It’s official. It's the BEST tradition in college football! Say, "Hawkeye Wave", or just "Iowa Wave" to anyone in Iowa, or anyone who's followed the Big 10 since before it had 82 teams, and they'll know what you mean.

The wave has been around for seven years as of this season, and it still gives me goosebumps and conjures up a few tears whenever I see it...

The History of the Hawkeye Wave

On the morning of Saturday, September 2, 2017, after a scoreless first quarter against the Wyoming Cowboys, Iowa’s Public Address Announcer requested all fans in attendance, over 68,000, turn to the hospital and wave to the young patients watching the game from above.

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Many of the fans had already started waving before even being prompted by the P.A. announcer. Now, the players of both teams and even the officials turn and wave to the kids on the 12th floor at the new University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital at the end of the first quarter at every game at Kinnick Stadium.

A suggestion on a Hawkeyes fan page on Facebook led to "The Wave.” Krista Young, from the small town of Anita, came up with the idea and shared it on the Hawkeye Nation Facebook Page in May 2017. Word spread and the rest is history.

Johnny Marks/TSM
Moments before "the Hawkeye Wave" Johnny Marks/TSM
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The Hawks won the game over some guy named Josh Allen, and his Cowboys 24-3, and also won the hearts of all the kids watching from above.

It wasn't long before the wave became a sensation nationwide.

By mid-September, EVERYONE knew about The Wave, and when Iowa hosted Penn State on 9/23 for a night game at Kinnick, here's what occurred:

The Hawkeyes are off to a rough start in 2024, but no one can deny, that when 60+ thousand Hawkeyes fans get together and Kinnick, it's always a special moment when that first quarter ends, no matter what the score is.

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