Meaghan Nelson’s rise as a distance runner has propelled her to rarified realms.

So much so that the former Xavier standout-turned-Iowa State all-American’s willing to ponder the term “professional” with respect to future plans in the sport.

Meaghan Nelson

“I’m definitely going to try — give it a shot next year,” said Nelson, who competes in the final NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round of her remarkable Cyclone career this weekend at Austin, Texas. “I think I’d regret it if I didn’t.”

First things first.

Nelson, who has overcome various nagging injuries this outdoor season, finished ninth in Thursday’s 10,00o-meter run (teammate Betsy Saina won) to advance to the NCAA Championships, June 5-8, at Eugene, Ore.

Nelson will compete in the 5,000 meters Saturday at 8:05 p.m.

A top-five finish in her 5K heat — or posting one of the two fastest times outside of the top five in either heat — advances her to “TrackTown USA” in that event, as well. “I think I can still put something together,” said Nelson, who finished fourth in the nation in the 10K last season. “But it definitely hasn’t been quite as easy as last year, just because of those setbacks, but that’s a part of running: It goes up and it goes down. You deal with injuries; it ebbs and it flows.”

Ups — some of them bordering on meteoric — characterize most of Nelson’s time in cardinal and gold.

She’s a two-time cross country all-American and could add to three combined indoor/outdoor all-American finishes by performing well in Austin, then Eugene.

Nelson said she’s still not 100 percent after battling through some knee and plantar issues.

Her best mark in the 5K this season is 15:51.63.

“I still feel good about how I can compete — and, mentally, just preparing myself, just putting myself out there on the track,” said Nelson, whose teammate, Betsy Saina, is a strong contender to win both events. “Regionals and nationals never really always go true to form. The people who are there on the day tend to do well, so I’m just going to work on (that).”

It’s an adaptive, roll-with-it approach that’s served her well — and may pave the way for more track glory once Eugene’s in the books.

“I definitely had a huge jump last year,” said Nelson, who competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials. “This year it’s trying to maintain that and stay in good form. Keep moving forward.”

Saina, Nelson, Stack and Hrezi Headed for Eugene

AUSTIN, Texas – Iowa State’s Betsy Saina, Meaghan Nelson and Dani Stack, placed first, ninth and 12^th, respectively, in the 10,000 meters race of the NCAA West Regional Thursday in Myers Stadium to qualify for the NCAA Championships, March 5-8 in Eugene, Ore. Iowa Stater Mohamed Hrezi finished 10^th in the men’s 10,000 meters and is also headed to Eugene.

Ej Okoro moved one step closer to Eugene, advancing to the regional semifinal in the 800 meters, which will be run Friday. Cyclone 400-meter hurdlers Ese Okoro and Donnise Powell also advanced to Friday semifinal action in the 400-meter hurdles.

“I think it was fitting that the three seniors, Betsy, Meaghan and Dani, ran well tonight,” Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. “Those three women have done so much to put our program on the map. Mohamed developed some issues late in the race and struggled a little but hung in there and now will get to run another race at the NCAA Championships.”

Saina won the women’s 10,000-meter race in 34:52.34. Nelson finished ninth in 35:04.96. Stack was 12^th in 35:14.54. Okoro was third in her 800-meter heat, finishing in 2:06.94. Okoro won her heat and was the fifth-fastest overall qualifier in 58.18. Powell was third in the same heat, and ranked 15^th overall with a time of 59.11.

Hrezi was clocked in 29:25.17 in the men’s 10,000 meters.

IRVING, Texas – The Iowa State men’s basketball team will play host to Auburn on Dec. 2, 2013 in the first season of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, announced today by the Big 12 Conference.

The majority of the games are scheduled for December 2-6. ESPN will provide exclusive coverage of all 10 games on its networks. Additional components of the challenge, including start times and television broadcast information, will be announced at a later date.

ISU has a 1-1 record vs. Auburn in its all-time series, defeating the Tigers, 79-60 in the second round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament (Minneapolis, Minn.) in the last meeting between the two schools.

This will be the first challenge for Big 12 men’s basketball since a four-year series between the Conference and the Pac-10 from 2017-10. ISU went 2-2 in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series (Oregon State, 2-0; California, 0-2).

Okoro, a 6-5, 230-pound sophomore-to-be from New York City, Tweeted this Monday: “I’m a Scarlet Knight … #RutgersNation”

ISU sports information spokesperson Mike Green confirmed Okoro had asked for and officially been granted his release.

Okoro averaged one point per game last season while playing a total of 32 minutes.

If Iowa State men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg chooses to opt out of his recent 10 year/$20 million contract, he’ll forfeit a lot less money if he leaves to join an NBA team.

Exactly $1.5 million less.

Iowa State released details of Hoiberg’s contract — reworked in late March — this week.

His buyout clauses vary widely depending on the possible destination.

Hoiberg, a former star player who grew up in Ames, would face a $2 million buyout if he were to “assume duties as a men’s NCAA Division I head college basketball coach” before the contract expired.

If Hoiberg, a veteran NBA player who also served in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ front office, chose to leave his alma mater for that league, his buyout would be $500,000.

All of that may or may not be moot.

“This is where I want to be,” Hoiberg told The Gazette after the new contract was announced. “It’s home for me, it’s home for my family, it’s a great place to raise kids. And I’m excited about our future — not only about what we’ve done in the past. We’ve got a bright future ahead of us.”

Hoiberg is the fourth-highest paid coach in the Big 12.

The Cyclones have reached consecutive NCAA tournaments for the first time since 2000 and 2001. Hoiberg’s contract, thus, includes a number of the likely incentives, as did his former deal, which had made him the eighth-highest paid coach in the league:

Each possible NCAA tournament Final Four appearance nets him $250,000.

He’ll receive $100,000 the first time his team ties for or wins an outright Big 12 title.

A Cyclone title in the Big 12 tournament earns him $50,000, as does each berth in the NCAA tournament.

Being named Big 12 coach of the year yields a $25,000 bonus, as does at least one win the NCAA tournament.

Hoiberg would pocket $25,000 if he’s named national coach of the year honors.

Hoiberg faces an off-season that includes replacing two key assistants.

Former director of basketball operations Jeff Rutter accepted a more hands-on coaching position this spring at Drake. Tuesday, associate head coach T.J. Otzelberger decided to join Lorenzo Romar’s staff at Washington.

Former Iowa State Cyclones guard Tyrus McGee (25). (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Former Iowa State basketball player and reigning Big 12 Conference Sixth Man of the Year Tyrus McGee Tuesday was charged with fourth degree theft.

ISU police investigations captain Aaron DeLashmutt said Wednesday McGee admitted to taking about $220 that did not belong to him.

Video surveillance at the Hawthorn Market and Cafe captured images of McGee extracting the money from an unattended wallet.

DeLashmutt said McGee told police he spent about $60 on groceries and gave money to friends, as well.

McGee then turned over the remaining cash, DeLashmutt said.

Fourth degree theft is a serious misdemeanor under Iowa law.

McGee, from Stringtown, Okla., made an NCAA Division I-leading 46.4 percent of his 3-point shots in 2012-13 — his senior season as a Cyclone.

Christofferson Invited To World University Games Tryouts

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State rising senior Hallie Christofferson has been invited to a tryout for the 2013 USA Basketball Women’s World University Games team. Tryouts, which will feature 31 players, will be held May 16-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

This summer’s World University Games will be held July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia. The team will be coached by Oklahoma head coach Sherri Coale. Coale will be assisted by Marist head coach Brian Giorgis and Penn State head coach Coquese Washington.

“Being invited to try out for the World University Games team completes a very special year for Hallie,” Iowa State head coach Bill Fennelly said. “She will represent Iowa State in a great way as she always does at the trials. The opportunity to play for USA Basketball is one of the greatest honors someone could have and I know Hallie will be someone that has a great opportunity to earn a spot on this talented team.”

Fennelly served as head coach of the 2011 World University Games team that captured gold in Shenzhen, China.

Christofferson joins Oklahoma’s Aaryn Ellenberg and Baylor’s Odyssey Sims as Big 12 players invited to tryouts.

NAME                                   POS   HGT    WGT        DOB         YOG          SCHOOL                                                    HOMETOWN

Danielle Ballard                      G       5-9                     11/16/93      2016           Louisiana State University                      Memphis, TN

Rachel Banham                     G       5-9                                           2014           University of Minnesota                          Lakeville, MN

Crystal Bradford                    G       6-0                                           2015           Central Michigan University                   Detroit, MI

Gennifer Brandon                  F        6-2                     11/23/90      2014           University of California                           Sylmar, CA

Cierra Burdick                         F        6-2                     09/30/93      2015           University of Tennessee                           Charlotte, NC

Hallie Christofferson             F        6-3                     11/21/91      2014           Iowa State University                               Hamlin, IA

Aaryn Ellenberg                      G       5-7        122                            2014           University of Oklahoma                          Las Vegas, NV

Morgan Eye                            G       5-9                     08/05/92      2015           University of Missouri                              Montrose, MO

ReShanda Gray                      F        6-3                     06/01/93      2015           University of California                           Los Angeles, CA

Sara Hammond                      F        6-2                     04/13/93      2015           University of Louisville                            Mt. Vernon, KY

Cassie Harberts                       F        6-2                     06/04/92      2014           University of Southern California          San Clemente, CA

Isabelle Harrison                    C       6-3                     09/27/93      2015           University of Tennessee                           Nashville, TN

Bria Hartley                            G       5-7                     09/30/92      2014           University of Connecticut                        North Babylon, NY

Jordan Hooper                        F        6-2                     02/20/92      2014           University of Nebraska                            Alliance, NE

Brittany Hrynko                     G       5-8                                           2015           DePaul University                                      Philadelphia, PA

Briahanna Jackson                G       5-4                                           2016           UCF                                                              Tampa, FL

Betnijah Laney                    G/F      6-0                     10/29/93      2015           Rutgers University                                     Clayton, DE

Jasmine Lister                         G       5-4                                           2014           Vanderbilt University                                Corona, CA

Tricia Liston                            G       6-1                     02/20/92      2014           Duke University                                         River Forest, IL

Maggie Lucas                         G      5-10                   11/29/91      2014           Penn State University                               Narberth, PA

Tyaunna Marshall                 G       5-9                     12/22/92      2014           Georgia Tech University                           Upper Marlboro, MD

Shanece McKinney                F        6-4                     08/25/92      2014           Louisiana State University                      Mobile, AL

Ariel Massengale                    G       5-6                     06/10/93      2015           University of Tennessee                           Bolingbrook, IL

Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis    F        6-0                     11/03/93      2015           University of Connecticut                        Anaheim Hills, CA

Amber Orrange                       G       5-7                                           2015           Stanford University                                   Houston, TX

Haley Peters                          G/F      6-3                                           2014           Duke University                                         Red Bank, NJ

Theresa Plaisance                   F        6-5                     05/18/92      2014           Louisiana State University                      New Orleans, LA

Shoni Schimmel                     G       5-9                     05/04/92      2014           University of Louisville                            Mission, OR

Meighan Simmons                 G       5-9                     01/25/92      2014           University of Tennessee                           Cibolo, TX

Odyssey Sims                          G       5-8                     07/13/92      2014           Baylor University                                      Irving, TX

Bria Smith                               G      5-10                   02/16/93      2015           University of Louisville                            Massapequa, NY

DeNesha Stallworth               C       6-3                     05/05/92      2014           University of Kentucky                            Richmond, CA

Head Coach: Sherri Coale, University of Oklahoma

Assistant Coach: Brian Giorgis, Maris College

Assistant Coach: Coquese Washington, Penn State University

Court Coach: Matt Corkery, American University

Court Coach: Bobbie Kelsey, University of Wisconsin

Court Coach: Matilda Mossman, University of Tulsa

NELSON LEADS IOWA STATE RUSH TO FIRST DAY BIG 12 TRACK LEAD

WACO, Texas — Meaghan Nelson led an Iowa State Cardinal and Gold rush, as the Cyclone women went 1-2-4-6-7 in the 10,000 meters to give the Iowa Staters the first day lead at the Big 12 Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Cyclones have 35 points. Texas is second with 21. The Iowa State men are fourth after day one. Oklahoma leads with 31.

