over there but no one wanted to talk much football over there and you guys in the red seem to care more”

Proceeds to ask questions about the game and rules and whatnot. Several fans helping and just having a good time.

After the TD we had in the 3rd he loudly proclaims some gibberish I couldn’t hear well about the pass and then a “GO CYCLONES! GO BIG RED!”

The second part had about the entire section including the 2 KState fans start waving and shaking their head like “NO NO NO don’t say that second part!” Then someone was kind enough to explain what the hell a Nebraska was lol

He literally went and bought an Iowa State Aer Lingus shirt right then though. I should’ve taken a picture with him. Good guy and all the ISU fans were very kind to him and his questions.

Maybe a fan for life after that?

What other stories you got from the game or during the week in and around Dublin/Ireland?

 

[burn587]

Section 112, corner end zone near the tunnel. There was a group of Irish locals that clearly had just picked a team at random to cheer for, but went all out in doing so. They all had bought matching ISU shirts, cheered loudly, and picked up on the ISU traditions quickly. They were even buying extra beers and passing them out at random. Other than a couple that got sloppy drunk and obnoxious they were a huge hit in our section.

On the negative side: To the guy in row H that screams “kill him!” every time a returner set up to field a kick- you are the most idiotic, uneducated ISU fan I’ve ever heard in my life and I’ve been going to ISU games for 35 years. This guy was screaming that we needed to air it out when we were doing so much damage on the ground late in the game, kept yelling that number 8 needed to get the ball (there was no #8 in the game at those times) and seemed dumbfounded that the defense could be called for delay of game. So to you ,Mr. Knowledgeable Fan, I say this- shut the **** up and actually learn the game that you’re watching.

Eskildsen’s TD catch was in our corner, and might’ve been the most skilled play of the game. Really great catch.

All in all a great experience that I won’t forget aside from the one guy I’ll try and forget.

 

[TJSClone]

Our section - All Cyclones, no Irish lads, but the true joy was seeing Coach Mac standing and cheering the whole game 20 seats from us! The Cyclone fires still burn in that man’s heart! Build the man a statue!!!!

 

[drlove]

I thought the “slobs” in 101-301-401 did nice work on the beer cup snake. ;-)

 

[Mr Janny]

Our section was visited a couple times by stadium security to escort out fans who'd had too much fun. Also saw another 3-4 lose their balance and fall down the stairs.
Not a great look, but it didn't really detract from anyone's experience (apart from the ones who got the boot) and the vast, vast majority of fans were perfectly respectful.

I have to say, the stadium itself was magnificent. Just gorgeous. Love the roof design that kept the crowd dry. Not sure how it sounded on TV, but it felt respectably loud.

 

[swiacy]

On TV appeared to be a sell out. Any number stated what final attendance was? Estimated ISU attendance?

 

[burn587]

On TV appeared to be a sell out. Any number stated what final attendance was? Estimated ISU attendance?

Announced attendance 47221. Appeared to be sold out. I’d say 45% ISU, 55% K-State based on what I could see from my seat.

 

[TitanClone]

Our section - All Cyclones, no Irish lads, but the true joy was seeing Coach Mac standing and cheering the whole game 20 seats from us! The Cyclone fires still burn in that man’s heart! Build the man a statue!!!!

Mac gave a quick speech at the in stadium pre game tailgate. Cracked a joke about the people in Vegas being on quaaludes and LSD when they came up with the line favoring K State.

 

[shadow]

I like the roof over the fans. Wish there were more food options near us.

 

[nfrine]

What did JP have to say about beer in the stadium?

 

[ScheelhaaseRock]

In 505... group of locals sat next to and behind us. At first three guys who were going absolutely nuts. A few ladies showed up later and sat with them. We found out later they were all prison guards in Dublin. One of them is a huge American football fan and was telling some ISU fans why that TD being waived off was a good thing, the other two were casual but enthusiastic... the girls had no fecking clue what was going on.

The ladies were gobsmacked at all the people who travelled to the game. One asked me "Is there only one University in Iowa?"

"Yes, just the one"

They did a FG contest in the first half with a guy from Ireland. He shanked it.. twice. The guys behind us started screaming at him to go back to Cork (or Kerry?) and how his technique was all wrong.

The locals heard of Farmageddon and asked what that was all about.

One thing that we were amazed about was *how much* it was a K-State home game. Besides one endzone being painted, a banner or two, (as much as anything was) and ISUs band being allowed a couple shared songs and one go at the fight song at halftime.... it was 100% a KState home game.

I dont know if that's how they usually go, or if KSU got some special treatment because they gave up a League home game for this... but I thought it wasn't fair to ISU fans who were marketed to and turned out in gigantic numbers that they didn't get some token advertising, fireworks at the entrance, etc.

We were very happy to see the Pop Tarts up close.

The concessions were fast and probably one of the best burgers I've had at a sports event. Beautiful stadium. The location is a bit bonkers if youre an American, just in the middle of a neighborhood, and it was the national soccer and rugby stadium. They were very insistent on what route you took in which meant walking about 12 blocks out of our way to get aligned properly. The entrances extended out about 3 blocks into the neighborhood. There was a train station at the stadium but there was no way we were waiting for that to go back to the hotel.

