It's been a long and wild ride being a Hawkeye fan this weekend, and not one Iowa fan is mad about it.
After hosting six, yes- six, home events this weekend, Iowa City has sent off it's visitors and returned to the bustling college campus that it is. Iowans are known for their hospitality, generosity, and pleasantry toward our opponents--and even though we conducted good sportsmanship (my Minnesotan Aunt and Uncle can vouch for this), we sent all six visiting opponents back home empty-handed. Sorry guys! Thanks for playing!
The weekend of Hawkeye Madness began Friday as the Women's basketball team defeated North Dakota 83-61, followed by Men's hoops crushing Gardner-Webb 76-59- a much needed defeat after falling short to Augustana in a last-second game-winning swish during the final exhibition game. I'm sure it left them (and the fans) feeling more than a little embarrassed, but it seems that it was just the fire they needed to figure out how to play. Maybe it was the fact that Augustana's game-winning buzzer-beater ended up on Sports Center, or the fact that they dropped an exhibition game, but the Hawks are looking strong, competitive, and ready to play.
As Saturday's sun came up, I had visions of Floyd of Rosedale dancing in my head.
I can't begin to explain the magic that flooded Kinnick Stadium this weekend. I've been a Hawkeye fan my entire life, yet this weekend was remarkable, breathtaking, emotional, riveting, and as Hawkeye wrestler, Thomas Gilman accurately declared, "Electric". Not only did the Wrestling team break world-wide records with attendance more than shattering the previous record held by Penn State with a whopping 42, 287 fans in attendance (More people than 70 FBS teams are averaging for home games in 2015- Paul Myerberg), they came away with a W...in front of all 42, 287 fans.
While I'll admit that I've never actually been to a wrestling match, taking in the Grapple on the Gridiron, strongly peaked my interest in a sport I've never given any thought to. Watching from the field (job perks), I couldn't resist the tingles descending down my spine as the wrestling team emerged from the tunnel. The fire flames, erupting, as the team came out to- of course- Back in Black, was nothing short of world-series stuff. I listened intently, as the crowd hooted and hollered under the most perfect weather conditions any outdoor sporting event could ever take place. Holding an outdoor event, especially one where the athletes clad in nothing more than an elongated loin cloth, in the middle of November is anything but smart, considering it could range from 2 feet of snow to 60 degrees and sunny. Praise the weather Gods for the latter. Not only did Saturday morning call for breaking a record, good weather, enthusiastic fans- but it also called for a #4 Iowa defeating #1 Oklahoma State...down to the last match, with an gripping 18-16 finish. I've never seen such an intense crowd. I also had no idea that wrestling fans know every single rule, call, flip, flop- and it didn't take long to hear the word "Twoooooo" rattle an entire stadium. It was nothing short of mesmerizing, even if I only had the slightest idea of what was actually happening.
A quick six hours later, the Grapple had cleared out, and another night game in Kinnick stadium was about to embark. With a sold out "black-out" crowd, and black-out uniforms to match, it only took one look around to feel the energy surging from the fans- ready to bring home Floyd. Last year, Iowa not only lost to Minnesota- they, for lack of a better word, got slaughtered. Needless to say, a night game, black-out crowd, Grapple momentum, and an almost tangible sense of revenge lingering in the air- the Hawkeyes were ready to make their own mark, going 10-0 for the first time in school history.
I can't quite describe the feeling of being inches away from The Swarm- the intensity the players hold in their eyes, their fingers twitching as they're interlocked with their teammates to the left and to the right, the beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, the lights reflecting off the helmets, everything about The Swarm fails to fade into routine for me. I've been on the field for every game this year, thanks to my job, and not once has it ever felt old, or boring, or overrated. Every single time I hear the fist note of Back in Black, and see the team strut out of the tunnel- I fight back the tears, while the goosebumps layer my body.
