Nebraska game means a lot to Cyclones past and present

Nostalgia will accompany excitement today with Nebraska's visit to Jack Trice Stadium.

This marks the final annual meeting between Iowa State

and its Big 12 neighbor to the west. After 105 games in the series as conference rivals, it figures to be a long time, if ever, before the schools face one another again.

The Huskers are off to the Big Ten, leaving ISU without one of its best rivalries and most anticipated games of the year for coaches, players and fans.

“It's kind of mixed feelings,” said Tom Randall, one of the few Cyclones who was part of two victories over the Huskers in his career. “You hate to see the series go away. It's such a spirited game.”

It's the first of back-to-back games against departing members of the league.

ISU plays at Colorado next Saturday. The Buffaloes are joining the Pac-10 next season, leaving the Big 12 with 10 teams.

The Huskers' farewell tour has been on the minds of their opponent every week of the conference season.

“They are such a storied program,” Coach Paul Rhoads said. “I was a kid growing up watching those great I-backs come to Ames and being here in the stadium watching those great players. You like to compete against a level of competition like that. To not have that opportunity anymore, I'm sure people in the league are savoring this last opportunity.”

Nebraska will be missed, despite this series being largely one-sided.

The teams first met in 1896 and have played every year since 1926.

Randall was a member of the 1976 and '77 teams that defeated the Huskers in Ames and Lincoln in consecutive years. The Cyclones have a chance to do it again today.

Last year's 9-7 victory at Memorial Stadium was the team's first since Randall's senior season 32 years ago. The former all-Big Eight defensive lineman would love to see the Cyclones repeat what his team was able to accomplish.

“The perfect ending to the series would be to beat them here and send 'em off to the Big Ten,” Randall said.

Ben Bruns thought coming into the season this game would be one to get up for.

Now, with the Cyclones (5-4, 3-2 Big 12) one victory from bowl eligibility the former ISU center and current Cyclone Radio Network sideline reporter has changed his tune a bit.

“It's the last time, but it's an even bigger game for Iowa State's season,” said Bruns,

who was on the losing end of both his games against the Huskers. “The stakes are very high. I'm more interested in that, not about our ending

our connection with an opponent.”