September 29, 2002 DOWN AND OUT Iowa St. slams NU 36-14; Huskers drop out of Top 25 By Jim D. Berryman MissingNebraska.com Editor The Nebraska Cornhuskers are down this season. We all know it now. We see what happened Saturday in Ames. Final score: Iowa State 36 Nebraska 14. Nebraska is now 3-2, Iowa St. improves to 5-1. But not only are the Huskers down, they are out too. Out of the Top 25 for the first time since 1981. Husker fans are getting used to the sting of an embarrassing road loss. We’ve had plenty of those to savor in recent weeks and months. But a Top 25 without Nebraska? To say the football nation is in shock is an understatement. Saturday in Ames it was the tale of two ships passing in the night. One sailing smooth with big thoughts and dreams of a Big 12 championship. The other ship? Well…remember Titanic? In the first quarter of Saturday’s game, it was almost as if Nebraska was trying to give away the game. Crucial penalties hurt the Huskers, even when the defense played admirably, stopping the Cyclones in the red zone without giving up a touchdown. By the end of the game, the Huskers had been penalized 10 times for 75 yards. The Husker blackshirts were on the field for what seemed like the entire game. Fatigue would set in and the Cyclone quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Seneca Wallace would have his way against the Big Red. He finished 19 for 32 passes for 220 yards, one touchdown. He was picked off twice. Husker quarterback Jammal Lord was unable to get the NU offense on track and was replaced by backup quarterback Mike Stuntz in the fourth quarter. Stuntz seemed to rise to the occasion, giving the Huskers a glimmer of hope for a comeback. However it wasn’t to be. The Cyclones were the better team Saturday in Ames. The damage was already done. Husker fans across the country will be doing a lot of soul searching in the coming days. Many will begin searching for a new coach, defensive coordinator, and quarterback too. We hope they realize that this is just a game of college football, and the Huskers will certainly be back again. So, we stagger on. It’s McNeese St. next week in Lincoln. Kickoff is 11:30 AM. Let’s get a much-needed win. Post Feedback NEBRASKA - IOWA STATE GAME STORIES, PICS, AND LINKS: 09-29-02: Cyclones blow out hapless Huskers More from Omaha World Herald 09-29-02: NU-ISU stats More from Omaha World Herald 09-29-02: Solich to re-evaluate qb position More from Omaha World Herald 09-29-02: The Huskers make it 4 straight road losses -- and brace for the questions More from Lincoln Journal Star 09-29-02: NU defense plays with heart, desire despite loss More from Lincoln Journal Star 09-29-02: Nebraska prep stars key to Cyclones' success More from Lincoln Journal Star 09-29-02: Cyclones whip Huskers More from G.I. Independent 09-29-02: Iowa St. overpowers 20th ranked Nebraska More from Des Moines Register 09-29-02: Cornhuskers lose two in a row More from ESPN 09-29-02: For once, McCarney, Cyclones can challenge Nebraska More from CNN-SI Huskers on ESPN.com Husker Hot Pics Photos from AP Husker Game Watch Locations Nationwide