Finally, a quarter or two before Floyd came home, I witnessed something I could only describe as magical- Kinnick literally sparkled. During a timeout, a B.I.G. song came on, nothing new, nothing fancy, yet one person felt the rhythm and decided to light up their phone flash light, and soon, before anyone saw it coming, it spread like wildfire. I was awestruck. Literally spinning around in circles, beaming like an idiot, as I watched Kinnick begin to sparkle in an unwritten moment. I watched as fans faces began to glow, smiles spread wide, and that's when I realized how electric Kinnick truly was, not only in that moment, but in it's entirety. It's something you couldn't have re-enacted, or created, or even fathomed, yet- there is was, in it's spontaneous glory-- illuminating the night.
There we were, bringing home our 10-0 win, Floyd in hand, and the stadium was still full. No one left, there were no pockets of emptiness, it was quite the opposite actually. Packed to the brim, overflowing into the aisles, onto the concourse, even on the sidelines--people were everywhere. The fandom was just as excited as the team, as they extended the touchdown, "I-O-W-A" chant far beyond expectations, even through kickoff, even through a Minnesota touchdown. I couldn't believe it, my face hurt from smiling so much. It was contagious, and heartfelt and it never faded out...much like the entire Iowa season so far.
Sunday rounded off the memorable weekend by the lady hoops just easing by University of Tennessee-Martin 62-56, where my gal-pal, Ally Disterhoft hit her 1,000th point as a Hawkeye, only the 34th player in Iowa women's history. You go girl, AD43. The men followed, destroying Coppin State 103-68... it might be early, but I'm thinking we're in for an exciting Iowa Hoops season.
Six times this weekend, "In Heaven there is no Beer", rattled through the Walls and Rafters. From Kinnick, to Carver, the fans felt the Hawkeye heat, not once, but six times. Six opposing teams left Iowa City with no hardware or bragging rights. I just don't know if there's a better word to describe this weekend than magical. With records broken, history made, and a sparkling Kinnick Stadium--It's one hell of a year to not only be a Hawkeye, but to work for them as well.
I believe in magic, do you?
After hosting six, yes- six, home events this weekend, Iowa City has sent off it's visitors and returned to the bustling college campus that it is. Iowans are known for their hospitality, generosity, and pleasantry toward our opponents--and even though we conducted good sportsmanship (my Minnesotan Aunt and Uncle can vouch for this), we sent all six visiting opponents back home empty-handed. Sorry guys! Thanks for playing!
The weekend of Hawkeye Madness began Friday as the Women's basketball team defeated North Dakota 83-61, followed by Men's hoops crushing Gardner-Webb 76-59- a much needed defeat after falling short to Augustana in a last-second game-winning swish during the final exhibition game. I'm sure it left them (and the fans) feeling more than a little embarrassed, but it seems that it was just the fire they needed to figure out how to play. Maybe it was the fact that Augustana's game-winning buzzer-beater ended up on Sports Center, or the fact that they dropped an exhibition game, but the Hawks are looking strong, competitive, and ready to play.
As Saturday's sun came up, I had visions of Floyd of Rosedale dancing in my head.
I can't begin to explain the magic that flooded Kinnick Stadium this weekend. I've been a Hawkeye fan my entire life, yet this weekend was remarkable, breathtaking, emotional, riveting, and as Hawkeye wrestler, Thomas Gilman accurately declared, "Electric". Not only did the Wrestling team break world-wide records with attendance more than shattering the previous record held by Penn State with a whopping 42, 287 fans in attendance (More people than 70 FBS teams are averaging for home games in 2015- Paul Myerberg), they came away with a W...in front of all 42, 287 fans.
