Lenz, Knott revel in Chiefs' win over the Packers

AMES - Iowa State's football team has its share of Kansas City Chiefs fans.

“There's actually more than you'd think,” said Cyclone wide receiver Josh Lenz, who along with his teammates - some of whom share his other red and gold allegiances - prepares to play Rutgers in the Dec. 30 Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in New York. “(Linebacker) Jake (Knott) and I are (fans) and there's a couple other guys, too. They're hidden. You've got to find them. They're hidden in the rough.”

Just like Lenz's zippered Chiefs sweatshirt, which was relegated to the back of his closet for a while.

Until Monday - one day after a monumental and unforeseen upset of the previously unbeaten and defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

“I do have pride, but this hasn't been the best year for us,” said Lenz, who continues to recover from a left leg injury sustained in the Cyclones' landmark win over then-national title contender Oklahoma State. “After the win, I had to pull (the sweatshirt) out. A real big win for us. That's awesome.”

There's ribbing, too.

“It's even better because (Big 12 coaches' co-defensive player of the year and Wisconsin native) A.J. Klein's a Packers fan," Lenz said. “Jake and I just love rubbing it in his face.”

All in devilishly good fun.

“Jake was even thinking about wearing one of his Chiefs shirts to practice (Monday), as an undershirt, and showing A.J. all the time, but he forgot it,” Lenz said. “We just love giving A.J. a hard time about that.”

On a competition-centered note, Lenz said he's been progressing in practice; not rushing things but on track toward a cleaner bill of health for the bowl game.

“I've been running with the team and stuff and doing most of the stuff,” said Lenz, whose late, acrobatic touchdown catch from Steele Jantz in the season-opening win over Northern Iowa helped ISU avert disaster in a 20-19 win. “This off week coming up is going to be huge, too. I should be, hopefully, close to 100 percent by the time game day comes.”

Lenz, a junior with four career touchdown catches, noted everything in his leg proved to be structurally sound.

The MRI tests all came back negative.

But for the injury to happen in the Cyclones' biggest win ever at Jack Trice Stadium created happy, but nettlesome limp-to-the-locker-room travel plans.

“I was hobbling around,” Lenz said, smiling. “Going through the crowd wasn't the easiest thing.”