A tent was spread, doughnuts and drinks were on hand, and a crowd was on hand at Monday morning at Van Wall Equipment in Perry. The reason for the gathering emerged soon enough from a custom motor coach — Iowa State University head coaches and personalities, along with school mascot Cy.
Van Wall’s served as the first stop of this year’s Cyclone Tailgate Tour, which will take the ISU crew across the state to greet fans, sign autographs, pose for photos and promote all things Iowa State University.
ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard worked his way among the crowd, stopping for a quick word with seemingly everyone.
Football head coach Matt Campbell was a definite draw, as were men’s basketball head coach Steve Prohm and women’s hoops head coach Bill Fennelly.
One or two locally well-known Hawkeye fans were in attendance, but none donned black-and-gold and instead seemed pleased to press the flesh with the coaches of their biggest rival.
The sports information and media relations departments were at full speed, distributing schedules, magnets, stickers, posters and more. Cy was, of course, his usual camera-hogging self, posing, it appeared, with just about everyone.
The event began at 9 a.m. and lasted for an hour, as the caravan was off to Harlan for the next stop.
Campbell had one of the best quotes of the day. Referencing a certain former Perry and ISU standout linebacker, the coach insisted “If you can send me a Kane Seeley every few years I will drive over to Perry any time you like.”
