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Hines: Answering your Iowa State football mailbag questions ahead of Texas Tech matchup

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Hines: Answering your Iowa State football mailbag questions ahead of Texas Tech matchup


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AMES – One of the things that the transfer portal and NIL money have scrambled is team and roster building. 

There used to be a relatively standard way for coaches to try to create the best team possible. They recruited the best high school players they could, and then they tried to develop them into the best collegiate players possible. 

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Simpler times, I suppose. 

Now, with rosters flipping constantly and immediate financial remuneration possible, the old way isn’t really the new way. Or at least what’s viewed as the cutting-edge way to build a roster. 

But what it has done is make the process of roster building more variable. Programs are having to find different ways to build and compete. 

Ohio State and Alabama can spend tens of millions of dollars on a roster if they want. LSU and Penn State can pony up extra dollars to keep their own players from becoming someone else’s. 

That’s not really the case at Iowa State. 

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The Cyclones, though, are trying to make their shortcoming – or at least what looks like one at this point in time – a strength. 

“We have a relationship and a bond that is bigger and stronger than ever,” quarterback Rocco Becht said. “It’s fun out there now. It’s not just we’re out there with a teammate going through the motions. We’re out there with our friends.  

“Not just our teammates, but our friends and playing the game that we love and playing it as a team.” 

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Maybe sounds a little corny, sure, but there is something to be said for a college football team to be playing for the people they care about rather than with their co-workers. 

“That emphasis on team is what we’ve always sold here,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “We haven’t wavered from that. It’s not like we’re out there able to sell much more than that, to be honest with you. The hope that we can develop you to be your best if you come be a part of our team. 

“There’s a multitude of guys who certainly financially had the chance to enhance themselves, but maybe the lessons learned will set them up to be the best humans they possibly can be. 

“We don’t take their loyalty to us for granted, for sure.” 

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Something to think about as we prepare for the College Football Playoff rankings to be released on Tuesday, where the best rosters money can buy and Iowa State will be on display. 

When you talk to Cyclones players and coaches, do you detect any pressure building from being undefeated? 

One of my biggest questions about this team coming into the year was its maturity and poise. I thought the talent would be enough to compete, but I wasn’t sure this group had enough of the other stuff to be consistent over the course of three-plus months. 

They’ve obviously shown that they do – or at least enough for two months – and dealing with being 7-0 has been no exception. 

“It’s something we worked for,” senior right tackle Tyler Miller said. “We wanted it. We expected it. It’s really big for us with the history of this university and it’s something that’s very cool.  

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“Our team does a great job of staying grounded, focusing on the next game and not worrying about what’s to come or anything like that.” 

It’s an easy thing to say that, especially to a reporter, but I think Iowa State’s performances over these last seven games backs up the sentiment. 

Nothing has seemed to really rattle these guys. Least of all success. 

Why is it that Iowa State football can keep throwing linebackers in and don’t miss a beat? I know we finally have depth but the talent they have is unreal. 

Certainly I think the credit here has to go to the players and the coaching staff for making it possible. The coaches had to identify players who don’t immediately project as Big 12 contributors who could step in. And those players had to prepare and make the most of the moment. 

It is really a tribute to Campbell and Co.’s system, from start to finish. 

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But I also think it’s worth taking this time to engage in a little bit of bygone romanticism. 

The guys who are stepping up and in, like Kooper Ebel, Rylan Barnes and Beau Goodwin are all small-town Iowa kids. Ebel and Goodwin had scholarship opportunities elsewhere while Barnes is a walk-on. 

When the name on the front of the jersey means something to the name on the back, I do think there’s an added component there. 

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I don’t even know that I could totally put my finger on it, but defensive coordinator Jon Heacock has thought a lot about this over his four-decade career. 

“I think anytime you have players on your team from your home state, it means more,” he said earlier in October. “When this is your home state and your name is on the university, I think it’s really a critical factor in guys wanting to do well.  

“It’s all really, really important to them.” 

If you’re Barnes, maybe it makes the everyday walk-on grind a little more palatable even though your chance is likely far off, if it ever comes at all. If you’re Ebel or Goodwin, maybe knowing you’re representing the place and people you’re from gives you a little extra. 

I don’t know exactly, but I’m with Heacock. I think, whatever it is, it makes a difference, and it matters. 

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Iowa State columnist Travis Hines has covered the Cyclones for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune since 2012. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him on X at @TravisHines21.



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Group calls for electric rate reform in Iowa

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Group calls for electric rate reform in Iowa


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Four organizations have formed a an advocacy group calling for reform in the way utility companies set rate increases. The entities that make up the group are Iowa Business Energy Coalition, Iowa Economic Alliance, Iowa Business for Clean Energy, and Large Energy Group. Although the coalition doesn’t have a group name.

The group cited Alliant Energy’s most recent rate increase as a concern for both residents and businesses. Alliant’s increase was approved by the Iowa Utilities Commission back in Sept. In a news release, the group called Alliant a monopoly.

