Senior Night: 15 degrees of passion, tears and winning football?

 By Rob Gray

 Correspondent

 AMES - Iowa State running back Jeff Woody tried to vividly envision his ideal crowning senior night moment.

The Cyclones' “poster boy”, according to senior linebacker Jeremiah George, first pegged blocking on an extra point as a fitting way to end his journey from walk-on to fifth-year senior at Jack Trice Stadium.

But on second thought. …

“I take that back,” said Woody, whose team closes its regular season home slate at 7 p.m. today against Kansas. “I want to be watching either (quarterback Grant) Rohach or (quarterback) Sam (Richardson) - whoever's in there, taking a knee at the end of the game and looking at the scoreboard and seeing the number that the Cyclones have higher than the number that the Jayhawks have. And (then) running over to the student section and singing the fight song.”

ISU players haven't happily strained their vocal chords for that in-house ritual since beating Baylor 35-21, Oct. 27, 2012.

The Cyclones (1-9, 0-7 Big 12) are mired in a seven-game home losing streak - and twenty-two seniors who helped the program to signature wins and bowl games are determined not to go out meekly against the Jayhawks (3-7, 1-6).

“I love fighting for this team,” said senior running back Shontrelle Johnson, who came back from two potentially career-ending injuries to play the game he loves for the people he loves. “I can't imagine playing for anyone else in the country. It's a brotherhood.”

It will be bitterly cold.

A smattering of snowflakes could whir through the air.

But warm memories will pierce the frigidity - from recollections of Woody's iconic game-winning touchdown in the landmark 2011 upset of Oklahoma State, to moments both big and small that began at dining room tables and living room couches from Iowa to Oklahoma, from Nebraska to Florida.

“It's going to be unreal,” senior safety Jacques Washington said.

Four or five years ago, players such as Washington, Woody and George spoke the words, “I want to be a Cyclone” with conviction.

Today, they get a send off.

Whether it's proper depends on their performance and the fan base's hardiness.

“I know for a fact I'm probably going to cry,” said George, who ranks fourth nationally in tackles per game at 11.2. “I've loved everything about this. Iowa State will be close to my heart the rest of my life.”

A win would mean everything.

These seniors - including long-time contributors Woody, George, Johnson, Jacques Washington, Deon Broomfield, Kirby Van Der Kamp, Ethan Tuftee, Jansen Watson, Willie Scott and James White - helped rebuild ISU's program after Coach Paul Rhoads took over in 2009.

It's down now, but not down forever.

“We've got a phrase that we love in our program,” Rhoads said. “‘Give it up.' And these guys have done that.”

To end on an up note, ISU will have to contain Kansas running back James Sims, who's rushed for 914 yards and seven touchdowns in his senior season.

To create positive momentum as 2013 winds down, the Cyclones need to find some offensive punch today and next week at West Virginia - something more than 21.2 points per game.

“We're a 1-9 football team and who knows what the rest of the season will unfold as,” George said. “A lot of people won't remember this team. If they do and I'm brought to mind, I would just hope that they would remember I played with passion. I played every down and just did the best I could for the team.”

They will - and he does.

Woody plans to take some extra pre-game time surveying the field, noting historic starting points, sites to remember, moments to cherish.

The north end zone: Oklahoma State touchdown.

Midfield: Where he proposed to his wife, Hannah.

The stands: Where a different kind of love comes from.

“Hopefully I can keep the emotions in check,” Woody said. “But I know that's not going to happen.”