Mac's final ride
ISU sends coach out with Big 12 victory
By RANDY PETERSON
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Ames, Ia. — Dan McCarney got the ride of his life Saturday afternoon.
Atop the shoulders of the celebrating football players he recruited.
On his last day as their coach.
As a winner - after Shawn Moorehead sacked Chase Daniel on the final play of
the game in a 21-16 win over bowl-bound Missouri before an announced crowd
of 39,631 at Jack Trice Stadium.
"As I ride off into the sunset at the end of my Iowa State career, I have endless
respect and endless love for those young men and my coaches here at Iowa
State," said McCarney, who resigned Nov. 8 after 12 seasons as Cyclones'
coach.
McCarney leaves with a career record of 56-85, including 4-8 this season after
finally defeating a Big 12 Conference opponent. He leaves in the same manner in
which he started - with a win. He beat Ohio in his first game in 1995.
He leaves with a sack by a former walk-on as his lasting impression on his 141st
- and final - game as a Cyclone.
"My mind flashed right away to my mom, who's not with us anymore," McCarney
said, his voice shaking with emotion. "Then it went right to my family, and then to
my seniors.
"Mom was watching over us. She might have even influenced the official to throw
that flag on the fourth-down play."
Cyclone Bret Culbertson missed a 28-yard field-goal attempt with 3:33 to play.
Missouri's final drive started at its 20-yard line.
Daniel, who completed 29 passes for 310 yards and a touchdown, drove the
Tigers down the field quickly, and even scored on a fourth-and-inches play except guard Monte Wyrick was called for holding.
Then it was fourth down at the Cyclones' 11. As the Iowa State student section
chanted McCarney's name in unison, Daniel scrambled while trying to find a hole
through which to run - under intense pursuit from linemen Brent Curvey, Ahytba
Rubin and Moorehead.
Finally, Moorehead sacked Daniel at the 19-yard line - and the celebration was
on.
Players hugged teammates. Fans swarmed the field.
"It felt like we just won the national championship," said Todd Blythe, who
celebrated his return to the lineup with a first-half touchdown catch.
It felt like something else, according to Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.
"In 30 years of coaching," Pinkel said, "I've never seen an offensive holding call
inside the 2-yard line on a running play."
Daniel simply couldn't believe the outcome.
"I was shocked," he said. "I was in awe.
"No offense to them, but they never should've beat us."
It's tough to win when you can't tackle, which was the case against Cyclone
fullback Ryan Kock.
He had a career-best 179 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries - the first time
an Iowa State fullback has cracked the 100-yard mark since Chris Ulrich got 105
against Nebraska in 1992.
"We gave (McCarney) everything that we had, because he gave us everything he
had for 12 years," Kock said. "Coach Mac got me here - he got all of us here. We
wanted to give him everything."
He settled for memories - and a game ball.
"(Players) gave me the game ball, and I'm going to pay for 23 more for my
seniors and get game balls for all of them," McCarney said. "I really enjoyed
today, one last time.
"It will set in here pretty soon that I will not be out in that stadium anymore."
He leaves proud - and without animosity.
"We built a tremendous Iowa State fan base," McCarney said, "and the next head
coaching staff is going to be in for a tremendous thrill.
"I wish him the best of luck. I know there's going to be some really outstanding
guy to come in here and hopefully carry on the tradition and the success that
we've built the last 12 years."
Reporter Randy Peterson can be reached at (515) 284-8132 or
randypeterson@dmreg.com