Due to the recent lack of success surrounding the Iowa State football program, it was decided that a ceremonial dumpster fire was necessary to allow friends of the program to sacrifice an item to the football gods in the hopes of turning things around. Participants were asked to donate an item that was more important to them than going to a bowl game.
Turnout for the ritualistic burning was much better than anticipated, as event officials had figured most of the people on or around the bandwagon had already burned, broken, or trashed most of the important items to them after watching the on-field product in recent years.