Iowa State Football

Iowa State never has been a football powerhouse, but since hiring Paul Rhoads as head coach in 2009, the Cyclones have posted a respectable 17-17 record. 

Among those 17 victories were a bowl victory over Minnesota and upset wins over Nebraska in Lincoln and a Texas Longhorns team ranked No. 22 at the time. 

Currently possessing a record of 5-4, the Cyclones are only one game away from bowl eligibility.

The real question is whether or not Iowa State can get that elusive sixth victory it needs in order to make a bowl.

Questioning whether or not the Cyclones can win even one of their last three games may seem like underestimating them.  However, a quick look at Iowa State's schedule gives good reason for the doubt.

The Cyclones' three remaining games are at home against No. 2 Oklahoma State and then on the road at No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 14 Kansas State.  If any team in the country claims to have a tougher three-game stretch than Iowa State, they are blatantly lying.

However, don't discount Iowa State's bowl prospects just yet. 

Coach Paul Rhoads has yet to shy away from playing more powerful opponents while at Iowa State, and his players have bought into his never-say-die philosophy.  After the upset win over Nebraska in 2009, Rhoads gave a postgame locker room speech to his team that ranks pretty high on any greatest locker room speeches of all time list, and helped the nation to understand why the team was able to over-perform and pull off the monumental upset.

Since that program-defining victory, little has changed for Rhoads' Iowa State teams. 

They are still perennial underdogs, but continue to pull of upset after upset.  This season alone the Cyclones have defeated arch-rival Iowa, last season's Big East Fiesta Bowl representative UConn and a Texas Tech squad that was ranked No. 19 at the time—and who had just ruined powerhouse Oklahoma's undefeated season.

Although the odds appear to be stacked against the Cyclones in their last three games as they try to achieve bowl eligibility, it hardly would be a surprise if they managed to pull off the upset in at least one of those games.

After all, finding a way to win regardless of the odds has been the main theme of Iowa State football under Coach Paul Rhoads.

At this point, it's hard to keep track of which school is going to which conference.

The rumors are becoming stronger that the Big 12 is on its last legs. So, where do the 10 teams remaining in the the Big 12 go?

NBC Sports' Ben Kercheval reports that Baylor and Iowa State could join the Big East.

Conferences are becoming less geographical by the minute, but the Bears and Cyclones certainly didn't start that trend.

From a football perspective, the Big East has struggled to maintain relevance since losing Miami and Virginia Tech. Iowa State is generally a good team, but the Big East needs more than just a consistently good team to be taken seriously in football.

They need some punch and star power. That's what schools like Miami have, even during relatively bad years.

From the perspective of other sports, the Big East will be fine, despite the additions of Iowa State and Baylor signaling the departures of Pittsburgh and Syracuse to the ACC.

The pain will certainly be felt from a basketball standpoint, but the conference is still incredibly deep. On the football field the additions of solid programs just aren't going to get the job done.

Between 2005 and 2007, the Big East was won by either West Virginia or Louisville. In each one of those years, the Big East Champion went on to win their BCS Bowl game. That does come with a slight asterisk, which we'll get to in a second.

In the three years since then, the Big East champion has done extremely poorly in the BCS games. They've lost all three years by an average of over 22 points.

The asterisk just mentioned is that TCU has won a BCS game in that period and will be joining the Big East in 2012.

So what does the Big East need to do to stay relevant in football?

Adding teams such as Miami and Virginia Tech provides instant credibility. Most of the teams in the Big East are seen as basketball powers than anything else, so adding football talent will help change that perspective and increase interest.

They also need to do better in the BCS games. No, they aren’t going to win every year, but they can’t be consistently trounced by the best teams other conferences have to offer.

Iowa State has never even been to a BCS game, so are they really the team to count on? Anything can change, but for now it doesn't appear so.

The NFL draft is quickly approaching. We are officially less than one month from draft day and nobody is working harder than draft-hopeful Ben Lamaak.

His program weight for the Cyclones was 320 pounds. However, at his Pro Day, Lamaak weighed in at a trimmed-down 302 pounds. He's been working hard over the past few months to get his weight where it needs to be, so that he's at his best at the next level.

Lamaak knows something about hard work. When you speak to him, you can tell he is a grounded individual who is proud of where he came from and how he got to where he is today.

"My whole life, I have been the underdog. I come from a middle-class family in Iowa and I've earned everything I've gotten," Lamaak said.

It is clear that Lamaak is prepared to do whatever the coaching staff needs him to do. At Iowa State, he was moved all over the offensive line. It made him the versatile lineman he is today and ultimately a better football player.

When asked about which position Lamaak feels he is best suited for at the next level, he said, "Probably center or guard. Wherever the coaches feel would put the team in the best position."

He is a team-first guy. Wherever he goes and whatever position he plays, he is going to bring his hard hat and blue-collar work ethic with him. His move from tight end to tackle to interior lineman is a testament to his unselfish attitude.

Lamaak comes out of a spread offense that may leave some scouts questioning how he will perform in run blocking situations.

"I can run block, too," he said reassuringly. The Iowa State offense called upon him to pass block more, sure, but that doesn't mean he isn't a complete lineman.

Lamaak seems ready to move on to the next phase of his life.

