It wasn't easy for injured Iowa State football players to be sidelined during a historic 2024 run, but with new perspective, they're ready for 2025.
AMES − Iowa State football linebacker Caleb Bacon vividly recalls the play and the moment he heard a snapping sound in his knee during the first quarter of the 2024 season opener against North Dakota.
Bacon knew the injury was severe enough to sideline him for the rest of the game, but in that moment, he didn't expect it to be season-ending. He also didn't expect that many more teammates would soon join him on the injury report as the season unfolded.
"At the end of the day, on any given play, your season could end," Bacon said. "I had to learn that the hard way, and I feel like that's helped me grow as a person, mostly in my mental state. Just being able to rely on my teammates around me, my family, they were able to build me up. During that time, that was a dark moment in my life, not being able to play."
Despite the many misfortunes and long-term injuries that affected key Iowa State players in 2024, the Cyclones persisted and still managed to enjoy a program-best 11-3 finish.
For skilled and highly competitive athletes, at times, it wasn't easy being relegated to spectator status after being injured.
"It was a big thing for me just be around the team a lot," said wide receiver Daniel Jackson, who suffered a season-ending lower-leg injury during the 2024 preseason. "Making sure I stay around them, not getting too isolated. As a guy that's injured for a whole year, you can kind of feel sort of isolated and not really a part of the team. I made sure I stayed in the locker room and stayed around the guys."
Some turned to faith and religion to overcome mental hurdles and frustrations, but all of them eventually found "mudita," a Sanskrit word that refers to sympathetic or appreciative joy.
"One of our biggest mottos on our team is 'mudita' and that means finding joy for other people's success," said tight end Ben Brahmer, who had an injury-compromised sophomore campaign. "So sitting on the sidelines and watching other people have success, like Gabe (Burkle) had a really good end of the year last year, that just taught me a lot. Just to appreciate when I can play and just kind of made me a lot stronger."
In addition to finding joy in others' successes, veterans took the opportunity to mentor younger players in the hopes of making the jump from reserve to starter a little less intimidating for them.
In Matt Campbell's culture-first, family-like philosophy, it also helped keep that sense of belonging for injured players. Not only did they lean on each other, but they also found responsibility in making the most out of their situation and finding a way to contribute.
"When I was in that position, you're still obligated to give something to the team and that's how I felt," said offensive lineman Dylan Barrett, who missed six games in 2024 with an ankle injury. "I needed to give something back, even though I'm not physically there on the field.
"To give pointers mentally or maybe bring young guys up. Also, keeping the spirits high in the training room, because it could be pretty easy to kind of get caught up in you're not out there. Maybe not a part of the full team sometimes, but you just have to keep your head in it and really lean on the guys that are playing."
Campbell is pleased to report that his team is healthy overall heading into the 2025 campaign, much improved from the patchwork state the Cyclones were in by the end of last season. Many came back stronger physically and mentally since their last appearance.
They're hoping for much better fortune this year, all while holding a greater appreciation for the sport. No one's taking any of it for granted.
"I didn't have that big of an injury, but it was significant enough for me to miss a good amount of time," Barrett said. "The first thing off the bat (you learn) is it could be gone just like that. It's something that you have to cherish every day. It's a privilege and an opportunity to be able to do this every day, especially here in Ames, Iowa.
"To realize that and be present, take in every moment you have, it's huge. There was a point where I was like, 'Is this ever going to be the same?' Lower-body injury − once I got back on the field and our medical staff did a great job getting me back, I was confident to now trust it again."
The standard within the program has been raised after last season's success. The Cyclones want to build off of it and return to the Big 12 championship game in a conference that is expected to have plenty of parity. They're intent on finding greater levels of consistency, rather than being a one-year wonder.
For those who were sidelined during that historic campaign, it only makes the countdown on the Aug. 23 season-opener in Ireland against Kansas State, as well as the Aug. 30 home opener against South Dakota, so much more meaningful.
"That's what I've been telling people this whole entire summer, how excited I am to walk back into Jack Trice for the first time and hear the crowds roar," Bacon said. "Something I definitely missed last year sitting on the sidelines, still cool to see how much success we had, but there's always that competitive aspect of getting back out there and getting your first snap, your first tackle again. A lot of excitement."
Eugene Rapay covers Iowa State athletics for the Des Moines Register. Contact Eugene at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @erapay5.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State football ready to tackle 2025 season with healthy roster
Category: General Sports
