One cherished tradition of Cyclone football is the ringing of the Victory Bell after each gridiron triumph in Ames. It has graced the Iowa State University campus for more than a century. The bell was originally used to signal changes in class periods and student curfews. It was moved to Clyde Williams Field early in the 20th century and eventually Jack Trice Stadium. The bell was cast in 1890 by Clinton H. Meneely Bell Co. of Troy, N.Y.

2. Make an offer

One of the pioneers of college football, Pop Warner, spent time at Iowa State early in his career. While still the coach at Georgia in 1895, Warner was offered $25 a week to come to Iowa State.

3. What’s in a name?

In 1895, Iowa State defeated Northwestern 36-0. A Chicago Tribune headline read, “Struck by a Cyclone.” A sports writer opined, “Northwestern might as well have tried to play football with an Iowa cyclone as with the team it met yesterday.”

Since then, the Iowa State teams have been knows as the Cyclones.

4. Make it make sense

Iowa State uses a cardinal, named Cy, as its mascot instead of an actual cyclone. In 1954, the student pep council began the process of creating a mascot to build school spirit. As it would be difficult to, quote “stuff a cyclone”, a cardinal was selected from the school’s official colors and original team namesake.

5. They went there

Famous Iowa State alumni include former US vice president Henry A. Wallace, former Utah Jazz guard Jeff Hornacek, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Knudson, 4-time undefeated NCAA champion wrestler and coach Cael Sanderson and former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Ezra Taft Benson.