While I'll admit that I've never actually been to a wrestling match, taking in the Grapple on the Gridiron, strongly peaked my interest in a sport I've never given any thought to. Watching from the field (job perks), I couldn't resist the tingles descending down my spine as the wrestling team emerged from the tunnel. The fire flames, erupting, as the team came out to- of course- Back in Black, was nothing short of world-series stuff. I listened intently, as the crowd hooted and hollered under the most perfect weather conditions any outdoor sporting event could ever take place. Holding an outdoor event, especially one where the athletes clad in nothing more than an elongated loin cloth, in the middle of November is anything but smart, considering it could range from 2 feet of snow to 60 degrees and sunny. Praise the weather Gods for the latter. Not only did Saturday morning call for breaking a record, good weather, enthusiastic fans- but it also called for a #4 Iowa defeating #1 Oklahoma State...down to the last match, with an gripping 18-16 finish. I've never seen such an intense crowd. I also had no idea that wrestling fans know every single rule, call, flip, flop- and it didn't take long to hear the word "Twoooooo" rattle an entire stadium. It was nothing short of mesmerizing, even if I only had the slightest idea of what was actually happening.
A quick six hours later, the Grapple had cleared out, and another night game in Kinnick stadium was about to embark. With a sold out "black-out" crowd, and black-out uniforms to match, it only took one look around to feel the energy surging from the fans- ready to bring home Floyd. Last year, Iowa not only lost to Minnesota- they, for lack of a better word, got slaughtered. Needless to say, a night game, black-out crowd, Grapple momentum, and an almost tangible sense of revenge lingering in the air- the Hawkeyes were ready to make their own mark, going 10-0 for the first time in school history.
I can't quite describe the feeling of being inches away from The Swarm- the intensity the players hold in their eyes, their fingers twitching as they're interlocked with their teammates to the left and to the right, the beads of sweat forming on their foreheads, the lights reflecting off the helmets, everything about The Swarm fails to fade into routine for me. I've been on the field for every game this year, thanks to my job, and not once has it ever felt old, or boring, or overrated. Every single time I hear the fist note of Back in Black, and see the team strut out of the tunnel- I fight back the tears, while the goosebumps layer my body.
Finally, a quarter or two before Floyd came home, I witnessed something I could only describe as magical- Kinnick literally sparkled. During a timeout, a B.I.G. song came on, nothing new, nothing fancy, yet one person felt the rhythm and decided to light up their phone flash light, and soon, before anyone saw it coming, it spread like wildfire. I was awestruck. Literally spinning around in circles, beaming like an idiot, as I watched Kinnick begin to sparkle in an unwritten moment. I watched as fans faces began to glow, smiles spread wide, and that's when I realized how electric Kinnick truly was, not only in that moment, but in it's entirety. It's something you couldn't have re-enacted, or created, or even fathomed, yet- there is was, in it's spontaneous glory-- illuminating the night.
There we were, bringing home our 10-0 win, Floyd in hand, and the stadium was still full. No one left, there were no pockets of emptiness, it was quite the opposite actually. Packed to the brim, overflowing into the aisles, onto the concourse, even on the sidelines--people were everywhere. The fandom was just as excited as the team, as they extended the touchdown, "I-O-W-A" chant far beyond expectations, even through kickoff, even through a Minnesota touchdown. I couldn't believe it, my face hurt from smiling so much. It was contagious, and heartfelt and it never faded out...much like the entire Iowa season so far.
Sunday rounded off the memorable weekend by the lady hoops just easing by University of Tennessee-Martin 62-56, where my gal-pal, Ally Disterhoft hit her 1,000th point as a Hawkeye, only the 34th player in Iowa women's history. You go girl, AD43. The men followed, destroying Coppin State 103-68... it might be early, but I'm thinking we're in for an exciting Iowa Hoops season.
Six times this weekend, "In Heaven there is no Beer", rattled through the Walls and Rafters. From Kinnick, to Carver, the fans felt the Hawkeye heat, not once, but six times. Six opposing teams left Iowa City with no hardware or bragging rights. I just don't know if there's a better word to describe this weekend than magical. With records broken, history made, and a sparkling Kinnick Stadium--It's one hell of a year to not only be a Hawkeye, but to work for them as well.
I believe in magic, do you?
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