Troy Davis: A Cyclone Legend

The year was 1996. The Florida Gators were celebrating a national championship season and their Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, Danny Wuerffel.

Meanwhile, back in Ames, there, too, was a celebration.

Junior running back Troy Davis had just finished the most prolific Cyclone football career in the history of the program.

During Davis’ junior season, he set new school records in almost every category, including most rushing yards in a career, most rushing yards in a single season, and most rushing touchdowns in a career, easily making him one of the most decorated and celebrated Cyclone football players of all time.

Davis also left his mark in the NCAA record books too. Davis achieved a feat his junior season that legendary running backs such as Herschel Walker, Archie Griffin, and even Barry Sanders did not—rushing for 2,000 yards or more in consecutive seasons.

Before Davis, rushing for 2,000 yards in one season seemed unlikely, much less in consecutive seasons.

It is clear Davis left his mark on both Iowa State football history, as well as NCAA football history. Davis, however, did more for Iowa State than just shake up the record books a little.

During Davis’ sophomore year, he was invited out to New York for the Heisman Trophy presentation—not as a spectator, but as a Heisman finalist. Davis ended fifth in the Heisman voting that year as Eddie George of Ohio State took home the prize.

However, 1996 was a different year. Davis had a year of experience in head football coach Dan McCarney’s system that had given Davis the success in the previous year. He also had one thing that very few returning college football players had; Heisman continuity.

Davis had an immediate in with the Heisman committee because he had been to New York before, showing his high caliber performance ability.

The 1996 season went even better than Davis’ sophomore season and he was invited to New York once again—this time, he thought the trophy was his.

Davis’ mother had planned out the exact spot to place the trophy in their home in Miami, and Davis thought that after coming to New York as a sophomore rushing for over 2,000 yards and then doing it again as a junior, he was a shoe-in.

Davis was wrong as Wuerffel stole the trophy by just under 200 votes. Davis won three of the Heisman voting regions, however Wuerffel won the South, and he won big.

Davis traveled back to Ames without the Heisman Trophy, however, what that did for Iowa State football and Iowa State sports in general is monumental.

Davis’ runner up Heisman Trophy finish put Iowa State on the Division I football map. After Davis’ season, the Cyclones football program started rising with the culmination of the Insight.com Bowl victory in 2000.

Troy Davis will be forever remembered in Cyclone country as one of the most decorated football players in school history, and fans and coaches will never forget what Davis started at Iowa State — a tradition.

Davis went on to play three seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, and then eight seasons in the Canadian Football League. He helped lead Edmonton to the 2005 Grey Cup Championship.

Note: This article will also appear in the Iowa State Daily as part of the 12 Most Memorable Moments in Cyclone Sports History.