I was not there but I read Iowa State traveled big in 2001 so the possibility is there for ISU fans to show out. Doesn't hurt the team won 10 games either.
I was there in 2001. It was the biggest turnout of opposing fans that I can ever remember, save for Marshall. I think they have a very active alumni association in Ohio and they must have promoted the game big time. I would not be surprised for a repeat performance this year.
ISU won by three points (31-28) in that 2001 game in Knorr's home opener as a coach. I've sometimes wondered if the trajectory of his career as a head coach might have been different if he'd won that game. We were 0-2 going into the game. A win would have made OHIO 1-2 going into a home game with #23 ranked Toledo. We end up losing that game by a TD. A win against the Cyclones might have really helped psychologically in preparing for the Rockets. Sometimes football can be a game of momentum and attitude. The close loss at home to ISU kind of took the wind out of our sails and we went 1-10 for the season.