An Insight (ISU)-Fiesta (Iowa) double-header is fine with me

Iowa State and Iowa in bowls in the same metropolitan area five days apart? Give it to me.

The Cyclones may need another win to get considered for Tempe's Insight Bowl. ISU fans would take over Tempe on New Year's Eve the way they swamped Phoenix back at the first Insight.com Bowl.

Iowa State is at Missouri this week, so that's tough duty. Mizzou bounced back a bit from its mid-season blahs by beating Kansas State Saturday.

Iowa needs to beat Minnesota to have a chance to get into the Fiesta Bowl. If things broke right, Hawkeye fans would descend on Phoenix in heat-seaking swarms, and play in Glendale on Jan. 4.

Courtesy of Iowa State's sports information department, some numbers besides six wins make ISU Coach Paul Rhoads look

 very good. Of all FBS teams in the nation with a new head coach, the Cyclones have upped their win-total from a year ago more than anyone else.

School  2009    2008       Win +/-             

Paul Rhoads, Iowa State 6-5     2-10    +4

Steve Sarkisian, Washington     3-7     0-12    +3

Gene Chizik, Auburn     7-4     5-7     +2

Brady Hoke, San Diego State     4-6     2-10    +2

Dae Christensen, Wyoming        5-5     4-8     +1

Rich Ellerson, Army     4-6     3-9     +1

Bill Snyder, Kansas State       6-5     5-7     +1

Tim Beckman, Toledo     4-6     3-9     +1

Most Improved NCAA Football Teams Nationally in Wins

Team    09 record       08 record       diff.

Idaho   7-4     2-10    +5

SMU     6-4     1-11    +5

Iowa State      6-5     2-10    +4

Temple  8-2     5-7     +3

Ohio    7-3     4-8     +3

Washington      3-7     0-12    +3

MTSU    7-3     5-7     +2

Stanford        7-3     5-7     +2

Auburn  7-4     5-7     +2

Central Florida 6-4     4-8     +2

UL-Monroe       6-4     4-8     +2

Michigan        5-6     3-9     +2

San Diego St.   4-6     2-10    +2