Ten teams make Big 12′s first division, a record for Cyclones!

At the macro level, the Iowa State athletics department took another step forward competitively in 2012-13.

 The championship season in the Big 12 recently concluded and the Cyclones placed seventh in the league all-sports race. That is ISU’s best finish since the conference formed in 1996 (although the school did finish eighth in a 12-team conference the first year and again in 2010).

 Like most prior seasons, schools from the south led the all-sports standings as Texas (which won the title for the 15^th straight year), Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Baylor finished 1-2-3-4.

 What stands out more than anything from 2012-13 is that 10 of the Cyclones’ 18 sports finished in the upper division of the conference. That’s an all-time high for one season at Iowa State.

 To put that accomplishment into proper perspective, consider this:

 One decade ago (2004), the Iowa State gymnastics program (placing 2^nd of four teams) was the one and only sport that finished in the first division of the Big 12 standings. That was the second year in succession that only one sport (in 2003, it was men’s cross country) finished above the mid-point in the Big 12.

 The record-breaking total of first-division programs in 2012-13 is a sign of total department progress. It’s proof positive that the Cyclones are trending in the right direction. Finally, it’s a reflection that some of the investments made in prior seasons are paying dividends.

 

Big, athletic Bykowski gets special call from 49ers Saturday

 

 

Although the San Francisco 49ers seventh round pick of Carter Bykowski might have surprised some, maybe it shouldn’t have.

Bykowski was a part of Iowa State’s 2008 recruiting class. He was listed as a 6-foot-7, 245-pound tight end on signing day. He played that position (catching three passes) for a bit but soon outgrew the position and moved to tackle.

Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers head coach, likes tight ends or at least big, athletic players.

As Stanford’s coach, Harbaugh gave scholarships to six tight ends in four seasons. All of them were between 6-4 and 6-8 and weighed roughly 235 pounds.

“I didn’t think I would be drafted,” Bykowski said. “The phone rang and I talked to Jim Harbaugh and (line coach) Mike Solari. It was a short conversation but they were very positive and I am looking forward to working in their system.”

Big guys, who can move, are desired by everyone in the NFL. That’s how Bykowski earned his shot.

In 25 years in the sports publicity business, I worked with three recruited college tight ends that had pro careers on the offensive line.

The most noteworthy was John Alt, a 12-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowl pick for the Chiefs. Chris Gambol (Iowa) and Mike Verstegen (Wisconsin) both played four years in the National Football League for multiple teams after beginning college careers at TEs.

Bykowski’s pick might have caught a few folks off guard. But, when you study his profile and potential – along with the desires of his new head coach – it’s clear he has a great opportunity in the coming months.

Who are the richest college athletics departments in the NCAA? How are they using those riches?

 Per the most-recent data available according to the Department of Education, there were 15 schools with annual athletics budgets above $90 million. Iowa State was 61^st on the budget list with revenue of $55.2 million.

 Last week, the National Association of College Directors of Athletics (NACDA) released current all-sports rankings for schools across the nation.

 Iowa State was 27^th on the list. Placing 34 spots higher competitively than financially means the Cyclones are using their dollars pretty wisely. ISU’s spot in the all-sports standings is third-best among Big 12 schools (trailing only Texas, 13^th and Oklahoma State, 18^th).

 After a strong fall in which Iowa State scored Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup points in football, women’s cross country and volleyball, the Cyclones added points from men’s & women’s basketball, wrestling and women’s track & field during the winter campaign.

 The schools with the most resources don’t always accomplish the most.

 Here is a list of those schools with annual budgets above $90 million and their current Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup rank:  Michigan (2^nd), Penn State (3^rd), Notre Dame (4^th), Florida (6^th), Georgia (12^th), Texas (13^th), Ohio State (19^th), Wisconsin (23^rd), Oklahoma (28^th), Arkansas (29^th), LSU (32^nd), Tennessee (42^nd), Auburn (47^th), Alabama (64^th) and Iowa (66^th).

Northern climate and course familiarity boost Cyclone chances

The Iowa State women’s golf team will be trying to do something it’s never done before. Win a Big 12 championship.

 The Cyclones will host the conference championship – for the first time since 2001 – at The Harvester in Rhodes, Iowa this weekend.

 Six of the NCAA’s Top 30 schools are in the field.

 Oklahoma (#4) is followed by a quintet of schools (Oklahoma State, 17^th; Texas Tech 20^th; Texas, 21^st; Baylor, 23^rd; and Iowa State, 28^th) in a tightly bunched cluster.

 Along with the home course familiarity (ISU practices at The Harvester on occasion), the Cyclones boast a talented and deep team.

