AMES, Iowa — Delaney Eiteman called the moment “magical.”
The 2019 Perry graduate and current Iowa State University freshman was in Jack Trice Stadium Nov. 16 when the Cyclones hosted Big 12 rival Texas. The hosts trailed, 21-20, when a late rally led to Connor Assalley splitting the uprights for a game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired, setting off a raucous celebration.
“It was insane, everyone was so excited and jumping around,” Eiteman said. “It was the most crazy, wild time. I loved it.”
The win gave ISU six victories, making the 7-5 Cyclones bowl eligible.
“Right away we started looking at all the bowls we might go to,” Eiteman said. “Each week we kept looking to see where we would go and when. It has been exciting.”
Iowa State will play Notre Dame (10-2) for the first time in school history when they meet the Fighting Irish in the Camping World Bowl in Orlando, Florida, Saturday. The game will kick off at 11 a.m. and be televised by ABC.
Eiteman will be there, the main reason for her excitement over the Cyclone bowl assignment.
She is one of 35 members of the Iowa State University Cyclone Football Marching Band Color Guard, a position she had to audition for.
Potential candidate for a spot on the squad gathered Aug. 18 to learn drills, then auditioned the next day, learning later that evening if they had been chosen. Eiteman, who had experience at Perry High School on the color guard and Pulse Dance team, was one of the lucky ones chosen.
The honor came with a considerable time commitment, as the squad practiced 80 minutes each week day with the band, as well as having separate practices of two hours on Tuesdays and one hour on Thursday.
“There is a lot more involved in it than just showing up on game day,” Eiteman said. “And game days are long, really long, but I love it and wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Her group will be part of a group of over 450 band members and other who will pile into eight buses for a 26-hour drive to Orlando. They will leave Ames Christmas afternoon and depart Orlando Dec. 30, returning to campus the morning of Dec. 31.
Duties in Orlando will include marching in two parades, one of which will be through Disney World. The color guard will also take part in at least two pep rallies and then will perform a five-minute routine in the stadium before the game as well as a five-minute halftime routine.
The ISU Athletic Department will be sending the band, color guard and others to Disney World Sunday for a fun day of tourism. Eiteman, who has never been to the Magic Kingdom, is looking forward to the visit.
“It will be a great way to end the trip,” she said.
The daughter of Tim and Jennifer of Perry, the pre-dietetics major was quick to confess what she believed could potentially be the best part of the whole experience.
“We win!”
