Iowa State wants to erase the painful memory of a 2-10 record in 2003 and coach Dan McCarney says winning will help that. The Cyclones will get their first chance Saturday when they open at home against UNI. He says they’re all tired of hearing about nine months of last years. He says it’s easy to talk about the past when you’ve won games and gone to bowls, but he says it’s tougher when you’re talking about a loosing season. McCarney says it is up to the Cyclones to prove that they are back, and he says that’s the way it is until they do some positive things.McCarney feels his team is ready. He says they really have improved since March and since the spring game.The Iowa Hawkeyes will open the football season without backup quarterback Jason Manson. The sophomore suffered a broken foot and had a screw inserted on Tuesday to help repair the damage. Drew Tate will get his first start this Saturday against Kent State after serving as a backup last season. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says they’re pleased with where he’s at right now, but want to see how Tate does when the lights are on. Ferentz says the offense has been up and down during pre-season drills despite some injuries in the line. He says it’s also not easy playing against their tough defense, and a defense that eventually knows all the plays you’re going to run.
