Author Archives: Joshua Kagavi

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

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WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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The question hung in the air all week leading up to the Oklahoma State game. Could there be a repeat of 2011? During the game, fans and players could feel the magic of the monumental upset lingering around the fringes, but the game ultimately slipped away at the very end. Robot Cy salvaged the evening by defeating Robot Pistol Pete and securing the Silver Star power up, which will be useful in the future (perhaps as soon as this basketball season against the Jayhawks). These final two games against Kansas State and West Virginia will probably determine the future of the ISU coaching staff. Last year’s game in Ames ended in a 32 – 28 KSU comeback after ISU failed to get a crucial first down, just one measly yard, to preserve the victory. The last road game in Manhattan was an anomaly as Collin Klein led KSU to a 41 – 7 thumping, but every other game in the Paul Rhoads era has been relatively close, yet with the same outcome. Both teams have struggled this season and last I checked, KSU was playing a dance team member at QB.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Willie Wildcat?

If Robot Willie Wildcat used the best parts of Kansas State football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some Kansas State history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

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WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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As expected, Iowa State quickly took the lead against Oklahoma in the highly anticipated game last week at Norman. The rest is a blur. Robot Cy also nabbed the coveted Double Trouble power up from Robot Boomer Sooner while they were Boomering their Sooner. Thankfully after facing TCU, Baylor, and Oklahoma in close succession, the schedule finally eases off with undefeated Oklahoma State coming to Ames with a sterling 9 – 0 record and shiny # 5 ranking. We all know about 2011 and in 2013, they extracted revenge on ISU with a 58 – 27 win. Last year, the OSU win resulted in ISU AD Jamie Pollard sharing some, uhh, strong opinions in the post game press conference.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Pistol Pete?

If Robot Pistol Pete used the best parts of OSU football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some OSU history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

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WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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Iowa State’s last game against Texas marked the return of the powerful Cyclone team that sat on top of the Big 12 standings all the way at the beginning of October. Robot Cy’s visit with Robot Hook ‘Em was equally fruitful and the athletic department should be receiving some pixelated money bags soon. Looking to the game this weekend, ISU faces off against #14 Oklahoma in Norman. Oklahoma clobbered ISU 59 – 14 last year–an outcome surely as shocking as pumpkin lattes in the fall. But clearly this is a new era. Joel Lanning is undefeated as the starting QB. Todd Sturdy is undefeated as offensive coordinator. Paul Rhoads is unde . . . err, proud. Most crucially: the last time Texas was shut out by an unranked team, it was 1961–the same year that Iowa State beat Oklahoma in Norman. Just saying.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Boomer & Sooner?

If Robot Boomer & Sooner used the best parts of Oklahoma football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some Oklahoma history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

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WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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In just a few days, the Texas Longhorns will bring their burnt pumpkin uniforms back to Ames for a game full of goblins and intrigue on All Hallows’ Eve. The past week has been a sedate one for Iowa State after they lost to Baylor in a swim meet 45 – 27, despite being short a few key pieces, such as the whole defense. Robot Cy’s visit to Waco was more successful as he returned with the fancy Disco Balls power up. Two years ago, the Cyclones beat Texas on a last-minute fumble recovery by Jeremiah George, but the lovely Big 12 referees reversed the victory. Last year was another wild affair with Texas ultimately winning 48 – 45 on a game-winning field goal after two long passes in the final seconds. This is the most interesting ISU game in some time due to the ascension of Joel Lanning and the deaccession of Baby Mangino.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Hook ‘Em?

If Robot Hook ‘Em used the best parts of Texas football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some Texas history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

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WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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In a decent effort against TCU last week, the Iowa State football team looked like they were cooking up a vintage Rhoads upset, but sadly fizzled in the second half. Robot Cy had a better weekend, picking up the coveted Ice Freeze power up from Super Frog. This Saturday, the Cyclones will travel to Waco to face off against #2 Baylor and their spinning slot machine offense. Last week, Baylor beat West Virginia 62 – 38 behind another superlative effort from human glitch Corey Coleman, Baylor’s star wide receiver. The last time ISU played in Waco, the Bears eased by 71 – 7, but not before a furious ISU comeback with three minutes left eventually ran out of time. Last year, the game was closer but still another ISU loss: 49 – 28.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Bruiser?