 Five different ISU players – Sasikarn On-iam (three times), Punpaka Phuntumabamrung (twice), Prima Thammaraks (once), Chonlada Chayanun (once) and freshman Cajsa Persson (once) –  have posted the team’s lowest score in a tournament this year. That kind of balance can play large in a tight race.

 Four of the Cyclones are natives of Thailand. That country also produced Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Janavil, the reigning NCAA champion, who is in the field.

 Iowa State’s only league championship in women’s golf came at Lincoln, Neb., in 1993.

 Maybe, a little home cooking, course familiarity and northern climate can be deciding factors as the Cyclones embark on trying to win their first Big 12 title this weekend in Central Iowa.

 

It’s been a tug-of-war in spring and Rhoads probably likes that.

Two spring football scrimmages are in the books and the spring game is on deck for Saturday. Most observers would conclude the offense excelled in the first scrimmage and the defense rebounded in the second one.

 For his entire tenure at Iowa State, Coach Paul Rhoads has been seeking big plays from his offense. Recently, he’s been focused on ball carriers making people miss. That was the case two weeks ago in the scrimmage and Rhoads singled out James White, Aaron Wimberly and DeVondrick Nealy for making explosive runs.

 Rhoads’ assessment of last week’s scrimmage was that there weren’t as many big plays.

 “I attribute that to the defense,” Rhoads said. “The defense practiced and played faster.”

 Rhoads pulled out a baseball analogy to explain the tug-of-war between offense and defense during spring camp.

 “It’s a little like pitching and hitting,” Rhoads started. “Who’s ahead and who catches up? The defense, in the third week, caught up a little bit.”

 That brought a smile to the face of the former defensive coordinator.

 “That is probably as enjoyable to see (as anything),” Rhoads said of the defense getting better at limiting big plays.

 One week the offense impressed and the next week the defense shined. That’s a good sign that the 2013 Cyclones have the potential on both sides of the ball to play winning football. The coach probably likes it that way.

 

Raised on the slopes, Fernandez now prospers on fairways

 

Grenada, Spain, is a seaside city that rests at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is also home to the college golf’s fifth-ranked player.

Scott Fernandez, who now lives in Ames, Iowa, is a sophomore sensation on the Iowa State men’s golf team. The Spaniard is on a streak unprecedented in Cyclone history. Six of his last nine rounds have been in the 60s.

His individual finishes this season include 2^nd (Northern Intercollegiate), 2^nd (VCU), 3^rd (Bridgestone), 3^rd (UTSA), 22^nd (Desert Intercollegiate), 1^st (Furman), 2^nd (ASU Thunderbird) and 5^th (Hawkeye Invitational). At the ASU meet, he beat the NCAA’s then-No. 1 golfer (Michael Kim, Cal) by nine strokes.

Fernandez’ dad is a ski instructor. His sister is a member of Spain’s national ski team.

Scott, himself, was an accomplished skier before breaking both of his legs in that sport.

Now, he’s fully committed to golf.

 When you witness the greatness of young athletes like Fernandez, it’s easy to wonder how they crafted their skills. When you watch Fernandez stroke a putt or uncork a drive, you don’t think about ski lifts.

 But, that’s kind of where it started for Fernandez. Where it finishes, no one knows. But, I’m sure going to enjoy his journey as it unfolds.

 

McGee, like past NBA long-range bombers, accepted bench role.

Tyrus McGee recently became the first Cyclone in history to lead the NCAA in a statistical category. His 46.4 percent conversion rate from three-point land was best in the nation.

 When Fred Hoiberg was outlining roles for his team last fall, he had to convince McGee that coming off the bench would be most beneficial to the team. Most players like to start and it would be understandable if McGee felt that way, too.

 Hoiberg, the NBA’s three-point shooting leader in 2004-05, never started a game for the Timberwolves that season. Among the last nine NBA leaders from long distance, only the Pistons’ Richard Hamilton (2005-06) started routinely.

 Steve Novak (Knicks), Matt Bonner (Spurs), Kyle Korver (Jazz), Anthony Morrow (Warriors) and Jason Kapono (Raptors then Heat), preceded Hamilton and Hoiberg as NBA leaders in three-point percentage. Only Kapono with the Heat started much (35 games).

 So, when Hoiberg sold McGee on being a spark off the bench with his uncanny ability to hit long-distance shots, the Oklahoma native accepted the role enthusiastically and then thrived.

 Given the opportunity, McGee capitalized. The reward is that his Cyclone career now includes leading the nation in a statistical category. Nice legacy.