Paul Rhoads doesn't want to harp on it too much. He knows his team is well aware.
"It" is what happened to Iowa State against Baylor last season. The Cyclones went to Waco, Texas and were thoroughly demolished 71-7. It was the biggest win against an FBS opponent Baylor had all season and the biggest loss in Iowa State history.
"You don't have to tell them much," Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said after the game last year. "They know they just got whipped and I know I just got whipped."
Rhoads is sticking to the theme as Iowa State prepares for Baylor on Saturday, believing its not necessary to constantly relive a game in which Iowa State only avoided a 71-0 shutout by scoring with 47 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
"I don't think you over-beat that drum," Rhoads said this week. "A good bit of them were there a year ago in Waco and knew what took place."
LB Luke Knott certainly knows.
"That score still sticks in a lot of our heads," Knott said via CycloneReport.com. "It's definitely a motivational piece heading into this week. You kind of get embarrassed looking back at that game. That's not the team that we are and not the way we want to represent this university and sports program. It definitely adds a little bit of excitement to this game."
A night game at home may not be enough to flip the outcome in the other direction Saturday night, but the Cyclones played well against Kansas State, a team who played Auburn tough in week four. Anything may not be possible, but the odds on a second straight 64-point game are slim to none.
"You look at the Kansas State game, which is a game we should have won, and then they go play Auburn in a game they should have won," QB Sam Richardson said. "I don't think we're behind in the pack at all. We just missed out on opportunities. It's a great measure for us playing against Baylor and a great test for our offense to shoot it out with theirs."
Baylor had 714 yards of total offense against the Cyclones last year. This year, Iowa State has had an off week to prepare for the Bears. Rhoads said he's wanting to avoid his players chasing Baylor's receivers with their backs to Bryce Petty.
"You've got to get more one-on-one opportunities on the practice field and we got that because of two weeks practice time," Rhoads said. "That's important. You've got to become an offensive player. You have to put yourself in the best situation to see the football. If you end up playing blind with your back to the defender, the odds favor them. Bryce Petty throws the ball so accurately and they have so many acrobatic receivers that can make the great catch."
"The short stuff that comes so easy to them, because you give them so much respect, sets you up for the double moves and stuff that goes down field. You've got to train those guys to be able to handle both."
For more Iowa State news, visit CycloneReport.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Iowa State prepares for Baylor a year after the worst loss in Cyclone history
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