Meaghan Nelson

For Nelson, a four-time All-American who finished 12th in the 10,000-meters at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials and ran a 10K at Stanford Sunday, won her first Big 12 Conference individual title. Iowa State could have been even more dominant, but national collegiate leader Betsy Saina did not run in the 10,000 meters.

With only a few laps left in Friday’s 10,000-meter run, Nelson separated herself from the pack. The Cyclone senior cruised to a 35:05.38 victory in the race followed by teammate Dani Stack.

“The plan was to not take the race the first 12 laps or so,” Nelson said. “Let everyone else lead it and then after the first five we would get going and try and break it down. Dani took it out and really broke it and that was good. (Iowa State’s) Sam (Bluske) took a couple of laps and that helped me get it rolling.”

Once Nelson took the lead she never gave it back. Bluske was fourth, Crystal Nelson sixth and Katy Moen earned seventh place for the Cyclones.

“Really what tonight was about scoring as many points as we could,” Nelson said. “If it was me or if it was Dani or Sam as long as we had Iowa State winning it was a good thing.”

Mohamed Hrezi led the men in his first ever 10,000-meter run with an impressive 29:25.17, good enough for fifth overall.

Junior Hayli Bozarth broke the Iowa State hammer throw record on her third try in the event, but she wasn’t close to being done. On her fifth throw she bested her previous toss of 199-03, which was already a school record, with a mark of 203-07. On her last throw she heaved another school record toss of 207-08. She finished third overall.

“My first throw was a bomb and I fouled it,” Bozarth said. “My second throw felt like I kind of held back and was cautious on it, but it was still 58 meters. I was like ‘if that can be 58 meters I know that there is a lot more in the tank.’ After each throw I went to coach and I asked him what I missed or what I need to work on to get better. It was a great progression, as each throw did get better. I don’t think I have ever had that before so it’s a great feeling knowing that it’s there and I can build off that.”

Bozarth was still numb after the competition.

“It feels great,” Bozarth said. “It still hasn’t quite hit me yet, but when it does it’s going to be amazing.”

On the men’s side Zack Richards led the Cyclones with a personal best toss of 204-10.00. Richards’ top two marks in the event have both come during the Big 12 Championships.

The Iowa State multi events group had a strong showing with personal bests across the board for both the men and the women.

Ethan Wilkins currently sits in third place in the decathlon standings after a solid day. Wilkins ran a personal best time of 11.12 in the 100-meter dash and had a personal best mark in the shot put with a toss of 41-05.75.

“I was happy with Ethan’s performance,” Iowa State multi-events coach Pete Herber said. “He’s sitting in third right now and I think he has set himself up well for some good competition.”

Along with Wilkins, Taylor Sanderson had a personal best mark of 22-09.00 in the long jump, shattering his previous personal best mark of 21-11.75.

Senior Jordon Andreassen led the Cyclone women in the heptathlon with a personal best time of 14.34 in the 100-meter hurdles. Bree Woelber also registered a personal best time of 14.45 in the race. Kaci Storm had a strong outing in the shot put with a personal best mark of 29-04.50.

“We need to stay confident and compete within ourselves,” Herber said. “We just need to take care of the little things and we’ll do fine.”

The decathlon resumes Saturday and kicks off the meet at 10 a.m. CDT with the 110-meter hurdles. The long jump starts the heptathlon beginning at 10:30 a.m. Results will be posted oncyclones.com after the conclusion of the day’s events.

Current Team Standings:

Women:

1)IOWA STATE, 35; 2)Texas, 21; 3) Kanas, 20; 4) Kansas State, 10; 5) Baylor; 8; 5) Oklahoma, 8; 7) TCU, 5; 7) Oklahoma State, 5; 7) West Virginia, 5.

Men:

1) Oklahoma, 31; 2) Texas, 14; 3) Oklahoma State, 13; 4) IOWA STATE, 12; 5) Texas Tech,5; 6) Kanas State, 3.

Women’s Results

100-meter hurdles heptathlon: 1) Richelle Farley, Kansas State, 13.62; 7) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 14.34; Bree Woelber, IOWA STATE, 14.45; 11) Kaci Storm, IOWA STATE, 15.22.

200-meter dash heptathlon: 1) Richelle Farley, Kansas State, 24.92; 10) Kaci Storm, IOWA STATE, 26.60; 12) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 27.09; 13) Bree Woelber, IOWA STATE, 27.26.

High jump hepthalon: 1) Lindsay Vollmer, Kansas, 5-08.75; 4) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 5-05.25; 13) Bree Woelber, IOWA STATE, 5-01.75.

Shot put heptathlon: 1) Lindsay Vollmer, Kansas, 40-02.75; 7) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 33-05.25; 10) Bree Woelber, IOWA STATE, 30-06.50; 12) Kaci Storm, IOWA STATE, 29-04.50

Heptathlon standings: 1) 1) Lindsay Vollmer, Kasas, 3490; 7) Jordon Andreassen, IOWA STATE, 2983; 11) Bree Woelber, IOWA STATE, 2791; 16) Kaci Storm, IOWA STATE, 2019.

10,000-meter run: 1) Meaghan Nelson, IOWA STATE, 35:05.38; 2) Dani Stack, IOWA STATE, 35:09.93; 4) Samantha Bluske, IOWA STATE, 35:28.90; 6) Crystal Nelson, IOWA STATE, 35:47.50; 7) Katy Moen, IOWA STATE, 36:08.80

Hammer throw: 1) Sara Savatovic, Kansas State, 210-04; 3) Hayli Bozarth, IOWA STATE, 207-08; Danielle Frere, IOWA STATE, 181-07; 11) Laishema Hampton, IOWA STATE, 165-01; 12) Kayla Sanborn, IOWA STATE, 165-01.

Men’s Results

100-meter dash decathlon: 1) Johannes Hock, Texas, 10.78; 3) Ethan Wilkins, IOWA STATE, 11.12; 7) Taylor Sanderson, IOWA STATE, 11.38; 10) Matt Harmeyer, IOWA STATE, 11.77.

400-meter dash decathlon: 1) Johannes Hock, Texas, 49.80; 2) Ethan Wilkins, IOWA STATE, 49.89; 5) Taylor Sanderson, IOWA STATE, 51.33; 7) Matt Harmeyer, IOWA STATE, 51.78

Shot put decathlon: 1) Johannes Hock, Texas, 50-06.25; 5) Ethan Wilkins, IOWA STATE, 41-05.75; Taylor Sanderson, IOWA STATE, 34-10.50; 10) Matt Harmeyer, IOWA STATE, 33-03.25.

High jump decathlon: 1) Reinis Kregers, Kansas State, 6-05.50; T3) Ethan Wilkins, IOWA STATE, 6-03.25; T6) Matt Harmeyer, IOWA STATE, 6-02.00.

Long jump decathlon: 1) Johannes Hock, Texas, 24-05.75; 3) Taylor Sanderson, IOWA STATE,22-09.00; 6) Ethan Wilkins, IOWA STATE, 22-04.50; 10) Matt Harmeyer, IOWA STATE, 18-07.00.

Decathlon standings: 1) Nick Johannes, Texas, 4222; 3) Ethan Wilkins, IOWA STATE, 3793; 9) Matt Harmeyer, IOWA STATE, 3135; 10) Taylor Sanderson, IOWA STATE, 2853.

10,000-meter run: 1) Kevin Schwab, Oklahoma, 29.12.84; 5) Mohamed Hrezi, IOWA STATE, 29:25.17; 13) Stephen Saylor, IOWA STATE, 30:10.39; 14) Charlie Paul, IOWA STATE, 30:43.89.

Hammer throw: 1) Nick Miller, Oklahoma State, 227-01; 2) Zack Richards, IOWA STATE, 204-10; 10) Henry Kelley, IOWA STATE, 159-07.

Iowa State's Betsy Saina at the Big 12 indoor championships. (Iowa State Athletics)

The alarm clock buzzed at 3:40 a.m.

Iowa State standout distance runner Betsy Saina stirred, sat up and shook her head.

“I was really, really mad,” she said.

That was Tuesday — an early wake-up call for Saina and her teammates in advance of a circuitous flight path to Waco, Texas, the site of the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which run Friday through Sunday.

Saina had won her second straight elite 10,000-meter race at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., two nights earlier, vanquishing the likes of two-time Olympian Kim Smith of New Zealand and hyped Oregon senior Jordan Hasay.

Subsequent sleep — sandwiched around return flight connections and layovers — came in short supply.

And short supply for Saina, the 2011 NCAA indoor champ in the 5K, means less than 14 hours, her ‘A’ standard per 24-hour time frame when it comes to slumber.

“I just get crabby,” Saina explained.

She’s happy and well-rested now, though.

Saina, along with standout teammates Meaghan Nelson, a former Xavier athlete, and injury-plagued Dani Stack, who won her first Drake Relays flag last Thursday, will cap decorated Cyclone outdoor careers.

“I’m just excited to go out and cheer them (on) and see what they can do,” said Saina, who may run only the 5K this weekend. “It’s been a great four years at Iowa State together.”

Nelson — who participated in the U.S. Olympic Trials last year — was one of four collegiate runners to compete in Sunday’s Jordan Invite.

She finished 17th and could be penciled in for both the 10K and 5K in Waco.

Saina’s winning time of 31:37.22 at the Jordan Invite, qualified her for the August IAAF World Championships in Moscow if she’s able to make the Kenyan team.

“Meaghan, Betsy and Dani, they’re the ones that kind of got it going,” ISU track and field and cross country director Corey Ihmels said of the senior trio’s legacy. “We don’t win a couple conference championships in cross country without them and we don’t come within eight points of winning the indoor meet without them. They’ve just taken our program to a whole different level.”

That’s at or near the top.

But this weekend’s championships — run a week earlier than the past — created scheduling challenges of their own for Ihmels and his staff.

“There were a few issues, but it is what it is,” Ihmels said.

While the Cyclone women appear destined for a top-three finish, the men hope for, but are not assured of, an upper division end point.

One wild card in the mix is former Prairie standout Jacob Aune, who Ihmels said could score points this weekend as a true freshman.

“He’s a great athlete,” Ihmels said. “He’s going to be a very good runner for us down the line and he’s battled since day one.”

Saina’s steadily progressed beyond “very good.”

And her enviable, lengthy sleep patterns unwind as a big reason why.

“I’ve always said to be a really, really good athlete you’ve got to be good at doing nothing,” Ihmels said. “Betsy is as good as anybody I’ve been around at doing nothing.”

IOWA STATE’S SAINA BECOMES NO. 3 ALL-TIME COLLEGIAN AT 10k

Palo Alto, Calif. — Iowa State’s Betsy Saina raced to a 10,000-meter Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational title late Sunday, winning in 31:37.22, the third-fastest time ever run by a collegiate performer. Saina’s time is the second-fastest clocking in the world this season, trailing only U.S. Olympic Trials champion Shalane Flanagan’s 31:04.85.

Former Iowa Stater Lisa Uhl, now running for Nike, finished 15^th in the event in 32:31.98. Uhl is the all-time collegiate 10,000-meter record-holder with a 31:18.07 mark set in 2010. Cyclone Meaghan Nelson placed 17^th in the race in 33:05.71. Nelson was one of only four collegians in the race.

Saina traded the lead on and off with eventual fourth-place finisher Kim Smith throughout the first 8,000 meters before asserting supremacy. Saina ran under the IAAF World Championships qualifying standard of 31:45, meaning if she qualifies for run for her native Kenya later this year, she will make the meet which is in Moscow in August.

“I felt good,” Saina said. “I could have gone a little faster but I achieved the “A” standard which was important to me. I can concentrate on running strong for Iowa State the rest of the season.”

Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels commended his runners.

“Betsy wanted to run a little faster and take a shot at the collegiate records but in the end she came out on top of what was a top-flight field and that in and of itself is impressive. Meaghan has been a little dinged up but battled hard and did a good job. Now we get ready for the Big 12 Championships.”

Iowa State will compete in the Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Friday through Sunday in Waco, Texas

DES MOINES — Jill Williams paced back and forth, nervous as a mom should be.

