Iowa State’s selection to the December 28th Independence Bowl was met with approval by Cyclone senior class that was motivated to return the program to its winning ways after a 2-10 season in 2003 that included a winless Big-12 record. Defenswive back Ellis Hobbs was named the team’s MVP at last night’s banquet. Hobbs says anytime you come off a season like last year, any type of bowl game is good. He says they weren’t concerned about where they’d go, they were just happy to go back to a bowl game. The Cyclones played in the 2001 Independence Bowl that ended with a disputed 47-yard field goal attempt by Tony Yelk in a 14-13 loss to Alabama. Hobbs says it’s unfortunate it came down to that play, but he says they had other opportunities to put themselves in a better position, and he says they’ll have to work to ensure it doesn’t come down to that again.Center Luke Vander Sanden says they are happy to have one more game to get ready for. He says they’re thrilled to go somewhere, and he says a lot of teams are wishing they could go somewhere for the post-season. The Cyclones will play Miami of Ohio.
