In November 1992, Iowa State fifth-year senior Marv Seiler was still looking for his first career start as quarterback. Seiler had served in relief for a win against Missouri, and coach Jim Walden even said he “earned the right to start, but there’s an old saying that goes, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.'”
Walden went with Donnie Smith in a Thursday night game against Kansas State. The Wildcats ranked last in Division I-A in offense. Iowa State was 3-5 (1-3). Kansas State was 3-4 (0-4). The game was Kansas State’s first on ESPN under coach Bill Snyder.
On Nov. 5, 1992, in Manhattan, things broke for Iowa State.
Cyclone punter Jon Schnoor had his punt blocked for the first time that season — and then a second time. Kansas State turned those blocked punts into 12 points. When the Wildcats won 22-13, the fans stormed the field and tore down the goalposts. It was Kansas State’s third win in a row against Iowa State and Snyder’s seventh conference win in four seasons.
“It’s not often that any fans tear down the goalposts after beating Iowa State,” Des Moines Register sports reporter Ron Maly wrote. “I’ve never had a team find new ways to get beat,” Walden said.
Walden and ISU had nothing left to lose — except the upcoming Nov. 14 game at home against No. 7 Nebraska. At the end of the week, it was announced that Seiler would be the starting quarterback for Iowa State.
Iowa State was 2-30-1 against Nebraska since 1961.