When Rocco Becht sat down for his postgame press conference in Dublin, he wasn’t expecting company. But moments into his remarks, Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell stepped in, grabbing the mic and instantly shifting the conversation.
The Cyclones had just beaten Kansas State 24-21 in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic on Aug. 23, their third straight win over the Wildcats. But Campbell had more than football on his mind. Earlier in the week, Kansas State athletic director Gene Taylor had reportedly joked at a pep rally about Iowa State’s use of black uniforms.
Campbell wasn’t about to let it slide. He stopped Becht mid-session, asking reporters to bring up the subject of alternate jerseys. With a grin, Campbell responded: “We don’t really care what color we wear. It’s never been about a jersey color for us, it’s never been about any of that. It’s about team, togetherness and playing winning football.”
His words came after Iowa State’s defense forced two turnovers and Becht threw for 223 yards, highlighting the Cyclones’ resilience in a game played thousands of miles from home.
For Campbell, the message was clear: Iowa State’s identity isn’t stitched into fabric, it’s built on unity and results.
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