Cyclones want to ‘have fun’ over final 2 weeks

AMES - They were punched in the gut. They suffered back-to-back losses of 20 points or more and when adversity hit again Saturday, Paul Rhoads didn't see his players quit after another slow start.

Iowa State started off on the wrong foot again in its three-point loss to Texas Tech - down 14-0 early - but the sixth-year Iowa State coach didn't see his team give up.

He saw the players respond and not quit, even when it would have been easy to do that.

'It would have shown in their attitudes around the dining hall on the last day and in the training room,” Rhoads said at his news conference Monday. 'The feedback I get from our trainers and our operations guys that are around them and the strength staff, I don't have any sense that's going to be the case and I don't think it's been the case in the past six years. I believe we'll finish strong.”

With postseason eligibility out of the question, the Cyclones (2-8) are playing for pride and the main goal is to end the season on an uptick. Players tried to jump-start that against the Red Raiders, with many dancing and showing enthusiasm on the sidelines.

Heading into his final two games in an ISU uniform, senior defensive end Cory Morrissey has made it a point to lead by example ... with an attitude that shows he hasn't given up on the season.

'We made that a stress point to have fun, just go through and have fun,” Morrissey said. 'We have nothing else to play for, but we've got to get the wins and every little play that you make is as a good as a win for us and we want to congratulate each other on every tackle or sack.”

'Just do the little things right,” center Tom Farniok said. 'You've got to care about doing the little things right because I believe the little things turn into big things and it'll catch up with you sooner or later.”

The effort is there in practice, but the execution hasn't translated to game day.

In addition to the losing five games by 17-plus points this season, Iowa State has lost three games this season by four points or less; which gives coaches many things to point out in the film room.

Turnovers, dropped passes, fitting gaps on defense all have to improve in the last two games if the Cyclones want to attain the goal of being able to close out games.

'There's a demand to finish and that's a part of who our guys are,” Rhoads said. 'I can praise and praise and praise the effort of our kids Saturday, that doesn't gain us a victory. I have no doubt that our kids will finish and that is important to them.”

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