The Iowa State Cyclones football team wears a patch on the upper left corner of their jersey consisting of several vertical stripes in a pentagon-like shape.
So, why do they do that, and what does it represent?
Good question!
The Iowa State football program added the pentagon-shaped striped patch to its jerseys in 2020 in honour of Jack Trice, the first black athlete in Cyclones history.
Trice tragically died from injuries suffered during a game at Minnesota on Oct. 6, 1923. Iowa State has also unveiled a statue and named its football stadium in his honour, the first football bowl subdivision stadium dedicated to an African-American.
“Jack Trice’s legacy is powerful, and it’s certainly one we embrace in our football program,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said when the patch was revealed in September 2020. “Competing in Jack Trice Stadium is an honour, and we never want to lose sight of his sacrifices. His legacy continues to inspire all of those in our program as we strive to promote equality in our community and the world around us.”
The patch’s design closely resembles the vertically striped uniforms worn by the Cyclones during the 1923 season and again as a throwback uniform in 2013. Three different versions of the patch match Iowa State’s cardinal home, white road, and black alternate uniforms.
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