I think it technically started in the late 70's when the CFA was formed. They essentially sued the NCAA for TV rights. For quite a few years college football was more tied the CFA than they were the NCAA.
A Image From a Different Era
- Thread starter MikeinWDM
- Start date
I think it technically started in the late 70's when the CFA was formed. They essentially sued the NCAA for TV rights. For quite a few years college football was more tied the CFA than they were the NCAA.
Awesome thanks for sharing! I arrived my freshman year in the fall of 1975 and saw the very first game at the Jack (vs Air Force). I hated the Jack back in those days - just a wind tunnel with crappy sound, "astro turf" over asphalt and a long walk from our dorms.
What was the capacity of Clyde Williams? was it even 45K?
Yes, I could agree; with the advent of cable TV. We hardly saw any 'Clone (or Hawkeye) games on ABC - which carried most Saturday games in the late 60s / early 70s, when I was growing up. I attended the 1977 game vs Iowa (in Iowa City) and it was a huge promotional deal to get regional coverage - unfortunately we didn't have VCRs to record. The only other time I remember watching ISU games on TV was the Sun Bowl
That thread title is just killing me, like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Same here. I never really dove into the history much of college football and when the arms race started. After watching Pony Excess a couple of years ago after the 2010 realignment scare it piqued my interest in how the sport got to where it is. Like everything the NCAA is involved in they had a messed up model and refused to change so the big name schools did something about it and now here we are.
I remember hearing from my older brother about the "astroturf" which was basically carpet over concrete.
Good job. I heard it was crazy loud and great stories how innovative students would get in smuggling pony kegs into the stadium (ie securing under a wheel chair).
One thing about renewing the series with Iowa in 1977, which negotiations probably started in the early 70s, was that ISU would have to build a large-capacity stadium to compete with Iowa's - which probably had capacity of about >50K. Even still, the b*stards made us play the first three games in IC, before they would come to Ames.
Been on the field many times - I've seen putt-putt corses with more turf cushion than the old ISU turf of the mid-70s.
A lot of memories of the knot-hole tickets my dad would get us to sit in the end zone. My older brother and sisters went to school at ISU during these days. Games were a blast as a kid as you could run around in the end zone and field before and after games.
Thanks for posting this.
Thanks for posting this.
I remember seeing a photo from behind the stands during a game at Clyde Williams.
The stands were literally right on top of the road between the stadium and Helser across the street.
I was in Helser the years they build UDCC and the new residence halls, I can recall the field being a great place to smoke while walking around the track.
Side note, what's the logo on the helmets? It's hard to make out in that photo.
Side note, what's the logo on the helmets? It's hard to make out in that photo.
Here's the track in 1974 with Clive Sands running for ISU. Great sprinter guy from the Bahamas IIRC. Posted these slides I took before but this is new thread with new viewer, so okay?
I really miss that at some of the ISU bball games. I think Hilton was rocking a little more in 2012 and 2013 (I know the team was better), but there seemed to be a couple years there with awesome music and awesome timing of playing the music at time outs, etc. to fire people up. I do think the constant commercials and gimmics during every timeout can take some of the life / focus out of the crowd.
Back on topic: cool picture! I remember running around the track as a little kid, middle school, etc. It was hard to imagine that tiny environment sat like 30K people! Then, they put a parking lot there and built those suites. I never saw the stadium though; that was before my time.
Early Jack Trice years. I guess you had to provide transportation to get on ESPN. Also, must have been pre-OSHA
When I started school in 1979, the players did try really hard to convince every girl in the Towers of their God like status. Larry Crawford trying to hit on you was practically a freshman orientation ritual. I don’t think those buildings were made to withstand angry football players.
