Iowa State football’s Victory Day brings joy and laughter to Jack Trice Stadium

AMES — Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell’s smile seemed to span sideline-to-sideline Friday night as the sun slung low around Jack Trice Stadium.

Victory Day was back after a two-year hiatus necessitated by COVID-19 based safety protocols — and the Cyclones’ head coach couldn’t have been happier.

“What makes this place still really special is you can make a difference,” Campbell said after completing the event that gives people with disabilities a chance to score touchdowns while ISU’s players cheer them on. “(Friday) you got to watch our kids make a difference. At the end of the day, we all want to win, we all want to have great success, but there’s greater impact you can have in life than making a difference in the love of others.”

ISU’s new starting quarterback Hunter Dekkers cheered and laughed, veteran defensive back Anthony Johnson played some “snaps” at nose tackle, and first-team all-Big 12 wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson took up amateur photography for a while.

It was a frown-free zone. No worries. All joy.

“This is one of my favorite things that we get to do,” said Johnson, an all-Big 12 cornerback who is now a safety. “I got the chance to see that same kid, Katie, from my freshman year. She happened to come back this time, so she was calling me. It’s just, like, indescribable for me.”

More than 400 Iowa State marching band members provided the soundtrack for each touchdown. Batons twirled. The spirit squad performed. Victory Day was back — and recently-named No. 1 tailback Jirehl Brock couldn’t have been happier.

“It brings us down to earth, really,” Brock said. “We’re going 100 miles per hour and sometimes we might forget to appreciate the things that we do have. Doing an event like this where we get to give back to kids who won’t have the opportunity to play football, it brings a smile to our faces and more.”

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