If Robot Bruiser used the best parts of Baylor football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some Baylor history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

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WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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This week our beloved Cyclones are headed back home to the friendly confines of Jack Trice Stadium to receive the undefeated TCU team, currently ranked #3 in the country. The Horned Frogs beat Kansas State last week in a tense game decided during the final minutes. Last Saturday, as we predicted here, the Cyclones found the Texas Tech team completely gassed. Unfortunately, this occurred after the Red Raiders had gained 776 yards in a record-setting performance as they cruised to a 66 – 31 win. (Luckily Robot Cy remains undefeated after gathering the Ghost Riders power up in Lubbock.) The Cyclones kept it pretty close in the TCU game last year, losing in a 55 – 3 squeaker. Perhaps TCU will overlook the ISU squad again this year.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Super Frog?

If Robot Super Frog used the best parts of TCU football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some TCU history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

_____________

WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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The familiar rites of fall are always comforting: apple cider, carving pumpkins, autumn foliage, the powerful Iowa State football team in first place of the Big 12 Conference. Fresh off conquering Robot Jayhawk (and getting the Golden Horseshoes), the Cyclones are headed to Lubbock to face off against Texas Tech, which will be the “featured” game on Fox Sports Net channel again. The Cyclones almost beat them last year, but–get your fainting couches ready–a couple of missed field goals doomed ISU in the 34 – 31 loss. So far this year, the Texas Tech team has run the equivalent of nine ultra marathons simply trying to keep up with TCU and Baylor in recent games. ISU just may find the Red Raiders completely gassed, or the game could be over after the first quarter.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Raider Red?

If Robot Raider Red used the best parts of Texas Tech football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some Texas Tech history.

Read more…

(Story originally posted on SB Nation’s ISU site: Wide Right & Natty Lite.)

_____________

WRNL is proud to present nine weekly articles from Kagavi leading up to the official release of The Adventures of Robot Cy, a fictional 8-bit video game trailer that never was.

In a faraway futuristic time, college football has been taken over by robot mascots. Join Robot Cy as he travels through many thrilling levels to find out who is behind this nefarious plot!

Every week during the conference season, Kagavi will preview the ISU football game using this project as inspiration by asking what power ups could Robot Cy gain by defeating the other Big 12 robot mascots?

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As the calendar turns to October, Iowa State is struggling again to keep pace in a high-powered Big 12 Conference where every other team has all kinds of exotic weaponry on offense. With Kansas invading Jack Trice Stadium this weekend for a slap fight, ISU may have found the only other conference mate that they can feel equal to. Last year there were rumors that Kansas clobbered ISU 34 – 14, but since the game was on Fox Sports Net, we cannot verify whether this actually happened or not. The 2015 season looks to be another hotly anticipated basement title race and the Cyclones are set to test out their 1950s pop gun offense against the rebuilding Jayhawks in a thrilling nap for much of the nation.

But what if Robot Cy was facing off against Robot Jayhawk?

If Robot Jayhawk used the best parts of Kansas football history to inspire a power up, what would it be? Let’s explore some Kansas history.

Read more…

I was very glad to see Iowa State University honor Jack Trice’s legacy in 2013 by having the football team wear throwback uniforms inspired by the 1923 team. However, since they were not close to what the team actually wore, I took the time to create a much more accurate modernized look. These are the uniforms that Jack Trice and his teammates wore in the Minnesota game, the day after Jack wrote his famous letter.

(Image below can be clicked to see a 1920 x 1080 size version.)

In 2013, when I created my first Pendleton Woolen Mills stadium blanket with Iowa State University, I came across blanket savant Barry Friedman who is considered the foremost expert in American Indian trade blanket collecting circles and serves as a vintage blanket consultant for Pendleton. When I originally interviewed him about his classic 2002 book Chasing Rainbows, he was close to publishing a highly anticipated follow-up called Still Chasing Rainbows, which came out this past March.

Read more…