Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | winter 2010

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WE'VE GOT SPIRIT!
A FAN'S GUIDE TO MAKING MAGIC

Clockwise from bottom right: Cyclone Alley Central Committee co-chair Heather Sinclair, a junior in apparel merchandising, design, and production; pep band member Ryan Kent ('09 computer engr), a graduate student in business administration; cheer squad captain Stephanie Johnson, a junior in early childhood education; Cy, the world's most dominant collegiate mascot; pep band member Kristin Allen, a senior in environmental science; and pep band member Kevin Friedman, a senior in food science, are giving even more than three cheers for the ISU men's and women's basketball teams this season at Hilton Coliseum.

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On Valentine's Day 1989, the Iowa State men's basketball team rode a raucous wave of crowd support to an upset win over No. 3 Missouri, 82-75. The environment so impressed Des Moines Register sportswriter Buck Turnbull taht his article the next day was headlined, "Hilton Magic Spells 'Upset' One More Time." In his story, Turnbull called for more "Hilton Magic" at the next game. The crowd came through once again, and the Cyclones beat Oklahoma State -- a team that had pummeled them in Stillwater just three weeks earlier -- 90-81.

Today's ISU students know this story. And they know Hilton Magic as a bone fide university tradition. The pep band, cheer and mascot squad, and Cyclone Alley student spirit section relish their roles as magic makers. here are three cheers in which you can join them at the next game.

Cyclone Power
This fan favorite is also popular during football season. One end of the arena chants, "CYCLONE," while the other responds with "POWER!" The chant is sometimes done during the pregame warmup and is always done in the closing moments of a Cyclone victory. So save some of your lung strength.

Whooosshh! I-S-U!
Cyclone Alley is famous for its free throw distractions and large signs that direct members sitting behind the basket to wave their arms from left to right, to stand up, to sit down, or to do other crazy things that just might make the opposing player miss. ("One thing we might add this year is called the 'roller coaster,' Cyclone Alley co-chair Maxx Williams said.) But do you know how to cheer when the home team's at the charity stripe? "Whoosh, I-S-U" starts with arms aloft and stationary so as not to distract the Cyclone shooter. After the player makes the free throw, the crowd rapidly "whooshes" its arms down and claps three times while chanting "Whoosh! I-S-U!"

Play-Sing-Play
At the final (4:00) media timeout of each game, the pep band will perform what cheerleader Stephanie Johnson calls "play-sing-play," a triple shot of "ISU Fights" with a softer middle rendition that allows the crowd to sing the lyrics loud and proud. "We really want the crowd to join in on that at the end of the game," Johnson says.

About the writer | Kate Bruns is the associate editor of VISIONS magazine.