Hickory Park has to be experienced at least once. Good cheap BBQ joint that is a tradition. Huge portions and good food. Another choice would be Olde Main Brewing Company, a place with a little classier food and its own microbrewery.

As far as bars…..it depends on the age.

The older folks in town go downtown to places like Olde Main before going to the downtown bars. If this friend is closer to college age, there’s a variety of bars in CampusTown, just south of campus, that are a source of cheap booze.

However, like a lot of Staters, I typically get my drink on at house parties, but that may not be his cup of tea.

I truly encourage him to tailgate Saturday too. It might be a little down with basketball at the same time, but chances are he wouldn’t walk away hungry if he runs into the right people.

1. The goal was a bowl game this year and to contend for the North next year. Things are running a little behind. Bowl games are part of the equation, but McCarney’s inability to win the division is why he was ultimately ousted. Next year our schedule is pretty favorable for a nice run, but I thought the same this year.

2. They’ll be satisfied with slow progress as long as there is progress. Stagnation this year and next year won’t work. Anything less than a bowl game next year has to be viewed as disappointment. That being said, Chizik will get the length of his contract unless something strange happens.

3. We’re on our way to becoming a football team, I think… No can rationally expect our basketball team to be much better soon (I’m not a McDermott fan). We have no business competing with Iowa considering the budget differences, but it’s the expectation to beat them every single year. It’s not a hope. We plan to beat them. Our fans are knowledgeable that it takes time, but they won’t wait forever.

4. Eh, probably Nebraska after the woodshed whippings they’ve given us in the past. It’s kind of weird to be honest. I’ll tell you that most Cyclone fans like Oklahoma State, for whatever that’s worth.