According to the U-S Energy Information Administration, Alliant had the highest electric rates in all of Iowa in 2023. And Iowa’s average rate was higher than 37 other states.

The advocate group said the cost of electricity is making it harder to operate a business in Iowa. It said the larger companies in Cedar Rapids like Quaker Oats and the hospitals already have expensive electric bills every month and the increase has added to that.

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“Some of these larger customers, their bills are a million dollars or more. So when you’re talking about some of the increases they’ve recently seen, a 15% increase, that’s a substantial impact,” Dave Vognsen with Large Energy Group said.

The business group also suggested changing how Iowa utilities can charge customers for future projects. Right now, electric companies can charge customers before they start a new project.

“What the utilities plan for in their resource plans are eventually going to be paid for by customers,” Vognsen said. “So that’s why it’s important to take a look and make sure you know that it’s the least cost based upon the needs of customers,” he said.

Ultimately, the group said it is pushing for legislation changes that would allow the Iowa Utilities Commission to regulate the way utility companies increase their rates, serving as a check of sorts.

“The commission can make sure those decisions are based on the best interests or rate payers and not just in the best interest of the utilities,” Bob Rafferty with Iowa Business for Clean Energy said.

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KCRG reached out to Alliant Energy about the group’s push for reform. It said in a statement:

“We remain committed to cost-effectively meeting customers’ energy supply needs. Investing in a diverse energy mix and modernizing the energy grid delivers a more reliable, sustainable, resilient and secure energy future. The IUC’s decision positions us to accomplish this as we continue planning ahead, acting on behalf of our customers to ensure we’re ready to manage the rapidly changing energy landscape,”



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Naturalized citizens sue Iowa officials for challenging 2,000 voters

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Naturalized citizens sue Iowa officials for challenging 2,000 voters


Naturalized citizens have sued Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and other election officials after he instructed them to challenge the ballots of over 2,000 voters.

Last week, Pate’s office said that it gave county auditors a list of 2,022 people who told the state’s Department of Transportation that they were not citizens but later registered to vote or voted.

Since those voters may have become naturalized citizens in the time between telling the Transportation Department that they were not citizens and participating in the U.S. election process, Pate’s office told county auditors to challenge their ballots and have them cast a provisional ballot instead.

The voters would have seven days to show proof of citizenship before their ballot is counted.

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Stickers that read “Presidential Election I Voted 2024” are displayed on a table on the first day of Virginia’s in-person early voting at Long Bridge Park Aquatics and Fitness Center on September 20, 2024, in…


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ACLU Challenges Election Officials

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Iowa filed a lawsuit against Pate and five election auditors in federal court late Wednesday on behalf of four voters flagged by Pate as registered voters who might not be citizens and the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa (LULAC).

According to the complaint, the four voters are naturalized citizens, one of whom registered last year, a day after he became a citizen.

“Yet he was placed on the Secretary’s covert list and wrongfully subjected to investigation and an election challenge for following the law and exercising his right to vote,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit alleges that Iowa election officials are burdening the right to vote and discriminating against naturalized citizens. Officials are treating this group of voters differently from others in violation of their constitutional right to equal protection, the suit claims.

The suit asks for the Transportation Department list to be revoked and for voters on it to not be challenged on this basis.

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Pate in a ‘Balancing’ Act

Pate told reporters Wednesday, before the lawsuit was filed, that the Transportation Department list is the “only list that we have available to us” without access to federal immigration records.

“We’re balancing this process. We want everyone to be able to vote. That’s why none of them have been taken off the voter rolls,” Pate said.

However, he added, “We do owe an obligation to make sure that they are citizens now.”

Republicans have made non-citizen voting a big issue ahead of the November 5 election. Despite it already being illegal for non-citizens to register to vote or to vote in federal elections, the Republican-led House voted to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in July, which would require those registering to vote to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship. The bill remains in the House.

While there is no evidence that non-citizen voting is occurring in significant numbers, Iowa and some other states have identified dozens of such cases.

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‘We Will Defend Our Election Integrity’

Before the lawsuit was filed, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Justice “called the State in an attempt to pressure Iowa into letting noncitizens vote.”

“Every legal vote must count and not be canceled by an illegal vote,” she said. “In Iowa, we will defend our election integrity laws and protect the vote.”

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment to the Associated Press (AP).

The AP also reached out to Pate and Bird on Thursday for comment on the lawsuit.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.

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Iowa men’s basketball: Four bold predictions for Hawkeyes’ 2024-25 season

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Iowa men’s basketball: Four bold predictions for Hawkeyes’ 2024-25 season


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IOWA CITY — The Iowa men’s basketball regular season is on the verge of getting underway.

After beating Minnesota Duluth, 102-81, in an exhibition, the Hawkeyes’ next contest is more than just a dress rehearsal. That comes Monday with the regular season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce.

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There are not exactly high expectations surrounding this Iowa team. The Hawkeyes were picked to finish 11th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten by a preseason media poll. Internally, though, there is optimism. 

