If you’re ever able to attend an Iowa Hawkeyes game, the highlight may not be the tailgating or the game-winning touchdown, but providing a simple wave following the end of the first quarter. Something like this …
Time to wave! #Hawks pic.twitter.com/KQ2oxd7HlV
— Zach Hanley (@ZachHanley2) September 16, 2017
It doesn’t seem all that spectacular, until you realize that every fan inside Kinnick Stadium is waving at kids onlooking from inside the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital just adjacent to the stadium.
#FTK @UIchildrens pic.twitter.com/l0zlvIJoHk
— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) September 2, 2017
For. The. Kids. #FTK #FightForIowa pic.twitter.com/CrSCHTlHGE
— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) September 16, 2017
Best new college football tradition, waving to the children at Iowa children’s hospital asst end of 1st quarter pic.twitter.com/BtgssFVVQj
— Perry Banse (@PerryBanse) September 16, 2017
UI Childrens loves the rad, new tradition and made this video that may make your eyes sweat.
From all of us to all of you…thank you #Hawkeyes! #NewTradition #IowaProud .@hawkeyefootball .@TheIowaHawkeyes .@TheHawkHeaven ,@bigten pic.twitter.com/twt56eaRvl
— UIChildrens (@UIchildrens) September 3, 2017
And here’s what it looks like from the kids’ perspectives.
Iowa’s newest tradition involves stopping & waving to the children’s hospital next door.
Here’s what it looks like from their perspective: pic.twitter.com/sJCaeEddyy
— ESPN (@espn) September 16, 2017
One would think this new tradition would have started organically. It actually started with a simple Facebook post, which actually makes it all the cooler.
And to top it all off, Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz has strong connections with the hospital as well. He and his wife donated a million bucks to the hospital last month to help with research into helping premature babies.
Scott Van Pelt already recognized the ‘wave’ as the birth of a great new tradition, one that should last “forever.” I agree.
This is why I’m proud to be a Hawkeye fan. This is what it’s all about: pic.twitter.com/JFxCuXbFku
— Devin Keller (@DevinMKeller) September 4, 2017
To read more about why this new tradition is so special and exactly who the kids are watching, I dare you to click here.
Josh Helmuth is the editor of Crave Sports.
Photo: @TheIowaHawkeyes