John Mabry: ISU offense wins one for Barney
AMES, Iowa — How do you like them Cotton-pickin' apples? The Huskers were beaten by Barney Ball.
The irony or the insanity of it all is a little hard to digest, but I'll tell you this. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
You know where Barney Cotton went after the last seconds ticked off the clock Saturday? He fought through the horde of Iowa State revelers — must be nice to be on the winning side of an attempted goal-post dismantling for a change — on his way to the Nebraska sideline.
Cotton, the former NU offensive coordinator who now calls plays and coaches offensive linemen for Iowa State, didn't want to leave Jack Trice Stadium without paying his respects to Husker I-back Cory Ross, a backfield trooper who ran for 126 yards Saturday despite a painful bout with turf toe.
Ross led the Husker attack, now under the supervision of Bill Callahan and Jay Norvell, to an impressive total of 444 yards of offense. It just wasn't quite equal to the 466 Cotton's offense put on the Blackshirts.
Remember how Cotton, in his one year running the NU offense, always talked about striving for the perfect balance between the run and the pass? He hasn't changed a bit.
But when you show him a weakness …
"Initially, we were going to try to be balanced and run and mix in the pass," said Iowa State receiver Jon Davis, a sophomore from Papillion-La Vista. "But then when we were throwing the ball pretty effectively, we were going to keep on doing it."
Effectively? McDonald's makes hamburgers "effectively." This was Misty's prime rib. Redshirt freshman quarterback Bret Meyer threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Todd Blythe had 188 of those receiving yards. Davis had 103.
Another former Husker, Iowa State receivers coach Mike Grant, said NU showed a similar defensive look to what it used against Missouri a week ago.
"When they're packing the box like they were, you've got to do it in the air," Grant said. "That's something we saw in the Missouri game, and (Tigers quarterback) Brad Smith just couldn't connect. We had to make sure if they played us the same way, we were going to be ready."
They were ready, but there would be no gloating by the architect. After the Cyclones' 34-27 victory, Cotton kept his words short and sweet, and he kept those words as far away from autobiographical as possible. It was all about the players.
"Our kids have a lot of heart," he said, "and that's why we won."
It meant a lot to their coach. Take it from Grant.
"I know it was an emotional win for him," Grant said. "He's not as far removed from some of this as I am. It was a huge win for him."
Left tackle Cale Stubbe, a Cyclone senior, described Cotton as "an amazing coach."
"We wanted to get this one for him because it meant so much," Stubbe said.
Cotton didn't sprain any ankles Saturday, as he did during a celebratory moment on the Husker sideline a year ago, but he was pretty pumped when the Cyclones scored. He served up a fist-pump/leg-kick combo after Stevie Hicks' second-quarter touchdown gave ISU a 17-7 lead.
Revenge is sweet, although Stubbe said that had nothing to do with it.
"He's excited," Stubbe said, "partially because we haven't been scoring that much."
It's good to see a good guy having a good day. The Cottons, who were evacuated as part of the Frank Solich dismissal, still haven't sold their house in south Lincoln, but I think they've found a happy home in Ames, sitting (for now at least) atop the Big 12 North.
After Iowa State coach Dan McCarney finished with his post-game interviews, he got a big hug from Cotton's wife, Christine, along with a soft and simple "thanks."
Cotton declined interview requests all week, and he maintained that stance for the most part Saturday.
But he was kind enough to offer a handshake and a few polite parting words as I passed by the Cotton family in the lobby of the Jacobson Athletic Building.
With a subtle smile, all he said was, "It's just a good place to be."
Reach John Mabry at 473-7320 or jmabry@journalstar.com.
The irony or the insanity of it all is a little hard to digest, but I'll tell you this. It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
You know where Barney Cotton went after the last seconds ticked off the clock Saturday? He fought through the horde of Iowa State revelers — must be nice to be on the winning side of an attempted goal-post dismantling for a change — on his way to the Nebraska sideline.
Cotton, the former NU offensive coordinator who now calls plays and coaches offensive linemen for Iowa State, didn't want to leave Jack Trice Stadium without paying his respects to Husker I-back Cory Ross, a backfield trooper who ran for 126 yards Saturday despite a painful bout with turf toe.
Ross led the Husker attack, now under the supervision of Bill Callahan and Jay Norvell, to an impressive total of 444 yards of offense. It just wasn't quite equal to the 466 Cotton's offense put on the Blackshirts.
Remember how Cotton, in his one year running the NU offense, always talked about striving for the perfect balance between the run and the pass? He hasn't changed a bit.
But when you show him a weakness …
"Initially, we were going to try to be balanced and run and mix in the pass," said Iowa State receiver Jon Davis, a sophomore from Papillion-La Vista. "But then when we were throwing the ball pretty effectively, we were going to keep on doing it."
Effectively? McDonald's makes hamburgers "effectively." This was Misty's prime rib. Redshirt freshman quarterback Bret Meyer threw for 345 yards and three touchdowns. Freshman Todd Blythe had 188 of those receiving yards. Davis had 103.
Another former Husker, Iowa State receivers coach Mike Grant, said NU showed a similar defensive look to what it used against Missouri a week ago.
"When they're packing the box like they were, you've got to do it in the air," Grant said. "That's something we saw in the Missouri game, and (Tigers quarterback) Brad Smith just couldn't connect. We had to make sure if they played us the same way, we were going to be ready."
They were ready, but there would be no gloating by the architect. After the Cyclones' 34-27 victory, Cotton kept his words short and sweet, and he kept those words as far away from autobiographical as possible. It was all about the players.
"Our kids have a lot of heart," he said, "and that's why we won."
It meant a lot to their coach. Take it from Grant.
"I know it was an emotional win for him," Grant said. "He's not as far removed from some of this as I am. It was a huge win for him."
Left tackle Cale Stubbe, a Cyclone senior, described Cotton as "an amazing coach."
"We wanted to get this one for him because it meant so much," Stubbe said.
Cotton didn't sprain any ankles Saturday, as he did during a celebratory moment on the Husker sideline a year ago, but he was pretty pumped when the Cyclones scored. He served up a fist-pump/leg-kick combo after Stevie Hicks' second-quarter touchdown gave ISU a 17-7 lead.
Revenge is sweet, although Stubbe said that had nothing to do with it.
"He's excited," Stubbe said, "partially because we haven't been scoring that much."
It's good to see a good guy having a good day. The Cottons, who were evacuated as part of the Frank Solich dismissal, still haven't sold their house in south Lincoln, but I think they've found a happy home in Ames, sitting (for now at least) atop the Big 12 North.
After Iowa State coach Dan McCarney finished with his post-game interviews, he got a big hug from Cotton's wife, Christine, along with a soft and simple "thanks."
Cotton declined interview requests all week, and he maintained that stance for the most part Saturday.
But he was kind enough to offer a handshake and a few polite parting words as I passed by the Cotton family in the lobby of the Jacobson Athletic Building.
With a subtle smile, all he said was, "It's just a good place to be."
Reach John Mabry at 473-7320 or jmabry@journalstar.com.
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