There have been many memorable highlights from the Iowa-Iowa State series over the years -- from Iowa beating Iowa State while the Cyclones were clad in "BEAT IOWA" uniforms to Tavian Banks ripping off an 82-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the game to BJ Lowery's jaw-dropping acrobatic interception to Akrum Wadley's dazzling game-tying touchdown catch-andrun last year, to name just a few. This... is not one of them.
Here we have a clip from the Iowa-Iowa State game of 1986, with Iowa hosting the Cyclones in Iowa City. This was early in what would become Hayden Fry's legendary winning streak over Iowa State (15 games in a row) -- it was just at three then. The games had been wildly non-competitive, though: Iowa beat Iowa State 51-10 in 1983, 59-21 in 1984, and 57-3 in 1985. That 57-3 win still holds the record as Iowa's most lopsided win over Iowa State. The 1986 game didn't exactly change that trend -- Iowa won 43-7.
Perhaps that's why the Iowa fans found a different way to amuse themselves during that 1986 game. Here, see for yourself:
TASTES GREAT!
LESS FILLING!
TASTES GREAT!
LESS FILLING!
TASTES GREAT!
LESS FILLING!
The dueling chants are, of course, a reference to a Miller Lite ad campaign that lasted (literally) decades, with Miller Lite imbibers divided on whether its best quality was its great taste or the fact that it was less filling. The campaign began in 1974 and, as noted, lasted for several decades (Miller Lite was still doing versions of that campaign in the 90s) and it was apparently particularly prevalent in the pop culture landscape of 1986, judging by its unprompted appearance here in an Iowa-Iowa State game.
For a few seconds, at least, the CyHawk rivalry was put aside and the 67,700 fans inside Kinnick Stadium chose sides in the great "Tastes Great" vs "Less Filling" Miller Lite Wars. Because when the action on the field fails to excite, at least you can distract yourself with a little performative disagreement based on the advertising campaign for shitty beer. The CyHawk Series: truly a rivalry like none other.