Would Northern Iowa thrower Jordan Williams’ top discus toss hold up in Saturday’s tense finals at Drake Stadium?

Mom had to wait — and pace — a while to find out.

Northern Iowa thrower Jordan Williams won the men's university/college discus finals Saturday, April 27, at the Drake Relays. (Photo courtesy UNI Athletics)

“We just tell him to go out and have fun,” an eventually jubilant Jill Williams said. “I’ll carry the heat for him.”

Jordan carried a Drake Relays flag out of the ring after unleashing a winning throw of 190 feet, six inches.

He beat second-place Gabe Hull of Iowa by less than an inch — two millimeters to be exact (58.07 to 58.05), so the stress was catching.

“It was intense,” said Williams, a former Monticello standout who hit his top mark on the first throw of finals, then watched Hull and others take their best shots. “On the outside, I was trying to sit there and be calm. But on the inside, I was pretty shaken up. I beat him by that much — two centimeters, so it was very close.”

Wonderfully close for the Williamses.

Excruciatingly close for Hull, who took fourth in the event last year and saw his last throw fall slightly shorter than the one before.

“The whole day had been progressively getting better, so I felt that since the (previous) one was just (two centimeters) behind the guy who was leading, the last one, if I stayed constant to what I’d been doing, it would have been further,” Hull said. “Unfortunately it didn’t work like that.”

Williams had never won a Relays event.

Not as a high school or college Panther.

“It only took me nine years, but I did it eventually,” he said. “I knew this was my last Drake Relays.”

But it’s far from the last anything, for Williams or Hull.

“I’ll see him again at regionals,” Williams said, “and probably nationals.”

Hull found a silver lining in his near-win.

“It’s another steppingstone,” he said. “Here, Big Tens, regionals, nationals and so forth.”

Williams said his father, Greg, coached him in high school.

And proud but nervous mom?

He’s always able to find her in the crowd.

“Her and my grandmother, they’re over there just muttering to themselves,” Jordan Williams said. “Visualizing me beating everyone, I’m sure. They get really excited.”

DES MOINES — Lolo Jones ran fast but ran fourth in Saturday’s stacked London Rematch 100-meter hurdles event at the Drake Relays.

Just like in the real London.

Des Moines’ most celebrated link to elite track and field could already sense the detractors coming, connecting venom-drizzled dots to make social media swipes.

“I can take away some positives, but I feel like people will automatically attack me and turn it into something negative,” said Jones, who finished .08 seconds behind race winner Queen Harrison, who clocked a 12.71. “For me, I’m back in the groove of things. I’m back running and I’m just loving track and field right now. But I’m sure in your articles or whatever people want to toss on me on Twitter, the attacks will come. I’ll just prepare myself.”

Jones seemed well prepared for the race, having developed “like, Hercules” strength by pulling 400-pound bobsleds around while helping the United States win World Cup gold in January at St. Moritz, Switzerland.

She’s working on a seven-steps approach to the first hurdle in races, a technique she learned from 2012 110-meter men’s hurdles Olympic gold medalist Aries Merritt.

She’s convinced that will lead to big gains, but acknowledged it takes time to master.

“ It took him about half a season,” said Jones, who saw fellow U.S. Olympians Dawn Harper and Kellie Wells edge her for second and third, respectively. “He just said, ‘Don’t get discouraged and commit to it.’ He said it does take a while, though, but at the end of his first season doing it, he was killing it.”

Harrison, ranked sixth in the world by all-athletics.com, surprised by triumphing over a field that included the silver and bronze medalists (Harper and Wells) from London, Jones, and other highly-ranked hurdlers such as Tiffany Porter.

“I’m getting comfortable again with saying I am one of the best in the world and I can be  in the front,” said Harrison, who won both the 100 and 400 hurdles at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Harper — who said her London comments regarding Jones were misconstrued — stands atop the world rankings and expected a fast start to lead to a win.

“When I got out there and was leading, I was like, ‘There it is, there it is, there it is,’” Harper said. “Thought I had it.”

She’ll keep trying.

Just like Jones, Harrison, Wells and the rest.

“I’m just not race sharp right now,” Jones said. “So I did the best I could out there. It was a good start.”

DES MOINES — Ese Okoro and Ej Okoro were born six minutes apart and far, far away in Birmingham, England.

At this week’s Drake Relays, the twin sisters won races less than two days apart — Ej in Thursday night’s 6,400-meter relay, and Ese in Saturday’s 400-meter hurdles.

“Twin thing,” said Ese Okoro, who finished second in the event last year. “Had to have a flag.”

Ej Okoro also notched a third-place finish in Saturday’s distance medley relay final — and had the Cyclones in the lead when she handed off.

Ese Okoro finished the 400 hurdles in a personal-best time of 57.43.

She took second to then-teammate Kianna Elahi in last year’s final.

“It was like a steppingstone to this year,” Okoro said. “It’s nice to be able to work upon what I did last year and bring it out this season.”

Okoro will seek her first Big 12 championship in the event next weekend at Waco, Texas.

“It will give me a lot of confidence to know what I’m capable of and work on from there,” Okoro said of Saturday’s win.

Note: This story ran in the Saturday, April 27 print edition of the Gazette

DES MOINES — First, the fist pump.

Then, the scream and smile for ESPN’s camera.

Webster City native Jenny Simpson didn’t just win the “London Rematch” 1,500-meter run Friday night at the Drake Relays.

She crushed it — in record-setting fashion.

Pedals in the just-received congratulatory floral bouquet scattered, and the 2011 World Indoor Champion celebrated her third straight win in the event at Drake Stadium, this one coming in a stadium record 4:03.35.

Jenny Simpson celebrates after winning the London Games Rematch 1500 meter run in 4:03.35 during Drake Relays on Friday, April 26, 2013, at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)

“That was what the fist pumping was for at the end,” said Simpson, who also eclipsed the previous best time in the world this season. “I have a lot of family here in Iowa and a lot of history here. My grandfather was a graduate of Drake. The first thing I thought is I get to get my name on the stadium. That’s really, really special to me.”

Canadian Olympian Sheila Reid finished a distant second (4:07.92), and recent USA 1-mile road champion Kate Grace took third (4:08.24).

Mary Cain, a 16-year-old high school junior from Bronxville, N.Y., placed sixth in a time of 4:10.77.

“Gosh, I felt so tired and they were running so fast,” said Cain, who’s been dubbed by some the best young American runner since Mary Decker. “I’m really happy with a 4:10.”

Ashley Miller, who won an unmatched 15 state high school track titles at Drake for Tipton, was lukewarm about her 10th-place effort.

Miller, in her first professional season under ASICS sponsorship, finished in 4:19.86.

“I wish I would have had more courage to stick my nose in a little more,” said Miller, who was sidelined with an injury for a month of the indoor season. “I definitely didn’t run as fast as I would have liked with such good girls pulling me along.”

Miller said she still had fun, though.

“I think I just need to run with more confidence,” she said.

Simpson’s never wavered, especially as dreams of a record began echoing in her head.

“That was so huge,” Simpson said of the booming reminder. “I came around with 400 to go and I felt good and then I heard the announcer. It was the only time I heard the announcer the whole race. (He said) I had to run a 65.5 or somewhere around there to get the record and I was like, ‘I know I can do that. I know I can do that even with the wind.’ So it felt great. The last finishing stretch was so hard because it was so windy, but I was so full of joy by that point, it was not oppressive at all..”

Wind played a big role in at least one of the other marquee races — the London Rematch 110-meter men’s hurdles.

London gold medalist Aries Merritt finished second in 13.48 — a whisker behind first-year pro Andrew Riley (13.43).

“I’m like a buck 69,” Merritt said. “So all that wind was not going to bode well for me.”

It did for Riley.

Things often go his way at Drake, where he set an NCAA record by winning both the 100-meter dash and 110 hurdles last summer.

“Every time I come here it’s always emotional,” Riley said. “I love coming here.”

DES MOINES —  Jenna Higgins came oh-so close.

Excrutiatingly close — with a runner-up finish in the Drake Relays’ 100-meter dash as a freshman for North Scott.

Higgins kept dreaming of clutching one of those small white winner’s flags, so she worked and waited …

Mount Mercy's Jenna Higgins leaves the starting blocks of a college womens' 4x200 meter relay final during the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines on Friday, April 29 2011. (Cliff Jette/SourceMedia Group)

“And waited and waited,” she said. “Eight years.”

Time’s up.

Higgins, now a senior at Mount Mercy, saved her best for last Friday, sending the javelin 178 feet, five inches to win the university/college division in the event.

With it, came that flag — as vanquished athletes from schools such as Georgia, Missouri and Miami looked on.

“My first five throws were not very good and I was getting frustrated,” Higgins said. “So to be able to have a good throw on the last one, it really got to me. I was just so happy and so relieved because I really wanted  this so bad. It’s my senior year. I’ve always wanted a Drake flag. And something happened. It all came together and it means so much to me.”

Higgins’ fifth “not very good” throw actually would have won the event.

Her sixth beat second-place Freya Jones of Georgia by nearly five feet.

So where does the flag go?

“A shadow box, maybe?” Higgins said. “Not sure.”

Mustangs assistant track and field coach Ryan Scheckel said Higgins may be the only college athlete in the country — if not the world — who can throw a javelin over 50 meters and run a sub-12 second 100-meter dash.

She stands out in other ways, as well.

“She’s also a leader and does a lot of little things that others don’t do, no matter what their ability level is,” Scheckel said. “So she’s been great for Mount Mercy — not only the track team but the school in general.”

The word “great” came to mind for Iowa thrower Majesty Tutson, too.

The former Iowa City High star not only won the university discus with a top toss of 181 feet, one inch.

Tutson, a senior, also beat a longtime high school rival — former West standout Taylor Freeman, who threw 175-0 for Arizona to earn second.

“I never beat her, ever, in high school,” Tutson said. “Even now, I competed against here for the first time in a couple years a couple weeks ago and she beat me by two feet. So I was really hoping to get her this time. It just feels good to kind of battle back.”

Tutson said she went to bed Thursday with a feeling something good would happen.

“Hopefully I can go to Big Tens and do something special, too,” she said. “My goal is 185 so I’m hoping I can hit that (there). … Hopefully I can keep up the good work.”

DES MOINES — First, the fist pump. Then, the scream and smile for ESPN’s camera.

Webster City native Jenny Simpson didn’t just win the “London Rematch” 1,500-meter run last night at the Drake Relays. She crushed it — in record-setting fashion.

Petals in the just-received congratulatory floral bouquet scattered, and the 2011 world indoor champion celebrated her third straight win in the event at Drake Stadium, this one coming in a stadium record 4:03.35.

Jenny Simpson leads the pack to win the London Games Rematch 1500 meter run in 4:03.35 during Drake Relays on Friday, April 26, 2013, at Drake Stadium in Des Moines. (Liz Martin/The Gazette-KCRG)

“That was what the fist pumping was for at the end,” said Simpson, who eclipsed the previous best time in the world this season. “I have a lot of family here in Iowa and a lot of history here. My grandfather was a graduate of Drake. The first thing I thought is I get to get my name on the stadium. That’s really, really special to me.”

Canadian Olympian Sheila Reid finished a distant second (4:07.92), and USA mile road champion Kate Grace took third (4:08.24). Mary Cain, a 16-year-old high school junior from Bronxville, N.Y., placed sixth in a time of 4:10.77.

“Gosh, I felt so tired and they were running so fast,” said Cain, who’s been dubbed by some the best young American runner since Mary Decker. “I’m really happy with a 4:10.”

Ashley Miller, who won an unmatched 15 state high school track titles at Drake for Tipton, was lukewarm about her 10th-place effort. Miller, in her first professional season under ASICS sponsorship, finished in 4:19.86.

“I wish I would have had more courage to stick my nose in a little more,” said Miller, who was sidelined with an injury for a month of the indoor season. “I definitely didn’t run as fast as I would have liked with such good girls pulling me along. I think I just need to run with more confidence.”

Simpson’s never wavered, especially as dreams of a record began echoing in her head.

