Iowa State University Cyclone Football 1960, part 1

the action story of 1960 the continuing story of that hard-nosed football trading at Iowa State part of that tradition is the sign that hangs over the locker room door the coaching staff headed by clay Stapleton began work in late August toward building another winning season they worked over plays on the blackboard and first assistant coach Lou McCullough coaches Bernie Miller art steel Bernie's Wallen Vernon Gayle and dick Corey all contributed to the plans for the 10 games ahead scouting on Drake was by film and the coaches and players felt they were ready this was the 60th game in a series dating back to 1898 at Clyde Williams field for the opening day game with Drake the crowd was the biggest in history it seemed no one not even the youngest fans wanted to miss any of the action at Iowa State Bruno Marchetti managed to pick up two yards for Drake setting the stage to surprise the Cyclones they surprised a quick kick caught Noah napping as Burley Larry Vander Heiden knocked the ball down and ran it through the coil time for the cycle Iowa State wastes a little time and gave the ball to Dave Hoffman who whipped around right in for the score Iowa State was not a gracious host in this 46 to nothing victory and tipped Mackay for a 10-yard loss to demonstrate its relentless defense that forced the Bulldogs into another kicking situation and this time victory kicked the ball dead-on they Drake 47 yard-line play Stapleton had hoffman on the sidelines for instruction and sent him back into action with a touchdown play for the Cyclones Hoffman maneuvered his way into the end zone it stepped out of bounds on the 27 yard line Hoffman picked up 17 more yards for the Cyclones Stapleton that Lou McCullough kept an eye on the action but the Cyclones had the situation well under control Hoffman dropped in the passing position and hit Mickey Fitzgerald for the third score of the day to give Iowa State a 21 to nothing lead action had now moved to the third quarter Hoffman once more had the ball and this young sophomore worked his way downfield for 19 yards Tom Watkins took care of the dryer with another of his brilliance growing jobs for the help of Chris blocking by Cliff Rick he covered the 40 yards to make the score 27 to nothing no one is worried about an upset now so even before the game ended the Traveling victreebel started to rain action was fast and frequent as the Cyclones defeated Detroit 44 221 Hoffman picked up a couple of yards to get the first drive underway Nicki Fitzgerald took a reverse handoff and moved to the Iowa State 49 yard line then Dave Hoffman dropped back and threw to Don Webb all big eight in Webb be mated the defenders and then outran all other pursuers for a 51 yard scoring play Detroit had the ball long enough to run three plays on third down post could make only two yards so Bob Marshall punted to Hofmann on the Iowa State 32 Hoffman moved the ball back to the cyclone 44 and later picked up enough yardage to cross the midfield stripe honey beautifully executed naked reverse Hoffman made his way for 49 yards in the score that gave the Cyclones a 14 to 7 lead Watkins kicked off in Detroit scarper wits took the kick off and worked his way up field for a long game only to be tackled by Cyclone Don when the ball was jarred loose Webb recovered the fumble and took no chances of what we're looking at an attempt to score but the ball was dead at the recovery spot the Detroit 32 Hoffman took charge again and collected 15 yards in a try at left and the fine sophomore back then hit right tackle on a slant for nine more yards just put the ball on a six yard line as the 3rd quarter ended with Iowa State leading 28 to 21 that was quickly changed as Hoffman fought his way into the end zone for another score but it was a team victory too as Hoffman passed a Mickey Fitzgerald for a two-point conversion to give Iowa State a decisively there's no sweeter victory for a cyclone than a victory over Nebraska Nebraska was leading 7 to nothing in the 3rd quarter Thunder Thornton hit the Iowa State tackle spot for 7 yards Thornton got two more on a power slam then Nebraska tried to pass and Mickey Fitzgerald moved in on Pat Fisher's effort and ran it back 14 yards to the Nebraska 20 Tom Watkins who witnessed a year ago with some brilliant running did it all over again it was an impossible run but Watkins may be impossible especially as he bounced off every tackle embraced into the end zone with a big six point cliff Rick converted and the score was tied seven-seven for the 4th and one at the Iowa State 44 