Fight Song & In Heaven There is No Beer
After every Iowa win, the marching band pumps up the fans by playing a fitting Iowa victory song. “In Heaven, there is no beer… That’s why we drink it here… And when we’re gone from here… Our friends will be drinking all the beer.”
Back in Black/Entrance Video
The best pregame intro not only in the Big Ten, but in all of College Football. Iowa players are shown walking down a tunnel from their locker room as AC/DC’s Back in Black bleeds through Kinnick Stadium. Oh and don’t forget Herky driving the teams equipment bus right through the opposing teams logo.
I-O-W-A Chant
No matter if you are in Kinnick’s heavenly grounds, or the Orange Bowl, the groups of fans that follow Iowa athletics spell out I-O-W-A. Every corner of Kinnick Stadium represents a given letter, with the letter “I” starting in the Hawks Nest corner. 70,585 fans going crazy.
The Touching of Iowa’s Heisman
Before every Hawkeye home game, the Hawkeye football players touch the statue of Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick as they enter the stadium.
Kinnick’s Heisman Acceptance Speech
Every game at Kinnick Stadium fans will see Nile Kinnick’s Heisman Trophy acceptance speech from 1939. The speech, which took place during World War II, is a staple in every Hawkeye fans home football game Saturday. Often, Kinnick Stadium quiets down to a hush during Nile’s speech, only to erupt when his words end. “I thank God I was warring on the gridirons of the Midwest and not on the battlefields of Europe. I can speak confidently and positively that the players of this country would much more, much rather, struggle and fight to win the Heisman award than the Croix de Guerre.” Go Hawks!
“Big Ass Turkey Leg”
No fans day has ended in Iowa City before they encounter, the man, the myth, the legend, Chuck Ford. He sells the breakfast for champions, a big ass turkey leg. You can find him on Melrose Avenue, yelling anything into his microphone from, “Your girlfriend wants you to buy her a BIG ASS TURKEY LEG”, to “Hey girl, what’s up? You looking good today!”
Bring out the Keys (and Shoes)
Before every kick off, all Iowa fans take out their keys and jingle them around. This little tradition has taken on another form in recent year with many students, cheerleaders, and even Herky, taking off their shoes and throwing them up in the air. START ME UP!