Cyclone Alley 2005 - Iowa State University Alumni Association

Cyclone Alley 2005

Cyclone Alley

Cyclone Alley

Iowa State University Student Spirit Group
Ames, Iowa 

In only two years, Cyclone Alley—a student-run spirit organization sponsored by the ISU Department of Athletics and the ISU Alumni Association—has become a powerful force. Cyclone Alley began in 2003-2004 with 1,000 members before increasing to 1,400 in 2004-2005. It is run by a subcommittee of the Student Alumni Leadership Council, the 66-member student leadership development arm of the ISU Alumni Association.  During the 2004-2005 seasons the group caught the attention of fellow students, alumni, faculty, staff, basketball players, and coaches as it roared its way into Cardinal and Gold hearts everywhere. The student members of the organization have annually moved closer to their goal of enhancing “Hilton Magic” through a variety of activities designed to boost ISU student spirit and pride—game watches, practice watch events, contests for students, and of course a spirited presence at each and every home men’s and women’s basketball game. Its 2004-2005 first-ever organized road trip to Nebraska for the men’s basketball game was a highlight. Three buses fought their way through a snowstorm and rush-hour traffic to make a late appearance that turned Husker heads, made headlines, and helped lift ISU to a second-straight conference road victory after four years of consecutive losses—not to mention resulted in a lively post-game celebration with the players and coaches.

Cyclone Alley’s impact has not gone unnoticed. “When the ISU basketball program moved into Hilton Coliseum, the student body became a huge part of what came to be called ‘Hilton Magic,’” television broadcaster and Cyclone hall-of-famer Gary Thompson (phys ed ’57) wrote in a letter of thanks to the students published in the Iowa State Daily after Cyclone Alley played a part in honoring him at halftime of the ISU men’s basketball game vs. Missouri in 2005. “It has been the enthusiasm of student fans, and in particular Cyclone Alley, that has revitalized that magic and made this remarkable season one to remember.”
 

© 2012 Iowa State University Alumni Association. All rights reserved.