“That was so huge,” Simpson said of the booming reminder. “I came around with 400 to go and I felt good and then I heard the announcer. (He said) I had to run a 65.5 or somewhere around there to get the record and I was like, ‘I know I can do that. The last finishing stretch was so hard because it was so windy, but I was so full of joy by that point, it was not oppressive at all.”

Wind played a big role in at least one of the other marquee races — the London Rematch 110-meter men’s hurdles. London gold medalist Aries Merritt finished second in 13.48 — a whisker behind first-year pro Andrew Riley (13.43).

“I’m like a buck 69,” Merritt said. “So all that wind was not going to bode well for me.”

It did for Riley.

Things often go his way at Drake, where he set an NCAA record by winning the 100-meter dash and 110 hurdles last summer.

“Every time I come here it’s always emotional,” Riley said. “I love coming here.”

DES MOINES — Still shocked, but smiling, Northern Iowa decathlete Daniel Gooris listened to coach Dan Steele’s question.

“We were standing around and he goes, ‘Hey, everyone who’s a two-time Drake Relays champion raise your hand,’” said Gooris, who clutched a freshly-, and surprisingly-earned Relays flag. “And I raised it and he raised his hand and everyone was like, ‘Oh, that’s awesome!’ I didn’t know that before.”

Gooris surged from seventh after day one to attain his second straight Relays decathlon championship Thursday at Drake Stadium.

But it wouldn’t have been possible had professional and stadium record holder Jake Arnold not pulled up lame in the final event — the 1,500-meter run.

He failed to finish, which prompted the mini flag to find Gooris’ fingers again.

“I didn’t know until after the race that he’d dropped out and I’d won,” said Gooris, a three-time Missouri Valley champion in the decathlon.

Gooris entered Thursday confident he could rise as high as second.

Arnold winning seemed a foregone conclusion.

“I would have had to beat him by 1:30 in the 1,500,” Gooris said. “When I crossed the line and finished, I turned around to look for a red ASICS jersey and, nope.”

He eventually saw red — but it was worn by Seymour native Ethan Miller.

Then it all started sinking in for Gooris, who scored 7,395 points to Arnold’s 6,955.

“That feeling when they hand you the flag is probably one of the greatest feelings,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

ISU WOMEN WIN 6,400: Dani Stack’s five-year career has been filled with triumphs and injuries.

Lately, injuries.

But Stack’s strong second leg in Thursday’s 6,400-meter run helped propel the Cyclones to their first-ever win in the event, with a time of 19:16.69.

Maggie Gannon led off. Crystal Nelson ran third and Ejiro Okoro anchored.

“I was really hoping to get a Drake flag before my time was up,” said Stack, an all-American in the 10,000. “The fact that I got to do it with these ladies, I was telling them it’s better than getting an all-American by myself. Celebrating with my teammates is awesome.”

DES MOINES — There’s nothing like lugging a 400-pound bobsled around to enhance one’s strength.

Just ask Drake Relays fan favorite and now dual-sport star Lolo Jones, who plans to compete in Saturday afternoon’s “London Rematch” 100-meter hurdles event.

“Every lift I could think of went up,” said Jones, a two-time World Champion and Olympian who grew up in Des Moines. “Power clean, up — personal best. Bench, personal best. Deep squat, personal best. Everything. I’m just so strong right now. Like, Hercules strong.”

Jones, who came heartbreakingly close to medaling in the 2012 London Games but settled for fourth, will compete in one of 13 London rematches, all of which feature medalists or finalists from last summer.

Des Moines native Lolo Jones reaches for the line in the 100-meter hurdles special at the 101st Drake Relays at Drake Stadium on Saturday, April 24, 2010, in Des Moines. Damu Cherry won the race. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Jones will compete alongside sometimes contentious rivals Dawn Harper (silver at London) and Kellie Wells (bronze).

She said the Relays’ strong field contains both positive and negative elements — and nothing but positives for fans.

“You’d be a fool not to come out and watch the Drake Relays this year with how many (star) athletes that there are,” Jones said. “The con is mostly for the athletes because this is our first race. To have such a high-intensity race is not something we would normally face until the end of the year. So the lineup you’re getting is actually more competitive than a Diamond League race. … These are a lot of the same girls that are going to be fighting for top-three spots to go to worlds and represent Team USA.”

Jones plans to showcase a new hurdling technique she’s acquired, in part, due to strength gains gleaned from bobsled training.

“I’m doing seven steps over the hurdles now,” Jones said. “It takes a lot of strength. Not really any other female hurdler does it, so I’m excited to use that new technique here this weekend.”

Aries Merritt, who won gold in the 110-meter men’s hurdles in London, said once he started doing the seven-step move, it was “magic.”

“It’s something I did last year that paved the way for me going on to do amazing things such as win the olympic gold medal and break the world record,” said Merritt, who will compete alongside silver-medalist Jason Richardson and bronze medalist Hansle Parchment of Jamaica at 6:30 p.m. Friday. “It’s really difficult for an athlete to run the seven-steps approach, because it’s kind of like being right handed and trying to write in cursive with your left hand. It’s that difficult and she was able to do just like I did last year and pick it up pretty quickly. So I’m pretty excited to see what she can do.”

So, of course, is Jones — who continues training toward a spot on the U.S. Olympic bobsled team.

“I really feel good now, I feel strong,” said Jones, who scratched last year because of weather and health concerns coming off an injury. “I should be strong coming off bobsled season. And the weather? Thats just a huge break in itself. Normally when I come here it’s, like, 40, or it’s raining, so it’s always, like, ‘Should we or should we not?’ So with the weather and having the clearance, it’s a sigh of relief for most of the athletes. People are, ‘Have you heard about the weather?’ It’s the first thing we’re talking about, so we’re all pumped to run.”

Jordan Williams - seen here as a Monticello thrower - releases the discus during the boys discus at the 99th Annual Drake Relays at Drake Stadium on Thursday, Apr. 24, 2008, in Des Moines. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

DES MOINES — Sweaty palmed and trembling, Northern Iowa all-American thrower Jordan Williams took center stage.

This is before the former Monticello standout branched out, becoming one of the best in the nation to heave a shot or unfurl a discus.

It’s eighth grade and Williams has been enlisted to sing a solo.

All alone, he stood.

Uneasy, but determined.

“I was very, very shy in middle school,” said Williams, a senior who enters this week’s Drake Relays undefeated in the discus this season. “It was a whole awkward phase, with the baby fat, the braces, so I was pretty quiet. But then once I started doing it I really started to enjoy it and I wanted to do it more and more and that led into me being in other things.”

Williams‘ renaissance man qualities continue to fuel his burgeoning success in the ring.

Brute strength, which he’s built under throws coach Dan O’Mara and strength coach Jed Smith, forms a foundation from which proper technique produces elite results.

O’Mara was asked to aid in Williams’ development four years ago.

He was a volunteer coach at Ames High School at the time — after spending 17 years as part of Iowa State’s track and field staff.

“I said, ‘OK,’” said O’Mara, who has helped the Panthers place an average of four throwers in the regional finals the past three years. “Went in there and worked with him and thought, ‘Man, he could be an all-American.”

Williams achieved that goal last season, attaining second team all-American status at the NCAA outdoor meet with a top discus hurl of 183-10.

He finished 14th and became UNI’s first-ever all-American thrower after needing a late, clutch push to even qualify.

“Once I got in, it was just about having fun,” Williams said. “There wasn’t a lot of pressure. … Leave it all out there, do the best you can and that’s what I did.”

Just like that solo performance so many years ago.

“I was shaking like a leaf the whole time,” recalled Williams, whose list of goals this season includes winning his first Relays title. “It was definitely an adrenaline rush being up there and that’s another thing I enjoyed about it. And that’s another thing I enjoy about throwing. You’re on your own. When you’re in the ring, it’s just you. You have to prove to yourself that you can do it.”

*Other Iowa-based university athletes to watch: Pretty much the entire Iowa men’s team. The Hawkeye men enter the Relays ranked higher than ever — No. 12, according to the USTFCCCA. Sprinter Justin Austin is ranked fourth in the 200. Thrower Gabe Hull ranks sixth in the discus (and finished fourth at the Relays a year ago). … UNI’s Daniel Gooris will try to defend his Relays title in the decathlon, which began day two this morning. … The Panthers’ Paige Knodle also hopes to make a splash in the heptathlon, 400 and javelin. … Several of Iowa State’s top runners, including former Xavier standout and U.S. Olympic Trials participant Meaghan Nelson will be competing at other venues. Nelson is slated to run at the prestigious Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., on Sunday.

Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

He might be teeing off.

Could be lining up a putt.

Whatever Saturday’s fourth through seventh rounds of the NFL Draft bring, former Iowa State standout linebacker Jake Knott will be ready — clubs in hand.

“In the morning I’ll be golfing, for sure,” said Knott, who spent plenty of time on the links in the past with fellow pro hopeful A.J. Klein.

Knott is pegged by analysts as a possible late-round pick.

Klein, who ran one of the fastest 40s at the NFL Combine among linebackers (4.66), is considered a middle- to late-rounder.

“All you can control is obviously what you do out here on the field and the preparation you put in,” Klein said.

Both Knott and Klein excelled on those fronts in Ames.

Knott became ISU’s sixth all-time leading tackler with 347 stops before shoulder surgery derailed his senior season.

“What a career he had in terms of production,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. said in a teleconference. “I think he’s a late round possibility.”

Klein ended up seventh on the Cyclones’ career tackles chart, with 344.

“(He’s) one of the faster linebackers,” Kiper said. “He runs under 4.7 consistently. Brings some versatility to your defense.”

Both earned first team all-Big 12 honors the past two seasons.

Klein owns the ISU record for interceptions for touchdown with four.

Knott tipped and secured an interception that sealed last season’s win at Iowa, among several other big plays.

“They both had outstanding careers and we’ve seem them up close for a couple years,”  Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz said. “Just seemed like very impressive young people and obviously very impressive football players.”

Knott knows past achievements don’t mean much to NFL teams.

He shines in the area commonly known as intangibles.

But his so-called measurables stack up pretty well, too.

“I’m definitely one of those ‘tweener guys and I think my agent knows that,” Knott said. “He really believes I should get drafted and I have the skill set to get drafted and everything. … Basically he said, ‘Go in, prepare for the worst, hope for the best.’”

Suffice it to say Knott, like Klein, plans to play through — Saturday and beyond.

“I just want to make myself an asset as a starter, as a backup, as a special teams guy, even as a practice player,” Knott said. “So they know how much talent I have and how much I could do to help out the team and the locker room.”

MCDONOUGH, LENZ HAVE SHOTS: Kiper described ISU defensive lineman Jake McDonough and wide receiver Josh Lenz as likely “high priority free agents.” He called McDonough an interesting guy. “Gives you everything he has,” Kiper continued. “He’s 6-4, about 290, 295 pounds. I liked him as a player.” Kiper expects all four of the Cyclones’ top NFL prospects (Klein, Knott, McDonough and Lenz) to go deep into camps. “I think all of those kids have a chance to make a football team,” Kiper said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if all four are on a roster come September.”

If anything, the internal and external response to the Hawkeyes’ novel April 14 practice at West Des Moines Valley High School demonstrated a return visit might be in order.

“I could see us doing it on a regular basis,” said Ferentz, who spoke to the media Tuesday before a Polk County I-Club gathering at the 7 Flags Event Center.

“We’ll talk about it when we get done with spring practice. You know, the weather wasn’t great. If it had been, I think we may have had a few more thousand people there (an estimated 8,000 attended), but all in all I think it was really a win-win situation.”

Ferentz eventually addressed a crowd of more than 700 Iowa fans Tuesday, as awards were handed out to former quarterback James Vandenberg, center James Ferentz and guard Matt Tobin.

Polk County I-Club president Joe Chmelka said the ongoing success of the annual event received a boost from the unorthodox practice road show that unfolded nine days earlier amid blustery conditions.

“After a 4-8 season, I-Club attendance dips a little bit,” said Chmelka, who’s in his 13th year as the Polk County chapter’s president. “Let’s not kid ourselves. But we’ll have over 700 people in here tonight and a big part of it is just helping get the word out. (The practice at Valley) really helped get the word out about our events and what we do and who we are. It’s dynamite from that perspective.”

