ISU's Pollard lobbies for top bowl bid

AMES - Big crowds, big wins and a blue-collar, bluntly-spoken head coach serve as Iowa State's top selling points when it comes to the bowl sweepstakes.

But a 6-5 team can always use a little lobbying help.

Enter Cyclones athletic director Jamie Pollard, who's an ambassador, not a pitch man, when gently reminding bowl dignitaries what Paul Rhoads' team has to offer.

“It's actually a fun time,” Pollard said this week. “It's not so much negotiating as making sure that people know you have interest.”

ISU always travels well - and Insight Bowl officials recognized that two years ago when they picked the 6-6 Cyclones over an eight-win Missouri team.

Because of that, the program literally sells itself.

“We've done a really good job,  first of all our fans have done a really good job of doing it for us,” Pollard said. “They gave us great material with how we played (in the nationally-televised win over Oklahoma State) and celebrated on the field. We've clearly put all that into a nice package and forwarded it to all the bowl executives.”

Pollard didn't get specific when asked if a new package for Rhoads was - or would be - in the works.

Rhoads is under contract through 2014.

He'll lead the Cyclones to their second bowl in three seasons, despite facing one of the nation's toughest schedules.

“We have a great mutual relationship and he knows Iowa State wants him at Iowa State University,” Pollard said.

Others likely want him, too.

And that's fine with Pollard.

Good, even.

“One, it confirms we have the right person coaching our team and number two is I'll always take an employee other people want versus an employee no one wants, including you,” Pollard said. “It's a great problem to have.”