Overall thought the whole thing was fantastically well run and one of the best times I've ever had attending a football game. Just absolutely fantastic experience. Im primarily an Illini and root for ISU through my SO, I was completely jealous of the experience and the turnout.

Great conversation with KSU and ISU fans and locals all week. If you were on the fence and didn't go, you chose poorly.

 

[demoncore1031]

Our section - All Cyclones, no Irish lads, but the true joy was seeing Coach Mac standing and cheering the whole game 20 seats from us! The Cyclone fires still burn in that man’s heart! Build the man a statue!!!!

Coach Mac is at a lot of ISU games. Campbell has him come in to the locker room and talk to the team quite often to get them fired up. A true Cyclone.

 

[burn587]

In 505... group of locals sat next to and behind us. At first three guys who were going absolutely nuts. A few ladies showed up later and sat with them. We found out later they were all prison guards in Dublin. One of them is a huge American football fan and was telling some ISU fans why that TD being waived off was a good thing, the other two were casual but enthusiastic... the girls had no fecking clue what was going on.

The ladies were gobsmacked at all the people who travelled to the game. One asked me "Is there only one University in Iowa?"

"Yes, just the one"

They did a FG contest in the first half with a guy from Ireland. He shanked it.. twice. The guys behind us started screaming at him to go back to Cork (or Kerry?) and how his technique was all wrong.

The locals heard of Farmageddon and asked what that was all about.

One thing that we were amazed about was *how much* it was a K-State home game. Besides one endzone being painted, a banner or two, (as much as anything was) and ISUs band being allowed a couple shared songs and one go at the fight song at halftime.... it was 100% a KState home game.

I dont know if that's how they usually go, or if KSU got some special treatment because they gave up a League home game for this... but I thought it wasn't fair to ISU fans who were marketed to and turned out in gigantic numbers that they didn't get some token advertising, fireworks at the entrance, etc.

We were very happy to see the Pop Tarts up close.

The concessions were fast and probably one of the best burgers I've had at a sports event. Beautiful stadium. The location is a bit bonkers if youre an American, just in the middle of a neighborhood, and it was the national soccer and rugby stadium. They were very insistent on what route you took in which meant walking about 12 blocks out of our way to get aligned properly. The entrances extended out about 3 blocks into the neighborhood. There was a train station at the stadium but there was no way we were waiting for that to go back to the hotel.

Overall thought the whole thing was fantastically well run and one of the best times I've ever had attending a football game. Just absolutely fantastic experience. Im primarily an Illini and root for ISU through my SO, I was completely jealous of the experience and the turnout.

Great conversation with KSU and ISU fans and locals all week. If you were on the fence and didn't go, you chose poorly.

I was ok with it being presented as a “home game” for K-State. Let’s be honest, they did us a huge solid giving up a home date to make this happen. There’s no way ISU would’ve done the same. The stadium was ready at the end with Sweet Caroline and that’s all that counts (wish they would’ve worked in Juicy Wiggle at the two minute warning when the outcome was secured).

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

One thing that we were amazed about was *how much* it was a K-State home game. Besides one endzone being painted, a banner or two, (as much as anything was) and ISUs band being allowed a couple shared songs and one go at the fight song at halftime.... it was 100% a KState home game.

It was a K-State home game. They supplied the game announcer, video content and anything else that comes with a home game.

 

[Die4Cy]

I was ok with it being presented as a “home game” for K-State. Let’s be honest, they did us a huge solid giving up a home date to make this happen. There’s no way ISU would’ve done the same. The stadium was ready at the end with Sweet Caroline and that’s all that counts (wish they would’ve worked in Juicy Wiggle at the two minute warning when the outcome was secured).

They owed us one, after backing out of the second Arrowhead game a few years ago. Iowa State gave up a home game to make that first meeting happen.

 

[Cyched]

Not from the stands, but Friday night we were in the alley outside Stags Head (ISU bar) and it’s a heavy Clone contingent. Every time a KSU fan came through, they got booed.

Well I struck up a conversation with a group of Dublin locals, and they asked about the rivalry. I just explained that all of us in red were ISU, and the folks in purple are the ones they should cheer against.

Well another couple KSU guys started coming through, then a few boos started. The locals pointed them out and got excited, so I figured they’d join in on the boos.

Instead, they immediately start a loud “WAN-KERS! WAN-KERS!” chant that understandably caught on quickly. I didn’t join in because I was laughing so hard.

 

[515Clone]

They owed us one, after backing out of the second Arrowhead game a few years ago. Iowa State gave up a home game to make that first meeting happen.

Kstate didn't back out of a game at Arrowhead. They played both games in 2009 and 2010.

 

[Die4Cy]

Kstate didn't back out of a game at Arrowhead. They played both games in 2009 and 2010.

Wait, really? Am I thinking of a different neutral site series? Did they request to cancel it and we didn't agree? Not sure how I would have made that up.

I apologize but I'll keep that part of my personal canon of events, because **** those guys.

 

[515Clone]

Wait, really? Am I thinking of a different neutral site series? Did they request to cancel it and we didn't agree? Not sure how I would have made that up.

I apologize but I'll keep that part of my personal canon of events, because **** those guys.

We have only played four games at Arrowhead. Florida State, K-State twice and KU last year.

 

[BCClone]

We have only played four games at Arrowhead. Florida State, K-State twice and KU last year.

Outside of FSU (Seneca was in), we lost all those games, right?