The Iowa State Cyclones need a victory at Missouri tomorrow to avoid a winless Big-12 season. The Cyclones are 2-9 and meet a Tiger team looking for its eighth victory. Iowa State coach Dan McCarney says Missouri’s quarterback is one of the best in the country, and it’s easy to see why they’re winning when you review the films. McCarney says the Cyclones would love to finish on a positive note. McCarney says “we’re not going in there making any apologies or excuses. We’re going in there to try to win this football game.”The UNI Panthers open the 1-AA national playoffs at home against Montana State. Panther coach Mark Farley says they would love to have a large crowd but with the students on break that’s not as likely. Farley says it will affect the crowd size. Farley says there’s a lot of excitement in the community about the game, and those who come to the UNI-Dome “will see a championship game.” Farley says the one-and-done format of the playoffs is exciting. Farley says from here on out, the games should be fun to watch.
ISU seeks to end season on positive note
The Iowa State Cyclones need a victory at Missouri tomorrow to avoid a winless Big-12 season. The Cyclones are 2-9 and meet a Tiger team looking for its eighth victory. Iowa State coach Dan McCarney says Missouri’s quarterback is one of the best in the country, and it’s easy to see why they’re winning when you review the films. McCarney says the Cyclones would love to finish on a positive note. McCarney says “we’re not going in there making any apologies or excuses. We’re going in there to try to win this football game.”
Warburg ready for second round playoffs
Wartburg is at Linfield of Oregon in the second round of the division-three national playoffs. The Knights will be looking to avenge a 52-15 playoff loss at Linfield a year ago. Wartburg coach Rick Willis says being back in the same place will hopefully work to his team’s advantage and his team is determined to put on a better performance than it did last time they were at Linfield. Willis says while Linfield is known for its passing attack, they will keep you honest with the run. Willis says they have a good mix of running and passing plays and it will be important for Wartburg’s defense to try to shut something down to make Linfield “one-dimensional.”
Northwestern faces Sioux Falls in the quarterfinals
Northwestern visits Sioux Falls in the quarterfinal round of the NAIA playoffs. It is their second matchup of the season after Sioux Falls claimed a 30-17 victory in early October. Northwestern coach Orv Otten says the first time the two teams met, Northwestern gave up big plays — two pass plays for touchdowns and two interceptions were run back for a touchdown. Otten says his team has to be more solid, offensively and cannot afford turnovers in this game. Otten says his team’s scored a lot of points in the past few weeks — four different players scored offensively last Saturday. He says when you pass the ball around like that, it makes the Red Raiders tougher to stop.
Mauled at the Mall? Try the outdoors
It’s the day after Thanksgiving and you want to avoid the crowds at the mall. Consider cruising by the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in western Iowa’s Harrison County. Deputy manager Mindy Sheets says the refuge is home to many thousands of migrating birds at the moment. About 30,000 snow geese are in, 7.000 ducks, a thousand Canada geese and a number of bald eagles. While that’s more snow geese than most of us would want in our backyards, Sheets says that is actually a much smaller population than usual for this time of year. She says they sometimes peak between 500,000 and 800,000 snow geese. She says no one’s really sure why this year’s numbers are down compared to recent years, but she says some of the birds may have migrated to the west while others are still in the north, moving more slowly this season. Sheets says the refuge is both a haven for animals of all kinds, but also for people who are seeking shelter from the foul weather. Other creatures are visible at the nature preserve too, including deer, coyotes and wild turkeys. For more information, call (712) 642-2772.
Former Iowan works to end hunger
As we celebrate a holiday that gives thanks for a bounty of things, a Cedar Rapids native is part of an effort to inform Iowans and others about hunger in the world. Nancy Aossey leads the International Medical Corps humanitarian organization which is part of a larger group called the “Better Safer World.” She says they hope to engage citizens at the very grassroots level on the issue of global poverty and why it impacts all of us in this country. Aossey says Iowans live in the breadbasket of the world, and may not think they can make a difference. But, she says they can. She says we’re interdependent and the things that impact other countries impact all of us. She says if we’re able to help other countries get on their feet, it will make it a better, safer world for all of us. Aossey says one person can make a difference. She says there are many things Iowans can do to participate at the grassroots level. For more information, surf to: bettersaferworld.org.
Openness in state government sought by county officials
The Iowa State Association of Counties is pressing lawmakers to give the public more of a chance to speak out about bills being considered by the Iowa Legislature. Iowa State Association of Counties executive director Bill Peterson says committees in the legislature should accept testimony on any legislation that’s being proposed. Peterson says citizens and representatives of groups like his can “buttonhole” individual legislators before a committee meeting to talk about a proposal, but there is no attempt to take public testimony on a bill before a vote is taken. Peterson says that’s “very unique in this country.” Peterson says virtually every other state has some forum that gives the public a chance to make a statement on a bill before a committee takes a final vote.
