The Hawkeye Wave: Iowa Time Machine September 2, 2017

Iowa Time Machine ⏰: On September 2, 2017, the Hawkeye Wave first debuted following the first quarter of a game against Wyoming. A quickly beloved college football tradition, the wave unites fans and players in acknowledging the patients at the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Located on Hawkins Drive, the $300 million new facility for Stead Family Children’s Hospital opened on Hawkins Drive. The 12-story building peeks over Kinnick Stadium, providing patients with a unique view of the home of the Hawkeyes. In May of 2017, Krista Young suggested online that fans should wave to the children at the hospital during games. The idea gained momentum, and at the end of a scoreless first quarter against Wyoming in the 2017 home opener, the first ‘Hawkeye Wave’ took place.

From the first iteration, the gesture of acknowledgment to those fighting for something much more important than a win on the gridiron inspired folks inside the stadium and across the country. When the tradition first started, Pat Green’s song “Wave on Wave” played over the public address system; however, in 2022, the hospital’s designated ‘Kid Captain’ for the game began selecting which song would play during the wave.

While the Kid Captain program started well before the Hawkeye Wave back in 2009 to honor a patient at Stead Family Children’s Hospital, the tradition has added significance and notoriety to the role. Even in the most heated football rivalries, the Hawkeye Wave continues to give everyone a chance to step back and recognize that some things are much more important than the game on the field. #Iowa #OTD #History #HawkeyeWave #Traditions