Iowa State football discussed everything from politics to fundamentals during bye week

AMES — The Iowa State football team went back to fall camp in more than one way during the bye week.

They talked about the political climate and President Donald Trump, just like they did at the beginning of fall camp. They also went back to the fundamentals on the field to work on themselves without having to worry about an opponent's scheme.

Off the field

It's impossible to escape. Sports and politics are intertwined – for better or worse.

It took three questions at Iowa State's Monday morning press conference for Coach Matt Campbell to be asked about Allen Lazard's Saturday tweet. Lazard quote tweeted President Trump saying, 'Never have I ever been ashamed to be American. It's disgusting to have the leader of the 'free world' like this. #TakeAKnee'

Never have I ever been ashamed to be American. It's disgusting to have the leader of the "free world" like this. September 23, 2017

Never have I ever been ashamed to be American. It's disgusting to have the leader of the "free world" like this. #TakeAKnee https://t.co/HKDDUUr8iN

— Cinco LD3™ (@AllenLazard)

Campbell said he supports Lazard or any player willing to take a stand for what they believe in.

'One of our jobs as coaches is to A, unify and B, to allow 18-to-22-year olds to talk about various topics,' Campbell said. 'Whether it's the political climate we're in today or leadership or whatever that may be. We do talk about those things a lot within our walls. I don't have an issue with our guys taking a stance in what they believe in.'

Iowa State, like many in college football, hasn't gone out for the pregame national anthem in recent history, so fans won't see any players taking a knee.

But if Iowa State does do something, all Campbell wants is for it to be unifying, powerful and for a reason.

Lazard wasn't the only Cyclone to tweet his displeasure of the President. Running back David Montgomery said he agrees with Lazard's take. Montgomery also retweeted a number of tweets that were in favor of players taking a knee.

Wide receiver Hakeem Butler tweeted a picture of him in front of the Jack Trice picture and quote just outside the team's tunnel with the caption, 'It's an Honor (sic) to play in a stadium named after a black man. I never take it for granted. The same hate he died from is still prevalent.'

It's an Honor to play in a stadium named after a black man. I never take it for granted. The same hate he died from is still prevalent. September 24, 2017

It's an Honor to play in a stadium named after a black man. I never take it for granted. The same hate he died from is still prevalent. pic.twitter.com/nh35EedwXC

— Hakeem Butler (@410Keem)

When asked about what Butler would say to Trump if he could say anything, the receiver chuckled, thought about it for a moment and said, 'Texas and Iowa State play Thursday night on ESPN.'

Lastly, quarterback Jacob Park was asked what he thought about Trump's comments saying football players should be fired if they take a knee.

'Football players don't just play football,' Park said. 'We're going to have families, everyone is going to have kids, you have to stand up for what you believe in. You don't just (not) do something because somebody told you that you can't do it. Nobody would get anywhere in life, there would be four people in power in the whole world if that's how it went down. It's supposed to be like this. There's supposed to be controversy and we're supposed to be talking about it and I'm glad we are.'

On the field

Iowa State didn't necessarily have a true bye week because the Cyclones play on Thursday this week instead of Saturday.

The first three days of the bye week, Iowa State focused on getting healthy and getting back to fundamentals.

Safety Kamari Cotton-Moya and defensive back D'Andre Payne both returned to practice from their elbow injury and hamstring injury, respectively. Cotton-Moya still hasn't been cleared to play but Campbell said knowing the type of competitor Cotton-Moya is, if he can go, he will. Payne, on the other hand, will be able to play.

One of the big story lines early in the season has been drops by the receivers in key moments. Whether that's on the receivers not catching it or the quarterback not hitting his mark, it needs to be taken on a case-by-case basis, Campbell said.

'Consistency of catching the football, as a guy who's caught the football, if the ball hits your hands, you'd like to catch it,' Campbell said. 'From a Jacob stand point, where you put the ball on those guys. When you're as aggressive as we've been throwing the football, you're going to have that a little bit. Is that an area we have to be more consistent in? For sure.'

On the defensive side of the ball, Iowa State is slowly but surely working in defensive tackle Kamilo Tongamoa. Tongamoa arrived late to fall camp, so the coaches used this week as sort of an extension for him to get him up to speed.

He's played more and more each game this season, and with the bye week, he's getting closer to where the coaches want him to be.

'We're so young in so many ways that I think that, in a lot of areas, it's great to have those extra days because it just allows you, without the focus of scheme of the other opponent, to go back to your craft and get better one day at a time,' Campbell said.

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