ISU DE Malaki Ta'ase's a loving husband and father. He's happy-go-lucky off the field, but intense and ornery on it — as his impressive strip sack last week showed.
#BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialRob Gray
@robwgray.bsky.social
Sportswriter. Gardener. Anti-authoritarian. Author. Dad (of kids and cats).
@robwgray.bsky.social@robwgray.bsky.socialHaha, me, too!
@robwgray.bsky.social"It’s been 472 days since I played the game of basketball and I wouldn’t want to do it anywhere else but my second home." — Tyrese Haliburton at Hilton Coliseum.
#BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialISU HC Jimmy Rogers' expectations in year one with the program are unyielding and exacting.
So he's keeping them sky-high — or raising them — as the Cyclones prepare to face No. 8 BYU on the road. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialWe have the SHIRTS #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialISU HC Jimmy Rogers "loves the way" BYU QB Bear Bachmeier plays.
But ... "You’d better be ready to put your pads on him, because he’s gonna run through your face,” Rogers added.
@robwgray.bsky.socialWho thinks a U.S. president saying, “Let them take out Los Angeles … ” is not only OK, but ha-ha funny and a goddamn applause line?
Imagine Joe Biden saying, “Let them take out Wyoming and Idaho and Mississippi.”
Despicable.
@robwgray.bsky.socialIt's a short game week for Iowa State and here’s my latest "Five players to know" piece for No. 8 BYU.
It comes with a big asterisk for star RB LJ Martin, who might not play because of injury. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialISU RB Aiden Flora's 5-TD day in Saturday's 45-42 win over West Virginia has netted him both national and Big 12 weekly honors. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialAiden Flora and Vince Benetti were little league teammates for ADM.
"From, like, U-8 up," Benetti said last month.
Now the former walk-ons are star Cyclones — and lead ISU in rushing touchdowns (Flora, 6) and touchdown catches (Benetti, 3). #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialShit. Forgot to post the notebook here. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialHas your pulse stopped pounding yet?
Mine has — and here's my game story on Aiden Flora's flourish that helped ISU secure its first Big 12 win of the Jimmy Rogers era over West Virginia. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialDom Overby has ISU's only 40-plus yard catches this season. His block helped Cam Pettaway finish a kick return with a TD. And his stretch for a 1st down set up his TD grab last week vs. No. 13 Utah.
The Cyclones need more of his "oomph" plays vs. WVU. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialSorry, forget the #BlueCy for the first time in a long time.
@robwgray.bsky.socialISU DT Max Baloun knows the “old man” joke is coming for him, but he smiles as the conversation slowly winds toward the time-worn punchline.
That's because it coincides with a deep sense to gratitude for what will be his one and only Homecoming in Ames.
@robwgray.bsky.social"Mach speed."
That's how ISU HC Jimmy Rogers describes the pace at which West Virginia's offense plays at, and while it's obviously hyperbole, it aptly describes the Mountaineers' quick-strike capabilities. #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialFive West Virginia players to know #BlueCy
@robwgray.bsky.socialISU's stirring second half comeback fell short in Saturday's 31-17 Big 12 season-opening loss to No. 15 Utah.
One reason? "Obviously us not being able to tackle — at all — today led to this," head coach Jimmy Rogers said. #BlueCy