1998 Cy-Hawk Game: A Turning Point for McCarney and the Rivalry

The Significance of the 1998 Cy-Hawk Game

The 1998 Cy-Hawk game was a pivotal moment for both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. The game, which Iowa State won 27-17, was a major upset and helped to save the job of Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney.

McCarney was in his second season as Iowa State's head coach and had a record of 3-20. The Cyclones had not won a game in over a year and were considered to be one of the worst teams in the country.

The Hawkeyes, on the other hand, were a ranked team and were favored to win the game. A win would have given Iowa a 3-0 record and would have put them in a good position to win the Big Ten Conference.

The Game

The game was played in front of a sold-out crowd at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The Cyclones took an early lead and never looked back. They led 17-0 at halftime and held on to win 27-17.

The win was a huge upset and was one of the biggest wins in Iowa State history. It also helped to save McCarney's job. McCarney would go on to coach Iowa State for 12 seasons and lead the Cyclones to five bowl games.

The Rivalry

The 1998 Cy-Hawk game also helped to spark a new era of the rivalry between Iowa State and Iowa. The two teams have played each other every year since 1894, but the rivalry had been one-sided in favor of Iowa in recent years.

The Cyclones' win in 1998 gave them a new sense of confidence and helped to level the playing field in the rivalry. The two teams have been evenly matched in recent years, and the Cy-Hawk game has become one of the most competitive rivalries in college football.

Conclusion

The 1998 Cy-Hawk game was a turning point for both Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. The game helped to save the job of Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney and sparked a new era of the rivalry between the two schools.