Fans who braved the elements saw the Hawkeyes’ 3-way battle for the No. 1 quarterback job progress — though separation among Jake Rudock, Cody Sokol and C.J. Beathard remains minimal.

Three more spring practices remain, culminating in Iowa’s open one on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

“ I think they all have different strengths,” said Vandenberg, a three-year starter who hopes to see a possible pro career take shape late this week. “That’s certainly something you’ve got to evaluate. Which one fits with what coach (Greg) Davis wants in his second year (as offensive coordinator)? I’m not totally sure. I think they all have a great chance. Jake’s been here the longest, but coach Davis has only been here as long as Cody and C.J. have been here, so it’s certainly an exciting competition. I think they’re really embracing it and having a good time with it.”

Ferentz noted that settling on a No. 1 playcaller will likely take awhile.

“We’ll let it play out this week and see how it looks,” Ferentz said. “My guess is we’ll probably go at least halfway through (fall) camp before we really make a final decision about who’s going to start the opening ball game because it’s all pretty close right now. … I think we can be successful with all three guys. It’s just a matter of figuring out what the best equation is.”

SIFTING THE LAYERS: Ferentz lost two down-the-depth-chart defensive backs — Torrey Campbell and Kevin Buford, it was announced Tuesday.

Buford plans to transfer.

So does Campbell, symbolically anyway, but he won’t be going far.

He’s choosing to focus on track.

“Neither one was a huge surprise to us,” Ferentz said.

AMES – Willie Scott rose up.

Sam Richardson cringed.

The anatomy of the first of two interceptions in Iowa State’s spring game Saturday contained both positive and negative elements — serving as a microcosm for the annual roughly two-hour exercise.

Iowa State's Willie Scott during the annual spring game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Ames, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)

“We were in a field blitz,” said Scott, a senior defensive end suspended from regular season competition indefinitely because of a marijuana possession arrest early this month. “I dropped to the boundary and basically kind of faked (Richardson) out a little bit, like I was going to run up to him. He threw it and I just stood there and caught it.”

Scott — who Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads said previously is in line to possibly miss the Aug. 31 season opener against Northern Iowa — did more than stand there.

He tight-roped the sideline before coming down with the first-quarter pick, which evidenced a combination of savvy and athleticism Rhoads said is building.

“A great interception,” Rhoads said. “I don’t know how awful the throw was, but it wasn’t  good to throw that interception to a defender that close to the sideline. I told Willie after the Kansas game (last season) where he made that interception in that game, for a guy of his physical skills, it was a great, great play. The one (Saturday) was even better because that ball was rifled and he had to quickly react.”

Richardson said he underestimated Scott — a mistake he hopes future opponents to make, as well.

“It’s obviously frustrating on my part,” Richardson said. “I shouldn’t have made that mistake, but it’s good and bad. He’s an athletic guy that’s going to make a lot of plays for us.”

THE PICK THAT WASN’T: Jacques Washington nearly recorded the third interception — and second of backup Grant Rohach — in the spring game, but something went awry.

“I made a good break on the ball and had it in my hands,” Washington said. “Just got to come down with it, hopefully come down with it on game day.”

He had help in losing it.

‘Sam Richardson,” Washington said, referencing the cornerback he collided with, causing the ball to come out.

KICKIN’ IT: The quest for the No. 1 kicker spot meandered through the spring into a “dead heat” according to Rhoads.

It likely remains just that.

“Such is the life of kickers and making decisions on kickers for the most part,” Rhoads said.

Cole Netten, a redshirt freshman, made 2 of 4 field goal tries, with makes coming from 29 and 45 yards and misses coming from 50 and 53 yards out.

Returning starter and walk-on Edwin Arceo went 1-for-3, missing from 29 and 45, but powering through the 53 yarder.

Both kickers attempted from 29, 45, and 53, one after the other.

“Last year we didn’t really do that,” said Arceo, who blamed his two early misses to mechanics he’s working to correct. “It does add a little pressure, which is good.”

Rhoads said Arceo was particularly sharp this week, but Netten’s been “smooth” at times, as well.

It’s the “at times” part for both that concerns him.

“I think that shows, one, inconsistency,” Rhoads said. “And it shows, two, we’ve got two guys very capable of playing winning football as kickers at this level.”

Iowa State's Willie defensive end Scott during the annual spring game at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 20, 2013, in Ames, Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette-KCRG)

AMES — Willie Scott rose up. Sam Richardson cringed.

The anatomy of the first of two interceptions in Iowa State’s spring game Saturday contained positive and negative elements, serving as a microcosm for the annual roughly two-hour exercise.

“We were in a field blitz,” said Scott, a senior defensive end suspended from regular-season competition indefinitely because of a marijuana possession arrest this month. “I dropped to the boundary and basically kind of faked (Richardson) out a little bit, like I was going to run up to him.  He threw it and I just stood there and caught it.”

Scott — who coach Paul Rhoads has said Scott is in line to possibly miss the Aug. 31 season opener against Northern Iowa — did more than stand there. He tight-roped the sideline before coming down with the first-quarter pick, which evidenced a combination of savvy and athleticism Rhoads said is building.

“A great interception,” Rhoads said. “I don’t know how awful the throw was, but it wasn’t good to throw that interception to a defender that close to the sideline. I told Willie after the Kansas game (last season) where he made that interception in that game, for a guy of his physical skills, it was a great, great play. The one (Saturday) was even better because that ball was rifled and he had to quickly react.”

Richardson said he underestimated Scott — a mistake he hopes future opponents make.

“It’s obviously frustrating on my part,” Richardson said. “I shouldn’t have made that mistake, but it’s good and bad. He’s an athletic guy that’s going to make a lot of plays for us.”

THE PICK THAT WASN’T

Jacques Washington nearly recorded the third interception — and second of backup Grant Rohach — but something went awry.

“I made a good break on the ball and had it in my hands,” Washington said. “Just got to come down with it, hopefully come down with it on game day.”

He had help in losing it.

‘Sam Richardson,” Washington said, referencing the cornerback he collided with, causing the ball to come out.

KICKIN’ IT

The quest for the No. 1 kicker spot meandered through the spring into a “dead heat,” according to Rhoads.

It likely remains just that.

“Such is the life of kickers and making decisions on kickers for the most part,” Rhoads said.

Cole Netten, a red-shirt freshman, made 2 of 4 field goal tries, with makes from 29 and 45 yards and misses from 50 and 53 yards out.

Returning starter and walk-on Edwin Arceo went 1 of 3, missing from 29 and 45 but powering through a 53-yarder.

Both kickers attempted from 29, 45, and 53, one after the other.

Arceo who blamed his two early misses on mechanics he’s working to correct.

A taste.

A harbinger of things to come for Iowa State’s football team.

When the Cyclones line up on offense in today’s 2 p.m. spring game at Jack Trice Stadium, fans will notice subtle and not-so-subtle differences.

Iowa State Cyclones head coach Paul Rhoads speaks to the media during a press conference at the Embassy Suites in Memphis, Tenn on Sunday, December 30, 2012. The Cyclones lost to Tulsa on Monday, December 31 in the Liberty Bowl. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

Mainly, the variances stem from the pistol formation, which becomes a bedrock element of ISU’s spread with new offensive line coach and pistol guru, Chris Klenakis, in the fold.

“You can see what it’s done for the running game,” Cyclone quarterback Sam Richardson said recently of explosive runs achieved in practice. “It’s continually getting us big plays.”

How the pistol’s presented — and executed — will be one of several aspects of today’s glorified scrimmage to keep an eye on.

But what’s ISU coach Paul Rhoads looking for the most?

On offense, it’s still big plays.

Agile moves.

Significant yardage gained after catch or first attempt at contact.

“Those guys have got to go out and make people miss,” Rhoads said. “They’ve got to turn six-yard plays into 60-yard plays.”

Defense?

“I’d really like to see those guys go out and play fundamental football,” said Rhoads, who noted improvement throughout the spring in this regard. “And tackle singly. Tackle more aggressively when they have a partner there, not lose containment, things like that.”

Big plays can come on that side of the ball, too, and senior safety Deon Broomfield — who played mostly nickel last season — aims to provide them.

He’ll occupy the strong safety spot manned in 2012 by Durrell Givens, who led the nation with nine takeaways (six fumble recoveries, three interceptions) despite missing seven quarters late in the season because of a knee injury.

Broomfield snared two picks last season, recovered a fumble and forced two while playing in all 13 games, but starting only six.

“He doesn’t always look good in practice, doesn’t always look good in fundaments, doesn’t always look good in winter workouts, but when the lights come on, he makes plays,” Cyclones secondary coach Troy Douglas said.

Fair assessment?

“I hear that from all the coaches,” Broomfield said, smiling. “Sometimes (Douglas) will make fun of me and give me a hard time. I tell him I’m working on it.”

Other elements to scrutinize from the stands include the trenches — where a rebuilt offensive line has impressed with its tenacity, and a largely inexperienced defensive line has created head-turning, along with eye-rolling plays this spring.

Then there’s the place-kicking game, where Edwin Arceo and Cole Netten are engaged in a “dead heat,” Rhoads said.

It’s all a work in progress.

So Saturday’s as much a celebration of work done as it is a portent of the tasks and dreams that lie ahead.

“Just getting out there and learning again and using some of the gains that we’ve gotten through the weight room — it’s exciting,” said linebacker Jeremiah George, who looks to become the second level of the defense’s standard-bearer. “I’m really looking forward to (it).”

In a word: Relax.

“Guys always, it’s human nature, they step up into those spots,” the program’s sixth all-time leading tackler said. “They find their roles. And they find, ‘Hey, I’ve got to develop into a playmaker now. I can’t just be that guy that was doing my job, I’ve got to start doing things a little bit harder, a little bit better.’”

Iowa State linebacker Jake Knott runs the short shuttle during the team's pro day Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility on the Iowa State campus in Ames. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

That process for likely ISU linebacker starters Jeremiah George, Jevohn Miller and Jared Brackens continues today — but on a public stage as the annual spring game kicks off at 2 p.m. today at Jack Trice Stadium.”

“Coach (Paul) Rhoads always talks about it being a grind,” said George, the only one of the aforementioned trio to make a major impact last season with 87 tackles, which ranked third on the team. “But that’s what makes it so fun, because it is something that at times, it can be painful.”

So far, Knott would approve.

The next step for George, ironically, requires slowing down.

Not on the field, but in his mind, where sometimes the 5-11, 219-pound senior outfoxes himself.

“Jeremiah’s just got to settle down and play his position and try not to do too many things,” Cyclone defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said. “Stay at the right place and be a leader. He’s got to be that guy and he’s trying to be, which is a very positive thing.”

And not just with words, but with deeds.

“Jake and A.J., they babysat me for two years, three years, however long ago it was,” said George, who started nine of 13 games last season. “So I had great teachers. Last year they kind of let me be vocal and this year I’m trying to be that guy for the rest of the defense.”

George understands the slow down your brain, speed up your body equation.

The light went on for him last season after two years of previous toil translated to little production.

He expects the same to happen for Miller and Brackens — and others populating the lower tiers of the depth chart, as well.

“It’s the small stuff,” George said. “Making an emphasis on things that the coaches have repeatedly taught them and trusting themselves to play a little bit faster. I know that feeling of you don’t want to make a mistake and you think you know what you’re supposed to be doing, but then it’s like, ‘Wait, he said I’m supposed to do this. And I supposed to do this?’ You’re just a split-second slower. I’ve seen guys kind of let that go and play faster.”

Speed dovetails nicely into the linebacking corps’ sea-based mentality.

Sharks, they call themselves.

Indiscriminating eaters.

“One shark week after another,” Miller said.

Three sharks.

One stormy Big 12 sea.

Consider the waters chummed.

“I’m here to work,” Brackens, a converted safety said, “and play.”

By Rob Gray, correspondent

AMES — He’ll block.

He’ll run.

He’ll catch.

Anything else, Jeff Woody?

Iowa State's Jeff Woody (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

“I’ve seen it all, heard it all,” the former Iowa State walk-on said of his Cyclone career.
On paper, the fifth-year senior who rumbled for the game-winning touchdown in the landmark 2011 triumph over Oklahoma State remains a running back.

