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Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclone Seniors Trusted The Process, Changed The Culture
11.25.2021 | Football
AMES, Iowa – A group of 23 seniors who raised the standard of excellence at Iowa State will play for the final time at Jack Trice Stadium tomorrow.
This special class forged a culture of winning, appearing in five-straight bowl games and breaking numerous school records along the way.
Players like Chase Allen, Eyioma Uwazurike and Jake Hummel, who all competed in five seasons, can boast wins over every Big 12 team at home and on the road, a feat that had never been accomplished before in the history of Cyclone football.
Quarterback Brock Purdy is one of the 23 players bidding farewell to Cyclone Nation tomorrow. Purdy is arguably one of the most transformational leaders in the history of Cyclone football.
In 2018, the Cyclones were 1-3 and on the brink of a 1-4 start when Purdy took over signal-calling duties at No. 25 Oklahoma State. He lifted the Cyclones to victory that day and has brought the same energy every week in his 44 career starts.
Purdy's name will forever be synonymous with winning. The 2021 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl MVP has won 29 games as the Cyclone quarterback and is 15-1 as ISU's starting quarterback in Big 12 games at Jack Trice Stadium.
With Purdy behind center, every Cyclone fan knew there was an outstanding chance they would go home happy.
Friday will be an emotional day for the man who owns 31 school records in his unprecedented career.
"I know a lot of people say, 'the brotherhood,' and stuff like that, but for who we are and what we've done, it's real," Purdy said. "These guys, we're so close off the field. We want to be around each other all the time. Down the road, we're going to be able to pick up the phone and call each other and talk about memories and stuff. We came here on a mission and for a purpose and we're excited to finish it out together."
Cyclones.com reached out to every senior to summarize what it meant to be a Cyclone and Cyclones.tv produced a tribute to this outstanding class.
Click on the link above to watch the video.
Chase Allen
"Playing as a freshman in the Oklahoma win in Norman in 2017 was a great moment. It felt like we had been working so hard and grinding with so many people invested, and that was the first piece of gratification we got back while investing into 'The Process.' That was huge. The joy we felt that day and knowing that we can do this. We all knew then if we buy into this it will work."
Connor Assalley
"I'm going to miss the guys in the locker room. I will cherish the memories with the guys, hanging out with them even outside of football. I will also miss the people and the coaches. The people really care about you here."
Corey Dunn
"I will miss all the people I've met. Back home, my football team was around 20 people, so being around 120 guys you can make a lot more connections. I will miss the interactions every day."
Greg Eisworth II
"The whole reason I came here is meeting good people. We have great souls on this team and I've learned and grown from them. I call this my journey. Ames will always be a huge part of my journey. Faith, football and life in general. There is great people and great growth here. That's what I will reflect on the most."
Sean Foster
"It's going to be pretty emotional in my last game, especially for me being here for six years. This team has come a long way since I got here. Starting off at 3-9 and ending the way we are right now has been a lot of fun for me and for the rest of the seniors just to see all the progress."
Derek Greiner
"The family, culture and the vibe in our locker room is special. Coach Campbell and the whole staff does a great job preaching about if we take care of ourselves off the field that will take care of everything on the field. Everything we do sets us up well for being a better person."
Jake Hummel
"It's been really cool to see this program grow and the changes that have been made since we got here. We came at a special time and we all trusted what Coach Campbell was saying when we basically had nothing to show for it. It's been pretty special watching this class achieve from the ground up."
Xavier Hutchinson
"The laughs we share in the locker room, those are the moments I will always remember. Playing football at Iowa State has helped me out as a man. It's shown me that football is something that I'm good at, but it doesn't define me as a person. This football program has taught me things I had to do to become a better man."
Anthony Johnson Jr.
"There is true love for my teammates and the bond we've built over the years, going through the ups and downs, that's the part I will miss the most. I will miss all the off the field stuff, like the trips to places with my teammates, the cookouts, Friendsgiving, those are my favorite memories. It's been very important for me to be an Iowa State football player. It's given me a new perspective on life. The coaches and positive culture molded me into a respectable young man. The traits I learned will stay with me as I continue to go through my life."
Charlie Kolar
"It's hard to believe it's coming to an end. At the end of the day, I'm just grateful. I didn't know what I was doing when I came here. I'm just grateful that I had such a great support group, especially the guys I came in with. It's been a blessing. I have these friendships, these relationships that I'll have for the rest of my life. The memories are strong on and off the field. I'll remember the small things like the interaction you have in the locker room or hanging out and traveling."
