ISU Ain't That Grand

Note: This posting was published in the Des Moines Register Opinion Section Thursday, December 8th, 2005.

I'm really getting tired of the bias the Des Moines Register shows towards ISU. Hawkeye sports only make the front page if there were now Cyclones events the night before, and if each school had a big event the odds are that the 'Clones got the headline and the Hawks got pushed to the bottom half. This bias reared its true face when Sean Keeler published his article on Monday (Street cred paves way for Iowa's better bowl). I started reading the article with the expectation that it would be about how Iowa vaulted itself to a better bowl after earning incredible respect from the country and football fans over the past 5 seasons. I was disappointed to hear how Keeler went on to rant and conclude with the third grade justification that "Well, we beat you so we should go to a better bowl". They call games upsets for a reason. True, ISU beat Iowa, but if the teams played today, no one could argue that it would be a much different game. Iowa has earned the right to play in Florida after its fans have showed the willingness to travel and support their teams, unlike Cyclone teams in recent history who have come well short of showing their support. A lot of Cyclone fans also like to point out how Iowa got a miracle invite to the NCAA tournament in basketball last year as well, saying that the only reason Iowa got there is because Iowa Athletics Director Bob Bowlsby is Chairman of the selection committee. Bowlsby had nothing to do with Iowa getting in, the reason Iowa got in then, and the reason Iowa is going to Florida now is because the nation has realized that no matter how bad or good a Hawkeye team may be, when it comes down to it, Hawkeye fans will always be there in full force to support their team. I am beginning to wonder if the same can be said for the Cyclone fans anymore.