Monday, October 24, 2005

There's a Good Chance Running Back Stevie Hicks [Remember Him?] Will Start Saturday As Cyclones Go After Their First Victory Ever Over Texas A&M



Maybe you remember Stevie Hicks, maybe you don't.

Don't feel badly if you can't recall who he is.

Hicks has been MIA a lot this football season.

Obviously, coach Dan McCarney is one of those with memories -- fond memories, by the way --of Hicks.

Stevie is the 215-pound Iowa State junior running back who hasn't played at all since carrying the ball one time for 4 yards Oct. 1 against Nebraska.

Actually, he hasn't played much since Sept. 10 against Iowa.

"That seems like eight months ago," McCarney said today.

An injury has prevented Hicks from playing more, but McCarney said there's a chance he'll start for the Cyclones in a 2:30 p.m. game Saturday at Texas A&M that will be televised regionally by ABC.

"We could have used him [last week] in an emergency [in a 37-10 cruise past Oklahoma State], but I wanted to give him some more rest," McCarney said. "The doctors agreed.

"I think he has a really good chance to be ready this week. I don't think he'll play the whole game, but if he has a good week of practice and feels as good he did last night, Stevie Hicks will start and he'll play a lot."

Hicks ran for 1,062 yards in 270 attempts and scored five touchdowns last season. He has been able to carry the ball only 63 times for 234 yards this season.

He began the season with 90 yards in 28 carries against Illinois State, then ran again ran 28 times for 118 yards against Iowa. He was limited to 22 yards in nine tries against Army before getting the call just once against Nebraska.

Iowa State has never beaten Texas A&M. The Cyclones are 0-7 in the series, and are 9-point underdogs Saturday. A&M has records of 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Big 12. Iowa State is 4-3 and 1-3.


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Don't say I didn't tell you:

Texas A&M 28, Iowa State 24


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