Iowa Hawkeyes marching band waves to children’s hospital (Video)

The Iowa Hawkeyes’ newest tradition added a new iteration during Saturday’s game against the Illinois Fighting Illini.

One of the greatest new traditions in college football took on a new evolution during Saturday’s Big Ten contest between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini.

Early in 2017, the University of Iowa completed construction on a brand new children’s hospital that stands adjacent to Kinnick Stadium, the home of the Hawkeyes football team. As a result, the team has started the new tradition of waiving to the patients between the first and second quarter of each of Iowa home game, a gesture that has deservedly garnered national attention.

The wave has already generated several new wrinkles, including fans using cell phones to light up the stadium during a prime time matchup against Penn State and opposing teams joining. Iowa’s marching band took it to the next level on Saturday by forming a giant hand to wave to the children up above.

The idea of waiving to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital was first floated by a Hawkeyes fan several months prior to the season and has quickly grown into a tradition that looks like it’s going to last forever. In addition to the team and fans fully embracing the wave, head coach Kirk Ferentz donated $1 million to the children’s hospital just after opening.

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Iowa is in good shape to move to 4-2 on the season with a 31-16 lead over Illinois entering the fourth quarter at Kinnick Stadium. No matter how the game turns out, the patients at the children’s hospital will never forget the giant wave in yet another touching gesture from the Hawkeyes.