Cyclones honored to wear Jack Trice throwback uniforms: Iowa State football notes

ARLINGTON, Texas — On Oct. 7, Iowa State hosts defending Big 12 Conference champion TCU at Jack Trice Stadium.

That day, the Cyclones will sport special uniforms to honor the 100th anniversary of Trice becoming the first Black football player at ISU, then known as Iowa State College.

Honoring the memory of Trice, who died from injuries sustained against Minnesota on Oct. 6, 1923, on the 100th anniversary of his groundbreaking feat remains special for everyone at ISU.

“I don’t know if there’s a greater trailblazer and a greater man of courage than what Jack Trice has meant to college athletics and certainly Iowa State University,” Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell said Thursday at Big 12 football media days at AT&T Stadium.

“The spirit, the courage, who he was and what he was able to do for so many after him, it’s been a great rallying point for our football program. It’s another opportunity this year with the 100th anniversary of his death to be able to tell student-athletes here at Iowa State (about his legacy).”

Wearing those special uniforms, which are identical to the one Trice wore nearly a century ago, is something ISU players consider sacred.

“It’s an honor even going to a school that represents and shows pride in Jack Trice, what he stood for and playing in a stadium with his name,” said junior wide receiver Jaylin Noel. “Playing in that game in those uniforms is going to mean a lot.

“It’s going to be special because it’s not something everyone gets the chance to do. I’m just blessed I get the opportunity.”

Cyclones redshirt senior linebacker Gerry Vaughn agrees that contest against the Horned Frogs will be memorable.

“It’s an honor for what he did and sacrificed,” Vaughn said. “It’s going to be an honor for the whole team to be able to represent him and everything he’s done for Iowa State.”

Campbell’s thoughts on Oklahoma, Texas exiting

This season marks the Big 12 swan song for Oklahoma and Texas as the conference powerhouses depart for the Southeastern Conference in 2024.

However, the Sooners and Longhorns are teams which Campbell has a combined 5-9 record against at ISU. In fact, the Cyclones have won three of their last four meetings against the Longhorns.

“Yeah, we certainly have the utmost respect for both of those universities and their football programs,” Campbell said. “We get to play both of those schools this year. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I think you always want to compete against some of the best.

“We’ll certainly miss competing against both institutions and certainly both programs.”

T.J. Tampa mum on praise

Earlier this month, senior cornerback T.J. Tampa was named preseason all-Big 12 on the heels of Pro Football Focus earlier naming him the conference’s top returning corner.

However, Tampa, one of many anchors for a Cyclone defense that was tops in the Big 12 in 2022, isn’t letting any of the accolades thrown his way go to his head.

“My dad usually follows all of that. He will let me know here and there, but he doesn’t tell me too much,” Tampa said. “It’s great to see, knowing all the work you put in, people are noticing it, but you try not to pay too much attention.”

Stephen Hunt is a freelance writer based in Frisco, Texas