The Cy-Hawk Series has a new sponsor. The Iowa Corn Growers Association and the Iowa Corn Promotion Board will become the title sponsors for the series which tracks the head-to-head contests between Iowa and Iowa State.
Craig Floss of the Iowa Corn Promotion Board says they feel very strongly the competitions between the two schools are a great place to get their message out. It will now be known as the “Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series”.
Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard, who says Iowa Corn is a perfect sponsor for the series, and says it’s more special to have a sponsor who can “represent the state of Iowa about as good as we can.”
Hy-Vee had served as title sponsor of the series since it began in 2004. Pollard says Hy-Vee has been a great supporter and will continue to be a sponsor going forward, but they have chosen to move into a different direction.
Pollard is confident the sport of football will remain part of the series. With the Big 12 going to a nine game schedule and the Big Ten heading in that same direction there is concern that the schools may not be able to continue their football series. Pollard says they have a contract through 2017 and it will be a challenge in the future with the changes in the conferences.
He says as long as the conferences keep their home and away balance, he has talked with Iowa’s athletic director and they plan to continue the series for a “long, long, time.”