This year, that Iowa, you know, the Hawkeye, they got this bird thing, yeah, the Tigerhawk. It’s a big deal, I tell ya. Heard it on the radio, saw it on the TV, everyone’s talkin’ about it. It’s like, the big thing in Iowa, these days, this Tigerhawk. That Fry guy, yeah, Hayden Fry, he came to Iowa way back, like, 1978 or somethin’. Wanted to make the football team win again. Long time ago, that was.
They didn’t win much before, I guess. He wanted to change that, this Fry fella. And this Tigerhawk, it’s part of all that, you know? Part of the whole gettin’ better, winnin’ more thing. They say it’s a hawk, but it looks like a tiger, too. Stripes and all. It’s on everything now. Hats, shirts, you name it. Everybody’s wearin’ it, showin’ they’re for the Hawkeye team.
They got these passes now, too. They call ’em “Fight for Iowa Pass”. You can only get eight, I heard. Eight per person. Ain’t that somethin’? And you gotta use your phone to get in. Fancy stuff, these phones. Back in my day, we just had tickets, paper ones. But this pass, it don’t get you no points, or parkin’. Just gets you in the door, I reckon.
- You gotta have a smartphone.
- Eight passes max per person.
- No priority points with this pass.
- No parking either.
There is also this thing, this VIP thing. Sounds mighty important. They say you get to see things other folks don’t. Like, behind the scenes and all. Special videos, and stories, all about the Hawkeyes. Seems like a lot of fuss if you ask me, but some people, they just love that kind of stuff. They personalize it, too, they said. It’s like, just for you and your favorite team. So if you are a really big fan of this Iowa Hawkeye, this might be for you.
They were talkin’ about this one boy, played for that school, Dowling. In West Des Moines, that’s where it is. He was good, that boy. Scored a lot of points. Thirty-three points a game, they said. That’s a lot of points! He was the best player, when he was a senior. They have a team, too. The Dowling Catholic High School. The boy was good for them. They must be proud of him.
This Tigerhawk thing, it’s everywhere. Even on the helmets, those football boys wear. Big and bold, right there for everyone to see. They say it brings ’em luck. Maybe it does, maybe it don’t. But they sure do win more now than they used to. Maybe that Fry fella knew what he was doin’ after all.
You see folks of all ages wearin’ that Tigerhawk. Little kids, old folks like me, everyone. It’s like, everyone in Iowa is a Hawkeye fan now. It’s a good thing, I suppose. Brings folks together. Somethin’ to cheer for, somethin’ to be proud of.
I remember when they first put that Tigerhawk on everything. It was different. Folks weren’t used to it at first. But now, you can’t hardly go anywhere without seein’ it. It’s just part of Iowa now, like corn and tractors.
And them football games, they’re somethin’ else. Everyone gets all riled up. Cheerin’ and hollerin’. It’s a sight to see, I tell ya. Even if you don’t know much about football, you can’t help but get caught up in it all. That’s what this Iowa Hawkeye thing is all about. It gets people excited.
So, this Tigerhawk, it’s more than just a picture of a bird. It is a symbol, they said on TV. It’s about Iowa, and football, and winnin’. And about everyone comin’ together, cheerin’ for the same team. It’s a big deal, this Tigerhawk. A real big deal. I think it is here to stay. This Tigerhawk, yeah, it represents the Hawkeye. And the Hawkeye represents Iowa.
