Iowa Highway Ends (etc.)

Another post vaguely related to the Pinstripe Bowl…

In the 1980s and 1990s, Iowa State only ventured out of the Central Time Zone four times aside from conference games against Colorado in even-numbered years. That has changed a little since the turn of the century, with some more non-conference games in Eastern Time. But prior to that, such out-of-Central games occurred with more frequency, including four season finales in a row at San Diego State in 1970-73.

Starting sometime soon, West Virginia will become the out-of-Central conference opponent.

• The 2011 season has two Cyclone games in the Eastern Time Zone for the first time since 1977, which was also one regular-season game and one bowl (Peach).
• In the 21st century, Iowa State is 4-1 in Eastern Time.
• In 2009, Iowa State played in three time zones (Eastern: Kent State; Mountain: Insight Bowl) for the first time since 1971 (Eastern: Kent State; Mountain: New Mexico, Sun Bowl)
• Three years in the 2000s had two games in Mountain: 2000 (Colorado, Insight Bowl), 2002 (Colorado, Humanitarian Bowl), and 2008 (UNLV, Colorado).
• Iowa State went nearly 20 years without playing in the Eastern Time Zone (1982 Tennessee to 2001 Ohio).
• Aside from the conference games at Colorado, Iowa State only played one other Mountain game from 1977 through 1996 (1987 Wyoming).
• Iowa State’s last game in Pacific Time was 1981 (San Diego State). ISU’s last win in Pacific Time was 1971 (San Diego State).
• Iowa State played in all four time zones in 1971 (Mountain: New Mexico, Sun Bowl; Eastern: Kent State; Pacific: San Diego State)
• In 1970, Iowa State played in Mountain three times (New Mexico, Utah, Colorado) and Pacific once (San Diego State).
• 1970 was also the beginning of even-numbered years at Colorado, after back-to-back home games to switch the cycle around. Between 1949 and 1967, it was the reverse, with home games in even years and away games in odd years.

Unless Iowa State makes it to the Holiday Bowl in the next five years, the next game in the Pacific Time Zone will be at San Jose State in 2017.

There are 10 days to go, Paul Rhoads is SO PROUD to be here for the next decade (or he gets out of ISU’s pay grade, whichever comes first) and ticket sales are in line with the allotment. (Meanwhile, Rutgers students get their tickets for free.)

It’s worth noting that the bowl game does result in the football team traveling south. Technically. Very technically.

I created a map in 2005 comparing Iowa’s geographic position to that of southern New England and included some New York points of interest including Yankee Stadium. It might not be easily noticeable, depending on what map projection you’re looking at, but the “Northeast” is in the same area of latitude as Iowa. (NOTE: The map shows the location of Old Yankee Stadium, but New Yankee Stadium was built right next door.)

Along the same latitude as the island of Manhattan are State College PA, Canton OH, most of US 30 in Ohio, Peoria IL, Burlington, and the southern tier of Iowa counties. Yankee Stadium is on the west side of the Bronx, in line with 161st Street in Manhattan, and its latitude is equivalent to a point halfway between Clarinda and Villisca.