Iowa Hawkeyes Gameday Traditions

Iowa's Nile Kinnick Stadium This facility was renovated in 2006 and now seats 70,585 fans

Iowa's Nile Kinnick Stadium
This facility was renovated in 2006 and now seats
70,585 fans

Iowa Hawkeyes Gameday Traditions
 Football Saturday's in Iowa City are very exciting and traditional.

 Along with cheering on the Hawks and wearing black and gold, fans love saluting 1939 Heisman Winner Nile Kinnick's statue outside of the stadium and having fun inside.
iowa1iowa2The Nile Kinnick Statue
This towering tribute to 1939 Heisman winner Nile Knnick is a must see when attending a game at the University's Nile Kinnick Stadium.  

Iowa's favorite son died in a WW II while training as a U.S. Naval Aviator.  The school renamed it's stadium in his honor in 1972.

iowa4

Tailgating at the University of Iowa
You'll find a Sea of Gold and you'll enjoy seeing who is wearing the Black and Gold!

Iowa Gameday Traditions
Include Lots of AC/DC and More

 iowa5Hawkeye Victory Polka
After every Iowa win, the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band plays the Hawkeye Victory Polka, the band's adaptation of the polka song, "In Heaven There Is No Beer". Many fans sing along as well. After losses, only the Iowa Fight Song is played.

Back In Black
Before the runs onto the field, the stadium plays "Back in Black" by AC/DC and the video board shows the school's football players walking from the locker room to the field entrance.

Enter Sandman
I-O-W-A This tradition takes place when the team is led onto the field by four giant black and gold flags, spelling I-O-W-A. Each flag then moves to the touchdown, fans in the four corners of the field, initially aided by the flags, spell out I-O-W-A

I-O-W-A
This tradition takes place when the team is led
onto the field by four giant black and gold flags,
spelling I-O-W-A. Each flag then moves to the
touchdown, fans in the four corners of the field,
initially aided by the flags, spell out I-O-W-A

The Hawkeyes enter the field to the song Enter Sandman by Metallica. The video screen shows Iowa's equipment semi smashing into the opposing team's logo as the Hawks swarm onto the field.

Imperial March
The Hawkeye Marching Band will perform the Imperial March after the defensive unit forces a 4th down, while the fans clap in an up and down motion, imitating the beak of a Hawk chomping.

Hell's Bells
When the defense on the field during 3rd down, The beginning of AC/DC's Hell's Bells is played to get the fans fired up for the upcoming play. Courtesy: Wikipedia
iowa6Playing for the "New" Cy-Hawk Trophy
On one special Football Saturday the Hawkeyes face off against in-state rival Iowa State.  The two teams play for bragging rights and the Cy-Hawk Trophy.  A new version (graphic above) has been introduced for 2012 and beyond.

 The new trophy depicts the teams' mascots, Cy for the Cyclones and Herky for the Hawkeyes, standing under a football and in front of corn.  A "new" trophy was unveiled in 2011 that featured a farm family huddled around a bushel of corn.  The designed was so disliked that it never saw the light of a Football Saturday.
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