After spending five years at Iowa State, he says that the two things he is going to miss most are his friends and being able to play for this school in particular.

"There isn't a pro team in Iowa, so Iowa State gets a strong following. I'm going to miss that and just putting on the shoulder pads and uniform there."

It is Lamaak's ability to adapt, his humility and work ethic that will make him valuable to any NFL team.

Indeed, any team looking for an interior lineman who is going to do anything he can to make himself and the team better can find that in Lamaak.

If nothing else, he provides solid depth as an interior lineman.

He has great quickness, which stems from his basketball and tight end background, as well as great strength that stems from his Iowa roots.

What's more, his can-do attitude and love for the game come through whenever he talks.

Lamaak may have to wait a while to hear his name called on draft day, but this draft-hopeful has the ideal attitude and is sure to be a willing contributor wherever he goes.

Lock down the ladies and the little ones.   

A decisive game is blowing into Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa this Saturday afternoon. 

The Iowa State Cyclones will host the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

I’m picking the Cyclones, and I’ll tell you why in a few ticks of the clock.

With a win, ISU (5—4, 3—2) could force a 3-way tie for first place in the Big 12 North.  

Missouri (7—1, 3—1) would have to lose to Texas Tech in Lubbock.

The Huskers are travelling from Star City into strengthening winds that will be coming off the Skunk River in Ames.

If they can win, then Nebraska (7—1, 3—1) will fortify its hold on 1st. 

They have Kansas, Texas A&M and Colorado left. 

Nebraska performing well against ISU, it seems to me, determines if winning the division is in the Huskers’ hands.

If they go out by winning their remaining contests, then they are in the Big 12 Championship Game.

If they lose, then they risk downing their momentum.

I realize this next game could be a lopsided loss for ISU.

Nebraska scores more, rushes for more yards, passes for more yards and stops people from gaining more yards.

The only category Iowa State leads Nebraska in is punting. 

Iowa State can kick their behinds off; they have the No. 1 punting unit in the Big 12.

So how can any analyst, in his right mind, be picking ISU to win this game?

It’s simple: I’m not in my right mind.  I trust the dangerous winds to prevail.

Believing Iowa State can beat Nebraska on sheer will and determination is ludicrous.

But, that’s what they were saying last year, and I sound like Boo-Boo the Fool.

That’s what you say.  I have a Cyclone in the hole.

When it comes to turnover margin, they are the Big 12’s No. 1 team.  And, they are not too shabby in red zone defense; they rank at No. 5.

Like Missouri and Nebraska, these two programs have a long history. 

Their original meeting was in 1896.  It was a 12-4 Nebraska victory.

Last season, ISU ended up beating Nebraska 9-7 in Lincoln. 

Paul Rhoads took pride in becoming the 1st ISU rookie coach to win 5 games.

“This (Nebraska) is a program that has as much tradition as anybody in college football,” he said. “It’s a big win.”

Do not think for one second that he has not told his team that they can do it again.

The five Cornhuskers fumbles lost in last year’s game are still missing, including the one on the game’s initial play.

ISU only won three Big 12 games last year.   

Their other two came (1) at Homecoming against Baylor and (2) against Colorado in Ames.

The three interceptions thrown, last year, did Nebraska dirty against ISU.

I don’t expect Taylor Martinez to throw three interceptions, but he could.  

In fact, he may be hampered by his bone bruise.  He may not be able to go at all.

I hear the drum rolling for Nebraska’s I-backs.

Today they are not called I-backs, except by Tom Osborne.  But, the I-backs will be asked to destroy the Cyclones. 

However, the home crowd could boost the Cyclones enough to cause fumbles.

ISU has three tacklers in the Big 12’s top 10, and I’m sure they’re focusing on Roy Helu Jr. 

If they allow Helu to go scampering across Ames, like he did in Lincoln, then it’s a wrap.

He is coming off a very superlative performance against Mizzou.

In his sleep, the young man is probably still seeing visions of him getting loose for a Nebraska record-setting 307. 

He’ll remember than number.  Buy a lottery ticket, Roy, and use those numbers.

Watch out for the NCAA, though. 

Seriously, when I was researching the names of Nebraska rushers, a lot of legendary names were popping up.

Individuals like Tommy Frazier, Jarvis Redwine, Lawrence Phillips, Tony Davis, Mike Rozier, Ahman Green, I.M. Hipp and Roger Craig.

The list is going way back to 1892.  The term I-back was Nebraska.

Taylor Martinez and Roy Helu Jr. are leading today’s ground game.

I don’t believe Helu can do what he did last week against Iowa State. 

ISU will shock the BCS world, I believe. 

The Cyclones have Colorado and then Missouri left on their schedule.

Texas’ mortifying defeat of the Huskers, earlier this season, seems to have set Nebraska off.

Since then, they have been seen beating Oklahoma State in Stillwater and flogging Mizzou in Lincoln.

An upset could happen this year.  I guess you’ll have to watch the game to find out. 

Set for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff, ABC will broadcast it.

Meanwhile, I’ll let you know who will win.

Due to their red zone defense, and their ability to force turnovers, especially against Big Red, I forecast the following:

Prediction:  Ames, Iowa will be celebrating an upset win: 26-24.