On the field, fans will likely see him all over the place — including at tight end.

How often?

“As much as they’ll let me,” said Woody, who will play somewhere in Saturday’s 2 p.m. sprig game at Jack Trice Stadium. “It’s a fun position. You get to be physical, you get to be nasty on blocks. Occasionally you get a bone tossed your way and catch a route. And when you catch a pass, rather than taking a handoff, you’ve got nothing but open space.”

Most of his career, Woody’s been understandably hitched to the term “short yardage.”

Third and inches?

Send in the 240-pounder.

It’s been a largely successful relationship, but Woody’s eager to diversify in his last go-around.

So far, ISU coach Paul Rhoads has liked what he’s seen.

“ Woody has had three straight days of really making us a better offense, making us a better football team by doing a number of things,” Rhoads said Tuesday. “Things he hasn’t really done at all, or to a level that we need him to, the previous three years. That’s physical blocking. That’s moving around, motion as an H-back that’s even lining up in the traditional tight end location. And he carried the ball well in (last) Saturday’s scrimmage.”

The Jeff-of-all-trades attributes flow from the addition of the pistol formation to the Cyclones’ spread offense, but he’s shown versatility before.

He caught three passes last season, with two going for short touchdowns.

He’s reached the end zone 11 times in his career — and uncorked a career-long 43-yard run in last season’s bowl eligibility-clinching 51-23 win at Kansas.

But carries may be hard to find with the likes of James White, Aaron Wimberly, DeVondrick Nealy and Shontrelle Johnson — once he’s healthy — roaming the backfield.

Hence the tight end proposition, a move made easier by spring camp injuries to Ernst Brun (concussion-like symptoms) and E.J. Bibbs (shoulder).

“It’s been a good transition,” Woody said. “I like the position.”

Both Brun and Bibbs are back and fully engaging in contact drills, but Woody’s new tag has stuck.

“You know where the plays are supposed to hit, so when they call a certain run play, you know what the running back is looking for so you can kind of set up what (he) wants,” he said. “You’ve been in both positions. You can see. The coach can talk until he’s blue in the face, but until you’re in the running back’s shoes, you don’t know exactly what they’re looking for.”

Woody does — and he’s created multiple paths to more playing time.

“Using all the pieces that we have,” he said, “is what I see going forward.”

By Rob Gray
Correspondent
AMES — His gait may seem a little off.

His movements, a tad unorthodox.

But substance trumps style for Iowa State quarterback Sam Richardson, a surprisingly-skilled — if somewhat unconventional — dual-threat sophomore who has emerged as the Cyclones’ first clear-cut No. 1 playcaller since 2010.

Iowa State quarterback Sam B. Richardson (12) passes to a teammate during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. Iowa State defeated Kansas 51-23. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

“He’s faster than you think,” ISU offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said.
Spread offenses require a mobile quarterback.

The Cyclones’ rushing game often hinges on the zone-read option and Richardson, who will start in Saturday’s 2 p.m. spring game at Jack Trice Stadium, has proven adept at running it.

“I’m not the most athletic runner by any means,” said Richardson, who went 0-2 as an starter last season but shined after coming off the bench in the previous game, a bowl berth-clinching 51-23 romp at Kansas. “I guess I can just get the job done. Spread offense, zone-read, pistol (formation) kind of thing — you have to be able to make plays with your feet as a quarterback.”

Unconventional?

Doesn’t matter if he’s productive to the tune of a 41-yard touchdown run in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

“All in all, pleased with his progress,” Cycloned coach Paul Rhoads said. “He’s a guy that’s not satisfied and that’s encouraging, as well. There’s a good chance he’s down the hallway right now watching tape with a receiver or two. He snags them as often as he can.”

Turned out Richardson was down in the equipment room as Rhoads spoke, but still studying.

He completed 58 percent of his passes last season for eight touchdowns and one interception.

He also averaged 5.7 yards per carry and tromped into the end zone once.

“My confidence level has continued to grow throughout the spring,” Richardson said.

Rhoads said Richardson has carried himself as the No. 1 guy since the calendar turned.

Last season, he sat No. 3 behind erratic off-and-on starters Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett.

Until the Kansas game — when he completed 23 of 27 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns, then struggled to produce big gains in losses to West Virginia and Tulsa in the Liberty Bowl.

“Commanding would be the word that I’ll start with,” Rhoads said of Richardson’s demeanor in 2013. “As much as you try to get a guy to come along earlier, sometimes it just doesn’t work that way. Sam had an opportunity last year to be the guy (out of spring practice). Sam had an opportunity no different than Steele and Jared to take the ball on the first offense and run with it and never stepped forward to do that. It was too easy for him to sit behind a couple veteran guys and wait for his time.”

Apparently, he’s now fully arrived — even if he runs somewhat more upright than most and doesn’t cause the term “elusive” to come trippingly off the tongue.

“He’s always been a very, very smart quarterback,” Messingham said. “From day one, I think we really realized he understands schemes. Now he’s understanding them with the bullets flying, with people flying around him.”

Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Sam B. Richardson (12) and quarterback Grant Rohach (3) toss passes during the first day of spring practice Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility on the Iowa State campus in Ames. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

 AMES — His gait may seem a little off. His movements, a tad unorthodox.

But substance trumps style for Iowa State quarterback Sam Richardson, a surprisingly-skilled — if somewhat unconventional — dual-threat sophomore who has emerged as the Cyclones’ first clear-cut No. 1 play caller since 2010.

“He’s faster than you think,” ISU offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham said.

Spread offenses require a mobile quarterback.

The Cyclones’ rushing game often hinges on the zone-read option and Richardson, who will start in Saturday’s 2 p.m. spring game at Jack Trice Stadium, has proven adept at running it.

“I’m not the most athletic runner by any means,” said Richardson, who went 0-2 as a starter last season but shined after coming off the bench in a bowl berth-clinching 51-23 romp at Kansas. “I guess I can just get the job done. Spread offense, zone-read, pistol (formation) kind of thing — you have to be able to make plays with your feet as a quarterback.”

Unconventional? Doesn’t matter if he’s productive to the tune of a 41-yard touchdown run in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

“All in all, pleased with his progress,” Coach Paul Rhoads said. “He’s a guy that’s not satisfied and that’s encouraging as well. There’s a good chance he’s down the hallway right now watching tape with a receiver or two. He snags them as often as he can.”

Turned out Richardson was down in the equipment room as Rhoads spoke, but still studying.

He completed 58 percent of his passes last season for eight touchdowns and one interception. He also averaged 5.7 yards per carry and tromped into the end zone once.

“My confidence level has continued to grow throughout the spring,” Richardson said.

Rhoads said Richardson has carried himself as the No. 1 guy since the calendar turned.

Last season, he sat No. 3 behind erratic off-and-on starters Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett. Until the Kansas game — when he completed 23 of 27 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns, then struggled to produce big gains in losses to West Virginia and Tulsa in the Liberty Bowl.

“Commanding would be the word that I’ll start with,” Rhoads said of Richardson’s demeanor in 2013. “As much as you try to get a guy to come along earlier, sometimes it just doesn’t work that way. Sam had an opportunity last year to be the guy (out of spring practice). Sam had an opportunity no different than Steele and Jared to take the ball on the first offense and run with it and never stepped forward to do that. It was too easy for him to sit behind a couple veteran guys and wait for his time.”

Apparently, he’s now fully arrived — even if he runs somewhat more upright than most and doesn’t cause the term “elusive” to come tripping off the tongue.

“He’s always been a very, very smart quarterback,” Messingham said. “From day one, I think we really realized he understands schemes. Now he’s understanding them with the bullets flying, with people flying around him.”

The wrinkle speedy Iowa Western transfer Aaron Wimberly adds to Iowa State’s well-stocked running game could turn into a much-needed chasm.

“As soon as he sees a sliver of daylight — gone,” short-distance back Jeff Woody said of the 5-11, 180-pound bundle of versatility after Saturday’s closed scrimmage. “There’s not a corner or a safety in the league that can take away an angle that he has when he’s 100 percent healthy and gets going.”

Wimberly is the latest reason for optimism in a backfield that produced the fewest rushing yards among conference teams in 2012. He averaged 7.4 yards per rush last season, fifth among NJCAA backs, and chose the Cyclones over Iowa, Penn State, Boise State and TCU.

“I really want to see myself using my vision more with the pistol (formation),” Wimberly said. “Basically, be more explosive.”

The Cyclones averaged 150.8 yards rushing last season — a number Wimberly, along with returners such as James White and DeVondrick Nealy, looks to bolster. He showcased less of his explosiveness this Saturday when compared to the last, which turned out to be a positive development.

“Not as many big plays as we had in the first scrimmage, but I attribute that to the defense,” Cyclone Coach Paul Rhoads said. “The defense practiced and played faster this week. It’s a little bit like pitching and hitting. Who’s ahead and who catches up? And the defense, here in this third week, has caught back up a little bit.”

Defensive coordinator Wally Burnham said his mostly green unit still exhibits a stormy relationship with the fundamentals, but also shows flashes of play-making ability primed by improved athleticism.

“We’ve got so many young guys out there, they make a lot of mistakes,” Burnham said. “They’re just really struggling right now, but overall the first defense probably, hopefully played pretty good.”

After that?

“Not very well,” Burnham said. “You’ve got to evaluate the first group, the second group and then that third group. And it starts downhill pretty fast there.”

That’s a direction Wimberly and his fellow backs expect to head, too — in a different sense, of course.

“As soon as we got on the field, I felt that this was my opportunity,” he said. “Easy transition, because it’s just like what I came from.”

Woody said incorporating more pistol elements into the offense should provide broad-ranging benefits — from the backfield to the wide receiving corps.

ODDS & ENDS

Oft-injured, but talented offensive lineman Shaban Dika was listed as a potential starter this spring. Now the 6-5, 322-pounder’s out for good. “(He’s) no longer going to be able to play football,” Rhoads said. “The knee injuries that he’s sustained, just too much. … That’s a blow.” The team has adjusted by getting possible left tackle starter Jacob Gannon, along with backup center, Ben Loth and down-the-depth-chart lineman Oni Omoile work at the left guard position Dika manned. “(Omoile’s) coming on as a player, as we anticipated he would,” Rhoads said.

“The approach I’m taking is just being ready,” said Bundrage, the Cyclones’ top returning game-breaking pass catcher. “I never know when the ball’s going to come. If I am the No. 1 receiver, I am the No. 1 receiver. I’m not really going to worry about that.”

He’s the No. 1 receiver all right.

Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads noted early in spring practice Bundrage, along with tight end Ernst Brun, has emerged as one of the offense’s top deep threats.

Bundrage averaged just 11.6 yards per catch last season, but showed flashes of his play-making ability with a 35-yard touchdown grab in the regular season-closing loss to West Virginia.

“We’re charting some explosive plays and Bundrage, as you might expect, would be at the top of that list,” Rhoads said. “But two other guys that you might not, (redshirt freshman Dondre) Daley and (redshirt senior) Justin Coleman fall next in line and that’s fun to see.”

ISU wide receivers coach Todd Sturdy said he’s called upon Bundrage, a 6-2, 189-pound sophomore-to-be, to be more of a leader — statistically and otherwise.

“Now it’s about focusing on all the little things, continuing to strive every day with his drill work to get better at the out route, or the post, or whatever he’s doing,” said Sturdy, who also returns experience in Jarvis West and Albert Gary at wideout. “Just sharpening up everything.”

Sturdy wants to see improved blocking in Saturday’s scrimmage from Bundrage and all his receivers.

It’s a work in progress.

“Being a receiver in high school, you’re the go-to guy, so you’re not really doing it that much,” Bundrage said.

He is now.

A go-to receiver and a blocker, not necessarily in that order.

“My confidence level is definitely up from where it was last year,” said Bundrage, who both Rhoads and Sturdy noted needs to cut down on dropped passes. “I’m ready to play, of course, but I still have stuff to do.”

Once the miscues abate, watch out, Sturdy said.

“When you run by somebody, or you create space and get wide open, well guess what? If you don’t finish, if you drop the ball, you stand out,” he said.

