Iowa State Selected for EV1.net Houston Bowl

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State (7-4) has been selected to play in the 2005 EV1.net Houston Bowl against Mountain West champion Texas Christian on Saturday, Dec. 31, in Reliant Stadium. TCU, which has a 10-1 record including a season-opening win at Oklahoma, is ranked 14th on the latest AP poll.

"The Iowa State football team and its enthusiastic fan base are both honored and excited to accept an invitation to play in the EV1.net Houston Bowl on New Year's Eve afternoon," Iowa State athletics director Jamie Pollard said. "Special thanks go to Houston Bowl Foundation chairman Shea Guinn and Shawn Bouley from the Houston Bowl. Playing at a first-class NFL facility in a city and state where coach McCarney and his staff have recruited a number of top student-athletes is an outstanding opportunity for us. Receiving national television exposure on ESPN2 in virtually our own time slot is an added bonus for the Cyclone football team. I expect that we'll have a large contingent of ISU fans in Texas to enjoy all of the bowl festivities in a vibrant city against a nationally respected opponent in TCU. The entire ISU travel party, including our fan base, is excited about our first trip to Houston for postseason play."

The game will mark Iowa State's fifth bowl appearance in the last six seasons and ninth bowl appearance all-time. Iowa State finished the season 7-4 under head coach Dan McCarney, now the dean of the Big 12 coaches. McCarney is in his 11th season as Cyclone head coach.

"This is a great day for the EV1.net Houston Bowl," said Guinn. "Coach McCarney has built a first-class program and the Iowa State fans have shown their dedication and support of their team. Iowa State will be an outstanding representative of the Big 12 and we are looking forward to them facing off with TCU in this year's game. We're excited to show both Houstonians and college football fans everywhere that the Bowl is going to be a highly-anticipated annual event."

Iowa State wide receiver Todd Blythe, a sophomore, is the Iowa State's career leader in touchdown catches with 16 and quarterback Bret Meyer, also a sophomore, ranks second in the Big 12 in passing yards per game, averaging 238.4. Cyclone defensive back DeAndre Jackson, a junior, tied for the Big 12 lead in interceptions this season with five. Iowa State ranks fourth in the nation in turnover margin, forcing 1.36 more turnovers per game than their opponents.

"We are ecstatic about playing in the Houston Bowl," McCarney said. We thank Shea Guinn, Shawn Bouley and everybody at the Houston Bowl Foundation for inviting us to our fifth bowl game in six years. I'm thrilled about this because I have heard nothing but great things about how this event is run. Our fans can't wait to get down there. We expect a to play before a host of the Cyclone Nation. They will see a great game. The postseason is about challenges and we have one against TCU. (Horned Frog coach) Gary Patterson has built one of the best programs in country. TCU's record speaks for itself, as does the Mountain West Conference trophy they brought home to Fort Worth. Fans and ESPN will love this matchup."

The TCU defense did not allow a touchdown in its two November games and has surrendered just two touchdowns in its last 14 quarters dating back to Oct. 22 at Air Force. In 33-6 and 51-3 victories over Colorado State (Nov. 5) and UNLV (Nov. 12), respectively, the Frogs allowed just three field goals, 64 yards rushing and 410 yards of offense. The rushing total came on 55 attempts (1.2 per carry).

Players Mentioned

Todd Blythe

Todd Blythe

DeAndre Jackson

DeAndre Jackson

Bret Meyer

Bret Meyer

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics