Cyclone faithful do their part to get fans in the stands

A near-record crowd is expected to fill Sun Devil Stadium tonight for the Insight Bowl, thanks in large part to Iowa State's fan following.

“They've sold a lot of tickets and we are very pleased,” said Tony Alba, the bowl's director of media operations. “We are expecting a great crowd.”

Alba said about 50,000 people are expected to fill Sun Devil Stadium for the 5 p.m. game between ISU and Minnesota. The attendance record was set in 1997 when 49,385 watched Arizona play New Mexico in what then was known as the Copper Bowl. That mark may fall tonight.

“We are going to be very close,” Alba said.

At last check ISU had sold more than 8,000 tickets from its ticket office. Minnesota was at about 1,500.

Transplants from the two states have snatched up a lot of tickets locally.

“The sales here have been steady,” Alba said. “We drew some criticism for taking Iowa State over Missouri, but when you look at it from a ticket sales perspective it's clear we made the right choice.”

Sage advice

ISU quarterback Austen Arnaud has been getting advice from Sage Rosenfels, a former bowl-winning ISU quarterback.

“A little bit of that and a little bit of friendly talk,” Arnaud said. “It's always good to talk to someone who has been there and done that. He's been in this bowl and won it.”

Rosenfels led the Cyclones to a 37-29 victory over Pittsburgh in the 2000 Insight.com Bowl. He's now the Minnesota Vikings and in his ninth season in the NFL.

Arnaud worked at Rosenfels' youth football camp in Maquoketa last summer. The two have been text messaging and talking since then. Rosenfels will be watching tonight.

“He just said have fun with it and live in the moment,” Arnaud said.

Coaching compliments

Minnesota's Tim Brewster said Iowa State did well in hiring Paul Rhoads.

“They brought the right guy home to the state of Iowa,” Brewster said Wednesday during a final bowl press conference at Insight/Fiesta bowl headquarters. “He brings great energy, great enthusiasm for the job. I just have got tremendous respect for him.”

Brewster also said good things about ISU's staff and offensive coordinator Tom Herman, who used to watch over Brewster's young children when the two coached at Texas.

Herman was a graduate assistant. Brewster coached the tight ends.

Back at it

There won't be much time to rest after tonight's game.

ISU coaches are back on the road recruiting Jan. 4 when the next contact period begins. The two weeks around Christmas were dead and quiet periods when coaches could make just one phone call a week and could not visit to potential recruits.

Four junior college players have signed letters and will join the program for the spring semester.

The Cyclones have 20 other commitments, according to Rivals.com. Signing day is Feb. 3.