SCOTT ARRESTED, SUSPENDED: Iowa State defensive end Willie Scott has been suspended athletic department spokesperson Tom Kroeschell said Thursday.

Scott, 21, was arrested last week and charged with possession of marijuana, according to the Ames Tribune.

An attempt Thursday to obtain the Iowa State University police report of the April 3 incident was unsuccessful, as the records division’s office had closed for the day.

Scott, a senior this fall, had 37 tackles last season — the most by any returning defensive lineman.

Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads said Scott is able to practice and participate in the April 20 spring game, but, as of now, would be suspended for the season opener against Northern Iowa.

“It’s an ongoing process,” Rhoads said.

That’s speed — and Iowa State football coach Paul Rhoads sees it from his defensive ends.

Paul Rhoads signs footballs for the 2013 Liberty Bowl (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

“(It’s) the number one thing,” he said after Tuesday’s spring practice. “So much of (the Big 12) and really so much of a national passing game these days is on time. And the sack numbers are never going to be high because the ball’s out so quick. But you’ve still got to get pressure and you do that with speed and push. We’ve got to get more of that.”

It will have to come from a largely inexperienced, athletic, but hobbled group.

Willie Scott’s the eldest man off the edge, boasting 13 career starts.

The rest of a youthful group that includes former Gilbert standout Cory Morrissey, West Des Moines Valley alum Nick Kron and out-for-the-spring Californian David Irving?

Zero starts between them, but plenty of confidence throughout.

“This year, the potential is sky high,” said Morrissey, who made two tackles for loss as a backup last season. “The sky’s the limit. We could really show up this year.”

First they must get healthy.

Kron, who notched one of the Cyclones’ 15 sacks last season (112th out of 120 teams nationally), is full speed after offseason foot surgery.

“Everyone’s making a lot of improvements,” Kron said.

Irving — a 6-7, 272-pound junior full of promise, played with a tear in his shoulder all last season and is recovering from going under the knife.

Both he and Morrissey competed at less than 100 percent full health in 2012.

Morrissey injured his groin in the season-opening win over Tulsa and the pain ebbed and flowed through the Liberty Bowl rematch loss to the Golden Hurricane.

“With a groin injury, it’s tricky,” Morrissey said. “You can’t even get out of your car without it hurting. … Now I can just run around and make plays. And like (defensive ends coach Curtis) Bray says, go really hard.”

Morrissey’s listed as a No. 1 defensive end along with Scott, who was limited early this spring by plantar fasciitis.

Bray said he’d like to rotate as many as five players in at defensive end, but that means speed must not only apply to physical work, but to mental maneuvers, as well.

“That’s about as many as you can play, with one guy maybe being a situational guy,” Bray said.

Five fast guys.

Thirteen total starts.

Stay tuned?

“We’ve just got to get constant pressure,” Bray said. “Last year I felt like some games we did, some games we totally disappeared. That’s what we can’t have.”

BRUN, BIBBS BACK: Injured tight ends Ernst Brun (concussion-like symptoms) and E.J. Bibbs (shoulder) practiced Tuesday. Brun returned to full contact. “Got banged around,” Rhoads said. “Did the banging for the most part.” Bibbs wore a blue jersey, but could be a full-go on Thursday. Receiver Tad Ecby remains day-to-day with a hamstring injury.

Iowa State defensive coordinator Wally Burnham talks to defensive linemen Henry Simon (98) and Brandon Jensen (93) during a time out in the first half against West Virginaia at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on Friday, November 23, 2012. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

AMES — The fighter. The wrestler. The engineer.

Characters in a new sitcom?

No, just three pivotal pieces, as in Brandon Jensen (fighter), Collin Bevins (wrestler), and Pierre Aka (engineering major) poised to help Iowa State rebuild the interior of its defensive line.

Among the trio, only Jensen, a junior, has played.

The former Ankeny star totaled eight tackles last season for a defense that ranked 38th nationally in points allowed at 23.9 per game.

“What I love about (Jensen) is the attitude he plays with,” Cyclone defensive line coach Shane Burnham said. “He’d just as soon fight you as he would shed a block.”

Jensen is projected to start at nose guard and said his ornery approach comes from his coach.

“He wants us to work hard; he wants us to fight for everything,” said the 6-5, 301-pounder. “If they’re chipping us, we should chip them back because he doesn’t want (us) getting walked on. He wants you to be a fighter, and that’s what it takes down there. Otherwise, they’re just going to run all over you all day.”

Bevins, a state wrestling tournament runner-up his senior year of high school at Creston, and Aka, who’s studying aerospace engineering, are red-shirt freshmen.

Bevins entered spring camp as the No. 1 tackle, with junior Austin Krick (6-2, 277) and Aka (6-4, 273) on his heels.

“Collin, the other day he actually hip-tossed a guy, which was not a block escape I coach,” Burnham said.

“Usually we shed blocks. He hip-tossed the blocker. He fell back into his wrestling days.”

That’s not a bad thing, despite the occasionally unorthodox technique.

“There’s a work ethic that comes with that sport,” Burnham said.

Bevins expressed surprise at being a spring camp No. 1 and, regardless, will likely share time with Krick and Aka as Burnham tries to keep his group fresh.

Bevins spent his red-shirt year working at linebacker. He’s put on roughly 60 pounds in two years.

“I wasn’t really this body type when I first came in so once I put on the weight, got bigger, they said, ‘OK, it’s time to go inside,’” Bevins said.

Aka, of Indianapolis, spent some time at defensive end last season and is adjusting to the more constrained environment at tackle.

“Right now I’m just trying to play tough and get the technique down,” he said. “We’re not playing Texas this week or anything, so really just trying to get after each other.

“That’s all you can do in the spring, especially as a red-shirt freshman — just try to develop yourself.”

Iowa State Cyclones tight end Ernst Brun Jr. (Cliff Jette/The Gazette-KCRG TV9)

AMES — Iowa State tight end Ernst Brun spent last spring trying to dent the depth chart.

Now the well-established downfield threat’s working on something loftier.

“My spot isn’t on lock,” said Brun, a 6-3, 251-pound senior and former JUCO transfer who made six touchdown catches last season. “I have to play every snap like I’m third string. I can’t take a snap or take a play off. So my role has changed now. I see myself sometimes as a leader on this team and I have to keep it up.”

First Brun — along with touted transfer E.J. Bibbs, who injured his shoulder in one-on-one drills last week — must get well.

Brun has shown concussion-like symptoms since absorbing a blow to the head while executing a block Friday in practice.

Cyclone coach Paul Rhoads expects to have him back for Thursday’s workouts.

“He was trying to talk the doc into letting him go (Tuesday), but we don’t allow that,” Rhoads said. “Anything that’s at risk, we hold him for the prescribed time.”

Brun and Bibbs form a potentially explosive duo for the Cyclones, who could deploy more two tight end sets while running plays out of the pistol formation.

Brun is coming off a career-high 102-yard receiving effort in the Liberty Bowl loss to Tulsa.

His six touchdown receptions in 2012 were the second most ever for an ISU tight end.

“I just have to go out there and play football,” Brun said. “I think it matters what I do out here (in practice) before I play on Saturdays.”

Bibbs, a 6-3, 250-pound former Iowa recruit from Arizona Western Community College, stayed true to his verbal commitment to the Cyclones after Oklahoma made a late recruiting push.

“He’s extremely talented,” ISU tight ends/assistant head coach Bill Bleil said. “Maybe as athletic as any tight end I’ve been around.”

Rhoads said Bibbs will not be available for Saturday’s scrimmage, but could return to full work next week.

Bibbs said he hurt the shoulder on a “pretty good catch.”

“I’m just trying to get back on the field and work,” he added. “Just trying to work to get better.”

That’s a constant for sophomore tight end Ben Boesen, a lean 6-6, 230-pounder from West Des Moines Dowling whom the coaching staff loves.

“He’s got a great motor and he learns fast,” Bleil said.

Brun hopes to rapidly lead the way — for himself, Bibbs, Boesen and Pierce Richardson, who’s also in the tight end mix.

“It’s a lot of stress on me to just be perfect,” Brun said. “It’s pretty good, though. I like it. It keeps me on my toes. I can never relax.”

 Correspondent

 AMES — As rumors swirled about his coaching future, Iowa State’s Fred Hoiberg slipped away.

Minnesota of the Big Ten had come calling?

Myriad NBA teams want his services?

Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg paces the floor during practice at the NCAA college basketball tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Dayton, Ohio. Iowa State is to play Notre Dame on Friday. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Could “the Mayor” possibly be considering moving on from his alma mater?

“Throughout this, I kind of got away with my wife (Carol),” said Hoiberg, who Thursday agreed to a new 10-year/$20 million contract designed to keep him in his hometown through at least 2023. “The biggest thing I wanted to do was decompress after the season. I met with all the players the day after the season (ended). I met with my staff the following day. The biggest thing I wanted to do was get my wife out of here for a few days and just talk about our future. It couldn’t have worked out any better.”

A second straight season as the Cyclones’ coach had just concluded with a third-round loss in the NCAA Tournament.

This one, familiarly, on a last-second shot by Ohio State’s Aaron Craft, which was prefaced by a controversial call moments earlier.

Stress comes with the territory for Hoiberg, a former ball boy, turned star player granted honorary elected office, then unproven and now sought-after coach.

Time with family eases it.

Not that the Hoiberg-to-? talk didn’t hit home a little, too.

“My daughter, she saw a little bit of the rumors and she got a little freaked out about it,” said Hoiberg, the first coach to guide ISU to consecutive NCAA Tournaments since Larry Eustachy did it in 2000 and 2001. “But the thing that’s great for me is this is where I want to be. It’s home for me, it’s home for my family, it’s a great place to raise kids. And I’m excited about our future — not only about what we’ve done in the past. We’ve got a bright future ahead of us.”

Hoiberg’s new $2 million annual contract makes him the fourth-highest paid coach in the Big 12.

His previous deal, reworked last summer, came out to $1.5 million per year, or eighth in the league.

It’s an exciting day,” Hoiberg said. “I thank (ISU) president (Steven) Leath and (athletic director) Jamie Pollard for believing in me and hopefully we’ll do a lot of great things over the next 10 years — and hopefully beyond.”

The news release announcing the new deal noted Hoiberg had drawn interest from “several universities and NBA teams.”

Multiple Twin Cities media outlets reported Minnesota had offered Hoiberg the Gophers’ coaching job left vacant after the firing of Tubby Smith.

“There’s a lot of rumors that are out there,” Hoiberg said. “It’s flattering when you hear your name associated with different things, but at the end of the day the best move for me was to stay at Iowa State.”

AMES – Coe second team D3football.com all-American Frank Weymiller wasn’t sure pro day would be for him.

Then a call came at 4:30 p.m. Monday.

Coe College defensive lineman Frank Weymiller participate in position drills during Iowa State's pro day Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at the Bergstrom Indoor Training Facility on the Iowa State campus in Ames. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Teams had expressed interest in seeing him.

So the defensive lineman from tiny New Albin loaded up his “old, muddy Grand Prix” and headed to Ames for the 9 a.m. workouts.

“Not a lot of pressure; nothing to lose,” said Weymiller, the Iowa Conference defensive player of the year. “I kind of had the idea I might be getting in, but it was getting late. A last second thing.”

Weymiller said teams worked him out at linebacker and liked how he moved after being a down linemen for three years.

“I felt like I did pretty well,” Weymiller said. “It’s hard telling, because nobody knows your times for sure, but I felt like I ran pretty well and I think I got 28 on the bench.”

The Kohawks can point to former standout running back Fred Jackson as one who successfully made the leap from D-III to the NFL.

He’s entering his seventh season with the Buffalo Bills.

“He’s obviously made it, so it gives you hope you can make it, too,” Weymiller said.

AMES — The tweets and re-tweets started flying.

Former Iowa State star linebacker A.J. Klein shook his head.

The supposed buzz: He had suffered a “serious knee injury” at last month’s NFL Combine at Indianapolis.

The reality: Vastly different, which Klein pointed out on social media once he caught wind of the trumped-up report.

Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein participates in position drills during the team's pro day Tuesday. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

“That’s how the draft stuff works nowadays,” said Klein, who, before what turned out to be a relatively mild right MCL injury, ran a third-best among linebackers 40-yard dash of 4.66 seconds at the combine. “Everybody wants to be a draft analyst and everybody wants to be the first person to break big news. It’s the kind of competition you have nowadays and sometimes incorrect information is given out. You’ve just got to move on…I don’t hold any grudges.”

Klein, fellow linebacker Jake Knott, defensive tackle Jake McDonough and wide receiver Josh Lenz, among several others, all completed what they described as solid pro days Tuesday at the Bergstrom Football Complex.

Klein and Knott – both of whom are projected by legitimate analysts as mid- to later-round draft picks – were the only Cyclones invited to the combine.

Knott, who was coming off shoulder surgery, didn’t do physical drills at Indianapolis, but put up 20 reps on the bench press at pro day with the bar set at 225 pounds.

“I’m happy with it,” ISU’s sixth all-time leading tackler said.

Knott — who ran a 40 in the 4.7-4.8 range — is also pleased he can now focus primarily on making football plays.

He’s not into guessing where/when he might go, but will take part in a local workout April 5 for his hometown Kansas City Chiefs (Knott went to high school in Waukee).

“Anywhere’s my dream,” Knott said of a possible NFL destination.

McDonough, who said teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos showed particular interest in him, hardly slept Monday night.

“I kept waking up every hour, it felt like,” he said.

McDonough still managed a personal best-tying 37 reps on the bench — one off the high of 38 reached by just two defensive linemen at the combine.

“I should be at 40,” he said “But it’s OK. I’ll take 37.”

Iowa State Head Coach Paul Rhodes (center) stands with former quarterback Sage Rosenfels. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)

Lenz impressed scouts from more than 20 NFL teams with a sub 4.4 time in the 40.

Unofficially, Lenz clocked a 4.35 and also provided power on the bench, hitting 21 reps.

To put Lenz’s time in perspective, Oklahoma standout Kenny Stills ran a 4.38 at the combine.

“It’s crazy what happens when the adrenaline gets going,” said Lenz, who averaged 15 yards per reception last season. “Came in here, loosened up, felt good.”

So did Klein.

The record’s long been set straight regarding the severity of his injury.

Now it’s time to wait and see — and continue to train.

“There could be surprises,” Klein said of draft day. “The analysts could be 100 percent right. It’s just one of those things. You’ve just to control what you can, come out here and perform and I did that.”

Iowa State's Anna Prins (55) scores over Oklahoma guard Jasmine Hartman. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

AMES — The road to the Iowa State women’s basketball team’s first NCAA Tournament win in three years begins…

On the road.

The No. 23 and fifth-seeded Cyclones (23-8) tip off against 12-seed Gonzaga (27-5) at 3:15 today at Spokane, Wash.

The site: The Bulldogs’ or Zags’ (take your pick of monickers) cozy home gym — the McCarthey Athletic Center, which seats about 6,000 and will likely be filled with fervent fans of the blue, white and red.

“It’s a road game, all right,” said ISU coach Bill Fennelly, whose team has endured two straight first-round tournament exits after a pair of deep runs the previous two seasons. “But we play a lot of tough road games. That’s what this tournament’s about. Fifteen of the 16 sites someone’s playing at home. I think that’s good for the end, good for the tournament. … It will be like, probably feel like, coming to Hilton (Coliseum).”

Lots of team have faced that Hilton-based crucible — and Green Bay overcame it last year in a 71-57 first-round win.

The Cyclones have played in 29 tournament games, with all their Big Dance appearances coming under Fennelly.

They’re 11-4 in games played at Ames or Des Moines and 5-9 away from their home state.

It’s ISU’s first trip to Washington — and the journey will encompass both business and pleasure.

“I’m sure I’ll be the typical tourist,” Cyclone first team all-Big 12 forward Hallie Christofferson said.

Not the run-of-the-mill shooter, though.

Christofferson creates myriad matchup problems with her inside-outside game.

She’s averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds and ranks 24th nationally in field goal accuracy at 52.4 percent.

“This is what we play for,” Christofferson said. “We play for March.”

Regardless of site, regardless of opponent.

Gonzaga just happens to be riding a three-year Sweet 16 streak.

The Zags started a run to the Elite Eight at home in 2011 as an 11 seed.

Their first-round victim? Then-sixth-seeded Iowa.

“In the last couple years we’ve beaten a two, two threes, a five, two sixes and we’ve had some success,” Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves told reporters on selection Monday. “So where you’re seeded isn’t as important as who you’re playing and where you’re playing.”

ISU posted four wins on the road against tournament-bound Big 12 rivals, but face a less known quantity in the West Coast Conference champion Zags.

“Loyal fan base, a program that does it the right way,” Fennelly said. “Amazing success. A team that I think likes the high seed, playing at home, beat up on people (situation). So we know what we’re up against.”

AMES — Iowa State shooting star Tyrus McGee will let it fly anywhere, against anyone.

Notre Dame?

Sure.

At Dayton, Ohio?

That’s the plan.

“Certain people wanted different locations but I really don’t care,” said McGee, the Big 12’s sixth man of the year. “I didn’t really care who we’d face. I just want to prepare for them and play our style, try to get that ‘W.’”

About that style …

It will meet its match when the transition-fueled No. 10-seed Cyclones (22-11) and the more deliberate, taller and physical seven-seeded Fighting Irish (25-9) tip off at approximately 8:45 p.m. Friday in a second round NCAA Tournament West Regional game to be broadcast on CBS.

And how fast the pace of the game unfolds will obviously go a long way toward determining who’s survived and advanced to the third round, and who’s left reflecting on the end of a season.

“You get your guys to believe they can go out and make a run,” ISU coach Fred Hoiberg said. “That’s what we’ve tried to do with our team all year and our guys have responded to that.”

But who will dictate the tempo?

In one corner there’s ISU, which frays the nets with 79.6 points in the game — better than all but three teams in the country.

McGee has hit 90 3-pointers off the bench, helping the Cyclones drain a school-record 325 long-range baskets.

“We have shooters on our team,” McGee said. “And it’s very rare to see six shooters. Most times you see people who’ve got two or three shooters on the team and that’s about it. But there’s six of us.”

In the other corner, slight favorite Notre Dame, which ranks 86th nationally in scoring defense at 63.1 points per game and is the only team to beat top-seed Louisville since January.

The Fighting Irish limit foes to 32.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc — 93rd-best in the country.

“We have had games where we have held teams to 40, 50 points and I think that’s what we want to do in order to come out with this win,” Notre Dame’s top shooter, Pat Connaughton, said in a news conference.

ISU has scored fewer than 60 points just seven times in 99 games since Hoiberg took over the program in 2010.

The Cyclones’ only sub-60 effort this season came in a 56-51 upset loss in January at Texas Tech.

They’ve racked up no fewer than 63 ever since — and averaged 78.1 points in 14 games played against nine opponents, including Kansas and Kansas State, with stingier on-paper scoring defenses than Notre Dame.

“One of the hardest teams to guard in the nation,” Baylor coach Scott Drew said in a teleconference. “At the end of the day, they’re going to make — they’ve got too many good shooters, they’re going to make some. And if they’re making more, they’re going to be very hard to beat.”

Iowa State guard Korie Lucious celebrates a basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Oklahoma State Wednesday, March 6, 2013, at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State won the game 87-76. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth)

AMES — Iowa State’s Korie Lucious will face a former teammate and current friend in Friday’s 8:45 p.m. NCAA Tournament second round game against Notre Dame at Dayton, Ohio.

He’s Garrick Sherman, who, like Lucious, once donned a Michigan State Spartans uniform before transferring.

That’s where the measurable similarities end, though.

Lucious is a wily 5-11 point guard who ranks 30th nationally in assists per game.

Sherman’s a 6-10 post averaging 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds.

“It’s going to be good to play against him,” Lucious said.

Sherman’s been a spark off the bench lately for the Fighting Irish (25-9) with 14 and 16 points in two of the past four games.

“I think we have (him) back in a great frame of mind,” Notre Dame coach Mike Brey said.

Lucious — who hit a key 3-pointer against Maryland in 2010 to fuel a Spartans Final Four run — has struggled with his shot lately, going 2-for-20 from the field in the Big 12 Championships.

But he dished out 16 assists to six turnovers despite the icy shooting in those games and scored 21 points as ISU (22-11) posted a critical regular season-closing road win over West Virginia.

“I think he’s going to play great,” Cyclone forward Georges Niang said of Lucious. “I know people have been down on him, but he lives for stuff like this. He hits big shots. He’s a winner, so glad to have him in our circle for these types of events.”

Lucious has had more turnovers than assists in precisely one game since Jan. 23 — at West Virginia when his shooting helped ISU stave off a furious rally.

He’s also made 14 of his last 17 free throw attempts, but didn’t hoist any in the Big 12s last weekend.

“It’s just time for me to take it up another notch,” Lucious said. “Any game could be my last, so I’ve got to make sure I give my all on the court and make sure my guys, my teammates and coaches are doing the same.”

Lucious, one of six ISU seniors — with five seeing game action — remains a leader, and if there’s any time to lead boldly it’s now.

“We’ll lean on those guys, lean on Korie,” Cyclone coach Fred Hoiberg said.

Lucious wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m happy to still be playing this time of year,” he said.

MCGEE’S “SORE”: Iowa State sharp-shooting sixth man Tyrus McGee said he had lingering soreness from the Big 12 Championships, but it’s nothing major or specific. “That KU game banged me up pretty good,” said McGee, a 46.7 percent 3-point shooter. “But I’ll be ready by Friday.”

Iowa State's Kyven Gadson rides Iowa's Nathan Burak during their 197-pound match in a December dual. Gadson is looking to be the focus back on wrestling at this weekend's NCAA Championships after the death of his father. (Brian Ray/The Gazette)

AMES — Wrestling.

The idea of doing it didn’t sit well with Iowa State 197-pounder Kyven Gadson as he began what turned out to be a triumphant Big 12 Championships run March 8-9 — and the accompanying automatic berth to this week’s NCAA meet in Des Moines.

“I didn’t really want to be there to be honest,” said the ultra-talented, but grieving sophomore, who is one of seven ISU national qualifiers. “After my first match with (Oklahoma State’s Blake) Rosholt, I told (Coach Kevin Jackson), ‘I don’t really want to be here right now.’ And he gave me the go-ahead, if I needed to, to go home and be with my family. At that point I didn’t know what was going on with anything. I guess I just had a feeling that I was in the wrong place.”

But the tougher-than-nails Gadson held fast in Stillwater, Okla., buffeted by swirling emotions, grounded by his commitment to the task at hand.

“I knew what my dad would want me to do,” he said. “And what my mom would also want me to do.”

Clearly, Gadson is his father’s son.

Willie Gadson, a two-time All-American for the Cyclones and Waterloo East coach, died of cancer on March 10 — one day after the Big 12s concluded.

Kyven loaded up his car immediately after arriving back in Ames, dropped off teammate John Meeks, and steered toward home.

He approached his father’s bedside, a gold medal grasped in his hand.

“I told him before I left I was going to bring him back the gold medal, so I’m glad I could stay true to that,” Gadson said.

Since being diagnosed last spring, Willie Gadson battled for his life as he did for medals on the mat — with tenacity and dignity.

Monday, he was laid to rest in Waterloo, with his son, his family, the entire ISU wrestling team and countless others on hand to pay their respects.

“The type of love and support our family has received, it’s amazing,” Kyven said. “Not only for my dad, but for my mom and my sisters and my brother. The love is great … In a time like this it’s great to know you have that.”

Now it’s on to the ultimate drive toward the sport’s biggest prize. Willie Gadson prepared his two-time state champion son to be the best on the mat and off it.

His legacy lives on.

“His passion and love for Iowa State has never changed,” said Jackson, a longtime close friend. “He lived in Iowa City (for a time) and still wore cardinal and gold and that takes a real man to be able to do that. … He always continued to motivate me, to challenge me.”

It’s who he was. And is.

Golden.

“I’m just trying to take it all in,” Kyven Gadson said. “But, at the same time, still get my mind focused for (this) week. That’s what he’d want.”