Nebraska's Meade elected to go for the first down rather than kick cliff Rick shot the gap and pin meet for a yard loss and the Cyclones had the ball in the hole five what ginzan hoffman went back into action Tom moved the ball for 15 yards on another brilliant run on a slant Watkins got four more to move the ball to the Nebraska 34 Hoffman had his turn and got 11 yards and a first down Hoffman got another six for the Cyclones but the drive stopped with a fourth down situation only Nebraska 23 Larry Schreiber came in and from the 30 and a half yard line just eased the ball over the crossbar and that made it 10 to 7 Kansa another tough team was a names for action against the cyclone Iowa State one of this one badly the Cyclones were undefeated in only a week before the Jayhawks have played the number one Syracuse to a close 14 to 7 loss when today would keep that record clear and would certainly boost cyclone stock nationally for this Kansas team was now number six in the nation it was a perfect day for football and there was actually to satisfy everything with Kansas leading 14 to nothing the Cyclones swung into action Mickey Fitzgerald ran the inside reverse for four yards he came right back with another reverse and five more they've Clayburgh hit right guard for another four Clayburgh on a fake reverse came around left in for eight yards leaving empty-handed Packers in his way he tried the left end spot again and gained five more Watkins with the ball on the one did his best and went in for the score to make it 14 to 6 Frank Pierre Saul's band entertained the crowd while the teams rested at the half it was back to action for the players as kayuu kicked to Tom Watkins with the fans calling for one play all the way Watkins was doing his best to oblige but his two had ideas about the game and finally told it to brilliant fullback at the 47-yard strike Watkins picked up three over right guard and Jack Mitchell the fine young Kansas coach was concerned about how his kayuu team was going to contain the Cyclones John Cooper a junior tailback hit Mickey Fitzgerald on a pass for a five-yard gain then Watkins made the crowd stand up and Cheer with an 18 yard right and run that brought the ball to the canvas 22 yard line is running from the tailback spot ASA pious move by coach clay Stapleton was outstanding just as it was from the full-back position Watkins got two more this time at left hand Paul Sullivan a fine passing fullback dropped one in for Duane Marcellus the 17 yard gained with the ball on the pansies six Watkins rammed in for the touchdown in the next play and was momentarily stunned by a Kansas tackler Nicki Fitzgerald a wingback for three years moved into the tailback spot for a two-point conversion and showed that he too could be a versatile performer the families won and the hard-nosed youngsters had lost their first game after winning three in a row this was homecoming a record crowd filed into the stadium hoping to see the Cyclones in a repeat of the 27 to nothing win over the buffs of a year ago they were also on hand to have a look at the homecoming queen candidates they were Nancy Starbuck Joyce Rice and Judy Healy and Joyce was busy that day she was homecoming queen and she also made her regular halftime baton-twirling appearance the ban gave a great performance Frank Pierre Saul's marching band has a well deserved national reputation one it earns a new every time it performs the Cyclones trailing by a 14 to nothing score at the half return to the field of action got their final instructions that the second half was ready to start action started with Colorado control and moving gold the crowd is pulling for the Cyclones to stop that drive and get another one going in the other direction Teddy woods got three before Don whiff could stop him again the crowd called for renewed action by the Cyclones a sentiment echoed by the cyclone bench we say rugged buff fullback hit over left tackle to pick up a couple before Carl proto called a halt to his progress wheeze came right back for four more this time at left guard Frank Montero filling in for injured Gayle whitener completed his only pass of the day hitting ripe for 11 yards JW Burton pulled him down once more of the old cry of hole deadline rang out the handoff from Montero was to Frank Fink the collision there flipped the ball into the hands of Tom Watkins with a fine block from the referee Tom was away for a 62-yard touchdown not the cyclone salvaged a little for may 21 to 6 homecoming loss but their personal loss was to be greater that sign no longer belonged to the Cyclones and down it came