A Cyclone fan's frustration with Big 12 possibilities

I got this e-mail earlier in the week from someone I haven't met. He has Marion and Iowa State ties, and now lives in Denver. I thought it was interesting, asked the e-mailer if I could run it on my blog, and he agreed. So much thanks to him. Here it is:

My wife and I came “home” to Marion over the weekend and will spend time with family sandwiched between the first two weekend games. We purchased season tickets to Cyclone football over the summer. The game versus UNI was very hard fought on both sides. I'd just about have to say UNI deserved to win. They have a very good team and an excellent coach. I can only hope for a similar outcome this coming weekend. I always want my university to beat Iowa, but as much as anything, I want the Cyclones to be competitive in their league. This brings me to your current article.

The uncertainty with the Big 12 is so discouraging as an Iowa State fan. I am not sure a lot of folks understand what dissolution of this conference might mean to a fine institution like Iowa State, city of Ames and even the state of Iowa. A few “boneheads” respond that ISU belongs in a “lesser conference” but they are so shortsighted and I suspect they never attended any state university nor can they see past the end of their noses.

You can probably gather I am writing to somewhat “vent”, but this matter really concerns me not only for Iowa State but for the other reasons indicated above. As an alumni, a certain sense of identity, purpose and even ego comes along with being in the Big 12, a highly, highly competitive conference. Iowa State certainly appears to be doing all the “right things” by hiring quality coaches which have ties to Iowa. CPR (Coach Paul Rhoads) is on the path to success…not a championship team now, but an exciting and competitive team. I have been a Cyclone Club member for a few years, but this is the first year I have purchased season tickets because I really want to support the program (I will give most of them to family and friends due to the distance from Denver to Ames). Many Cyclone football players call Iowa “home.” Coach Fred appears to have men's basketball on the right track...

Iowa State is an AAU school.  Academics appear to take a back seat in all these discussions.  How does A&M make a decision to go to the SEC and the resulting recruiting jungle and at least the appearance of entirely different academic culture?  I guess the Longhorns have some responsibility in this mess.  I am not sure these “super conferences” will make everyone as happy as some of the talking heads propose it will.  Iowa State in the Big East?  That is a difficult concept to digest.  1,100 miles when ISU goes to UCONN for a road game in a couple of weeks?  The logistics, geographic and cultural disparities don't even make sense.  Why not the Big 10 for Iowa State?  Is it strictly about population and TV revenues?  I can only hope the Big 12 can hold together and gain some solidarity through this experience.  The alternatives “scare me.”