Andrew Mevis
"The camaraderie between everybody here is unique. The unity between everyone here creates a great culture. Running out of the tunnel at Jack Trice Stadium one last time will be emotional. I fell in love with this place in my short time here. You just can't find a better atmosphere and I have built so many friendships that I hope will last a lifetime."
Tarique Milton
"I'm going to miss the brotherhood and all the memories shared with my teammates. One of my favorite memories was the win at Oklahoma State my freshman year (2018), Brock's first game. It kind of turned things around for us. Being a member of the Cyclone football team matured me in ways I can't even really describe."
Colin Newell
"I'm going to miss the fans, the community. Obviously, growing up here, I used to be one of those fans. We've been able to do special things here at Iowa State and we could not have done it without my teammates, coaches and the greatness this place provides. I will also miss hanging out with the guys off the field and the time we spend together. These are relationships that I'll carry forever. Iowa State has taught me to be a part of a team and being a part of something bigger than yourself."
Zach Petersen
"This is a family atmosphere. Everyone around here is a brother to me. It will be different not having 130 guys that you know you can hang out with. The games have been special, but I will miss the nights in fall camp hanging out with everybody. I know it's kind of cliché the stuff Coach Campbell says, but it's real. You must put in the work to see results. Life is not easy, and you must keep working. So much of what Coach Campbell says has helped make me a better person."
Brock Purdy
"It's probably all going to come rushing through my mind. To think that this is going to be my last game in Jack Trice Stadium, for me it's going to be emotional. I've fallen in love with Iowa State and the people, so it will be emotional, I'm not going to lie. To be able to come from Arizona to Iowa, a place in the middle of the country, with all these other guys and have a common mission and goal, it means everything to me. I'm so thankful. If I could do it all over again, I'd definitely pick Iowa State."
Tucker Robertson
"I'm going to miss the relationships, that's the reason why I came here and the reason I'm still here. Being around incredible people every day is what makes this place so great. One of my favorite memories was the night game in 2018 when we beat West Virginia wearing black jerseys for the first time. Iowa State changed me immensely. When I got here, I thought I had it all figured out, but being around people with tons of diverse backgrounds and different situations, I realized I wasn't all that I thought I was. I learned to grow and love and be a brother in ways that I never knew possible."
Parker Rickert
"I'm really going to miss all my teammates, the atmosphere, the fans and the university. That first upset win at Oklahoma when I was a freshman was unforgettable, and so were all the bowl games. Being a Cyclone has been a really good guide on how to live life and how to navigate the ups and downs of it."
Mike Rose
"You hear a lot of people talking about how you won't get another experience like college football and I am cherishing every moment I have here at Iowa State. One of my favorite memories was the celebration in the locker room after beating Texas last year. We were all going crazy because we knew we were going to the Big 12 Championship game. The Fiesta Bowl win was awesome too. Being in a college football program you see every walk of life and I have learned so much about my teammates. I know I will take those experiences with me as I go on."
Derek Schweiger
"I will definitely miss the locker room and hanging out with all the guys. You create such a bond throughout your time here. Especially the seniors I have been with. We came here and helped the program grow. Putting on that uniform every Saturday is something I will cherish forever. You pour your heart and soul in this place, and playing at Jack Trice Stadium, a place that I call home one final time, will be very emotional."
Eyioma Uwazurike
"Changing the culture is what I am most proud of. How we all bonded and all the fun we had with each other, because it's not like a factory here. We actually care about the person that plays next to us. That's 100 percent what I'm going to miss the most."
O'Rien Vance
"I'm going to miss my teammates and playing football at Jack Trice Stadium. We've had a lot of great memories here but beating Oklahoma last year was at the top. We've got guys from all over the country and to see what these guys experience; it grows on you and allows you to develop as a man. You understand that everyone is different and not everyone has the same set of circumstances. This has definitely allowed me to grow as a man and learn that life is not just about football."
Rory Walling
"Man, I'm going to miss the family atmosphere. When you run out of the tunnel and see all of those fans, you know you are part of one big family. It's something I will carry for the rest of my life. I remember the first time I ran out of that tunnel. It's a memory I will never forget. I've done it countless times and it takes your breath away every time. We are a team full of people from all over the country and different aspects of life. I've learned something from every single person in that locker room and will take away bits and pieces from all of them in my personal life journey."
Datrone Young
"It's been an honor and blessing to play in front of so many people that truly care for you. My favorite memory was beating Texas on the road last year. It was a great win for us. I truly feel Iowa State developed me as a man. This whole program is built to develop people, especially for someone like me, coming from my background. Iowa State opened me up. It showed me how to be a man. I learned a lot from Iowa State."
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