Friday Favorites

This Friday I am going to focus just one favorite - Hawkeye Football. 

I was raised a Hawkeye fan - we went to Kinnick Stadium every home game, tailgated with a bunch of other families, and then sat inside the stadium on the grass areas (the real cheap seats).  It was true family fun. 

Of course my only college choice would be The University of Iowa so I could become a true Hawkeye.  As a student I went to every home game, stood in the student section (we never sat!) and cheered on the Hawks! 

As I got older, my trips to Kinnick Stadium became less and less as life got in the way.  I try to make it to at least one game a year, and catch all the rest on TV. 

Last winter The University of Iowa opened the new Stead Family Children's Hospital.  The 12 story hospital overlooks Kinnick Stadium and on the top floor of the hospital they created an area for patients and their families to be able to watch the game. 

Well one very smart lady, Krista Young, had an idea to have all the fans in Kinnick Stadium turn towards the hospital at the end of the first quarter and wave to the children.  She put the post on Facebook and it went viral.  Now it is known as "the best tradition in college football". 

So now every Saturday those precious children in the hospital get 70,000 friends to wave to them and make them smile.  So many national stories on this phenomenon.  Just try to not cry when reading these. 

Also, if you are interested in supporting this tradition and the Children's Hospital, they can purchase a T shirt here: 100% of the profits go to the Hospital.