Former Cyclones feel connected to ISU program with Campbell era underway

AMES — It didn't take long after Iowa State coach Matt Campbell was hired for him to start reaching out to former Cyclones players.

His first few phone calls went out to some of the most memorable players in program history. Each conversation was in hope that Campbell could bring these players back to Ames and help them reconnect with the program.

The sentiments from Campbell sold these former Cyclones on a renewed vision of the ISU football program.

'He knows what's at stake and he knows he has to come here and win and I believe wholeheartedly he'll do that,' said former ISU and NFL quarterback Seneca Wallace. 'With the facilities now, it should be a lot easier to get kids to commit to Iowa State.

'I think he's ready to take on that challenge.'

Iowa State held a breakfast for former players Saturday morning — Campbell estimated 200 former players attended — and made a select few honorary coaches for Saturday's spring game.

Wallace, Sage Rosenfels, A.J. Klein, Keith Sims, Dennis Gibson, Tom Randall, Matt Blair, Carter Bykowski and Ben Bruns were the former players chosen to be coaches. Campbell also brought in former ISU coach Dan McCarney last weekend for a coaching clinic and to speak to current ISU players.

Coach Mac addressed the football team at this morning's team meeting April 8, 2016

Coach Mac addressed the football team at this morning's team meeting https://t.co/qYe7TLxubg

— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB)

Connecting the past with the present is what some former players felt lacked in recent years. It was invigorated with conversations they had with Campbell. Rosenfels, who spent 12 years as an NFL quarterback, said the connection to the past has been brought to the forefront in Campbell's first few months in Ames.

'We put a lot of hard work into this place and I think a lot of those guys still want to be involved in the program,' Rosenfels said. 'We talk to each other all the time, but I think we do finally have a coach who wants us to be involved and wants us to come to practice because he understands the hard work and dedication we had to this program to bring it where it is today.'

Klein, who is heading into his fourth NFL season with the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers, spoke to the current players at practice and met Campbell for the first time this week.

'He controls the room, controls the conversation and I like that confidence,' Klein said. 'He knows what he wants to do with this program and I think that's the most refreshing right now. Give the fans and give these kids something to be excited about and working toward a common goal and I think he's laid out that goal very clearly for this program to become successful.'

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