Iowa Wave tradition carries special meaning during Iowa-Nebraska game (Video)

An annual tradition for Iowa football carries special added meaning this year as Iowa takes on Nebraska.

2020 has obviously not been a normal year and the fact there is college football being played right now is a minor miracle. Iowa and Nebraska are facing off Friday afternoon in Iowa City and that means an annual tradition got even more special given the circumstances.

After the first quarter of Hawkeyes home games, everyone in the stadium turns and waves toward the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital. This only started a few years ago and it is hard not to get choked up every single time.

Patients and visitors are usually gathered on the top floor in a viewing area under normal circumstances, creating quite the sight. Unfortunately, things are different this year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but the tradition still lives on.

A special Iowa Wave in 2020

It doesn’t matter if the stadium is full or a limited capacity, this is still an emotional moment every single time. The unfortunate circumstances of COVID make the wave a bit more emotional this year during the holiday season.

The reality of the virus also means the children can’t gather and are stuck in their rooms without visitors.

COVID has not made the year easy and little things like a simple wave can go a long way toward providing even the smallest amount of joy in one’s life. That becomes even more important when it involves children engaged in their own personal health battles.

The game itself features a ranked Iowa team taking on a Nebraska squad looking for a second win this season. Ultimately, the wave toward the hospital will be the noblest thing to come out of all the action on the field.

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