No. 3: Iowa Hawkeyes wave to the Children’s Hospital
This may be a shocking choice, but it deserves to be mentioned. A kind yet powerful gesture by the Black and Gold of the Midwest, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes Kinnick Stadium is home to some very kind fans, who put aside the game early and wave to the children of the Children’s Hospital, who sit near the windows to watch the games and wave back to fans, players, and even the visiting team.
For that one moment, the home and the away squad join together in waving and wishing the children well for their health. A precious moment, but that’s when the pleasantries end. Once the lights go on and the kickoff ensues, the game is on.
In recent years, Kinnick Stadium has been home to some of the biggest upsets in college football. Take 2016, for example, when the Michigan Wolverines came to town and were ranked No. 2 in the nation. That didn’t matter. It came down to a last-second kick by Keith Duncan, but the Wolverines left town with a loss, more heartbreaking than the one Ricky Stanzi and co. suffered seven years prior.
There was also the thrashing of Ohio State in 2017. The Buckeye beatdown didn’t occur at night, but the wave was enough of a powerful sign that would send Urban Meyer (yes, that Urban Meyer) and his scarlet and grey disciples back to Columbus with a loss.
Next up, a trip down south to the Bayou, where ferocious gold and purple cats reside, waiting for the lights to come on.