Columbia, Missouri, November 21, 2009 — It was entirely a whim. It turned out to be more meaningful than that.
I happened to have the Friday and Saturday the week before Thanksgiving off. Iowa State (6-5, 3-4), under new coach Paul Rhoads, was seeking its sixth seven-win season of the decade. Missouri (6-4, 2-4) was also seeking its seventh win and jockeying with ISU for bowl position.
After finding out Missouri was selling a four-pack in the south end zone for $96, it became a family affair. The game was not televised, so if we wanted to see it we’d have to be there in person. And, of course, Columbia is an easy drive from Traer.
On the way to Columbia for Mom to see the 1986 ISU-Missouri game, I apparently asked one too many times where we were. I was handed a map and told to follow Highway 63. A roadgeek was born. (It was Halloween weekend. I’ve been told we hit sorority row and made out like bandits. ISU then won the Telephone Trophy 37-14.)
The 2009 game was an early afternoon kickoff, allowing time to see campus beforehand, including MU’s famous columns.
The most memorable moment came in the stands, where a fan with a noisemaking device trumpeted the ISU first-down fanfare when appropriate. Security confiscated it despite a spirited “KEEP THE HORN! KEEP THE HORN!” from the entire ISU fanbase in the south end zone. (Eight months later, everyone would learn what a vuvuzela was.)
Iowa State led at halftime but was outscored 24-7 in the second half, for a final of 34-24. ISU finished 6-6. Missouri beat Kansas the following Saturday for its eighth regular-season win.
Tomorrow: The aftermath