The student section at Jack Trice Stadium, home of the Iowa State Cyclones football team, is located in the south endzone. This is a highly coveted section for Iowa State students and fans, providing an energetic atmosphere right behind the opponent’s bench.
Background on Jack Trice Stadium
Jack Trice Stadium first opened in 1975 and is named after Jack Trice, the first African American athlete at Iowa State and the first African American to play football for the school. The stadium currently seats over 61,000 fans after undergoing several expansions over the years.
The stadium hosts all Iowa State Cyclones home football games. Some of the biggest games held here annually include the Cy-Hawk Game against the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the Farmageddon Game against the Kansas State Wildcats.
The South Endzone Student Section
The south endzone student section at Jack Trice Stadium is sections O-V. It features bleacher seating and is known for being home to the most passionate Iowa State student fans.
This general admission student section has a capacity of over 13,000 fans. Students camp out for days leading up to big games to get the best seats right up against the field. The first students line up more than a week in advance of rivalry matchups.
The south endzone student section is close enough to the field to directly taunt and interact with the opposing team. Students often bring clever signs and jump up and down during opponent third down attempts to disrupt their focus.
Traditions
The Iowa State student section has several long-standing traditions:
- Waving wheat – Students wave strips of wheat toward the field to symbolize Iowa’s agricultural spirit.
- Throwing toilet paper – After the first score of the game, students throw rolls of toilet paper onto the field.
- Rushing the field – Students storm the field after major victories, such as over top ranked teams.
Chants and Cheers
Some popular chants and cheers from the student section include:
- “Let’s go Cyclones” – The classic supportive chant.
- “I believe that we will win!” – Echoing chant showing confidence.
- “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond’s song played and sung when the team needs a boost.
- “First Down Chant” – Special chant after Cyclone first downs.
Other Student Sections at Jack Trice Stadium
While the south endzone is the main student section, there are other areas of Jack Trice Stadium with dedicated student seating:
- North Endzone – Sections A-E provide additional student seating with views of the massive jumbotron.
- East Side – Sections KK-NN on the lower east sideline have student seating.
- West Side – Sections KK-NN on the lower west sideline are also for students.
However, the south endzone student section remains the epicenter of Iowa State student fandom during football games.
How Students Get Tickets
All Iowa State students can claim one free ticket to each home football game. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Students must pick up tickets in person at the Iowa State Athletics Ticket Office in advance of game day.
Students have several options for getting seats in the coveted south endzone section:
- Camp out in advance for all big games.
- Arrive very early on game day, several hours before kickoff.
- Enter the student ticket lottery and win south endzone tickets.
- Join the Cyclone Football student club which runs the south endzone section.
When the south endzone sells out, students are seated in the other lower bowl areas. Upper deck tickets are avoided by students if possible.
Policies for the Student Section
Iowa State has the following rules in place for student ticketholders in the south endzone and elsewhere:
- No entry without a valid student ticket.
- No alcoholic beverages permitted.
- No throwing items onto the field.
- Maintain appropriate conduct and sportsmanship.
- Stay seated during play – no leaning on rails.
- No fighting, foul/abusive language, or harassment of others.
These policies keep the environment safe and fun while allowing students to passionately support the Cyclones.
Visiting the Student Section
Fans looking to experience the electric south endzone environment are welcome to buy seats in sections O-V. Tickets can be purchased through the following options:
- Iowa State ticket office – Single game seats available depending on availability.
- Secondary ticket sellers – Sites like Stubhub often have student section seats for sale.
- Outside the stadium – Some students sell their tickets before games.
Visiting fans should be aware of the intense fandom in the student section and prepare for rowdiness. Neutral colors are recommended over opponent team gear which may draw attention.
Conclusion
The south endzone student section at Jack Trice Stadium offers an unforgettable experience for Iowa State students and fans. The passion, traditions, clever signs, cheers, and chants make it one of the most intense student sections in college football. Visiting this lively section is a must for any college football fan, just be prepared for the chaos!