“People are confident,” Payton Sandfort said at Big Ten Media Days. “Anyone that has been around practice this year thinks this team is special. The energy is different. The intensity is different. The attention to detail is different. I think it’s going to be a great year.”

To skeptics, Sandfort’s claim could be viewed as a bold prediction. 

In that spirit, here are some bold takes ahead of the Hawkeyes’ 2024-25 season.

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Iowa basketball’s Josh Dix will make an All-Big Ten team

This wouldn’t be that bold of a prediction if the conference hadn’t just added four new programs. But now with 18 teams, earning a spot on the All-Big Ten first, second, or third teams (more than 15 players can make them in total) becomes even more difficult.

That said, Dix should be considered a dark horse.

The flashes that Dix showed as a freshman became even more prominent as a sophomore. Last season, there was a phenomenal three-game stretch during Big Ten play in which he averaged 21.3 points on 68.4% from the field and 61.5% from deep.

It’s unrealistic to expect Dix to sustain those numbers across an entire season, but it’s one of the many signs pointing to him being capable of becoming a premier player in the league. Dix, a highly efficient scorer on all three levels, also adds value on the defensive end. Now as a junior, Dix is stepping into an even larger role, meaning the opportunity is there for him to put up big numbers.

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He scored 22 points against Minnesota Duluth on 9-of-12 from the field, including 2-of-4 from deep.

“I think the biggest thing he’s done, he’s gotten really aggressive,” Sandfort said of Dix after the contest. “He always had that. He was always showing it in practice but would be just kinda passive when we got into games… Now he has the confidence that he can dominate these teams. I’m excited to see the year he has.”

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Video: Payton Sandfort leads Iowa with 23 points in exhibition win

Payton Sandfort discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s exhibition win over Minnesota Duluth.

Hawkeyes’ Brock Harding will finish top-5 in the Big Ten in assists per game

Harding’s sensational passing ability, coupled with Iowa’s offensive firepower makes this seem like a real possibility.

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His ability to share the rock was on display as a freshman. Harding’s 2.6 assists per game in limited playing time equates to 9.7 when extrapolated to a per 40-minute average. 

It’s unreasonable to expect him to average 40 minutes per game as a sophomore, but he is primed to get substantially more playing time, meaning last season’s assist numbers are likely to go up. With Dix, Owen Freeman and Sandfort all having the potential to be high-volume scorers, Harding shouldn’t have a shortage of opportunities.

Even in a Minnesota Duluth exhibition that wasn’t his best performance — Harding scored two points on 1-of-7 from the field — he still recorded six assists.

Northwestern’s Boo Buie finished last season fifth in the Big Ten in assists per game with five. Getting in that neighborhood doesn’t seem like a long shot for Harding.

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Pryce Sandfort will be Iowa men’s basketball’s top bench scorer

There are probably four realistic options to be Iowa’s leading bench scorer. It could be either of the transfers, Seydou Traore or Drew Thelwell. Freshman Cooper Koch deserves to be in the conversation, as well.

But Pryce Sandfort might be the one to earn that title.

After an inconsistent freshman season, word from inside the program has been pointedly positive about Pryce Sandfort. At Iowa men’s basketball media day, coach Fran McCaffery remarked that Pryce Sandfort was “shooting the ball at an incredibly high clip on a consistent basis.”

The exhibition against Minnesota Duluth showed how quickly Sandfort can score in bunches. He finished the first half without a point but scored 11 in the second half. He also played the most minutes out of Iowa’s reserves.

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At 6-foot-7, Pryce Sandfort can be a lethal 3-point shooter, but his offensive repertoire isn’t limited to that. With Iowa needing some scoring outside of Payton Sandfort, Freeman and Dix, Pryce Sandfort has the skill set to deliver.

Iowa Hawkeyes will have its best 3-point percentage since the 2020-21 season

The Hawkeyes shot 38.6% as a team in 2020-21. Four players shot 39% or better from deep, including three that shot at least 44%.

Since then, Iowa’s team 3-point percentages are as follows:

  • 2021-22: 36.3%
  • 2022-23: 34%
  • 2023-24: 35.1%

Iowa has a chance to shoot better in 2024-25 than it has in each of the last three seasons.

The Hawkeyes saw the departures of some lower percentage shooters, including Tony Perkins (29.9%) and Patrick McCaffery (31.2%).

Two of the players expected to be among the highest-volume shooters for Iowa this season are more than capable 3-point shooters in Dix and Payton Sandfort. Pryce Sandfort and Cooper Koch are known to be good shooters, as well.

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There are a handful of other X-factors. 

Harding shot 37.5% as a freshman even before adjusting his shooting form this offseason. Thelwell is a career 34.8% 3-point shooter. Freeman didn’t attempt many 3-pointers last season but has worked on expanding his game this offseason and could take more as a sophomore. Ladji Dembele and Traore can contribute from beyond the arc, though they haven’t proven to shoot a high percentage yet.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com





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