The Iowa Wave is one of the most memorable aspects of any college football season. The tradition goes back to the very foundations of the sport, and Iowa Hawkeyes legendary basketball player Caitlin Clark recently shared what makes it so special.
Caitlin Clark Explains Why the Iowa Hawkeye Wave Is Elite
College football is littered with traditions. Whether it is the Oklahoma Sooners’ Sooner Schooner, USC Trojans’ Sword Stab, the Flordia Gators’ Chomp, or the Virginia Tech Hokies’ “Enter Sandman,” it feels like every school has something to claim. None carry the same emotional impact as the Hawkeye Wave.
As the clock hits zero at the end of the first quarter, the 70,000 people packed into Kinnick Stadium, including spectators, coaches, and players, turn to face the onlooking Children’s Hospital and wave to the patients and their families.
It is a moving, tearful, hopeful spectacle that patients and families call life-changing. As Clark shared in a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, it also has a lasting impact on college athletes.
“It’s great. The wave is pretty awesome because the Children’s Hospital looks right over on the stadium. So it’s cool. It’s always been a thing.”
MORE: Explaining the Hawkeye Wave
The tradition has become integral to Iowa home games since 2017 when the Stead Family Children’s Hospital opened across from the stadium. Along with the wave, a kid captain is nominated for each home contest, with a pediatric patient receiving a jersey and behind-the-scenes access.
Even the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t stop the Hawkeyes faithful, with fans offering virtual waves.
Pat Green’s “Wave on Wave” had been the tradition’s accompaniment, but since 2022, the athletic department has let the kid captain pick a new song to play at each home game.
“We have a kid captain for every game because the hospital is such a big deal … that’s always fun,” Clark said. “They get to pick a song that plays after the first quarter.
“I get the chills every time. It’s sick. It’s probably one of the best traditions in all of sports.”
It may be one of college football’s youngest customs, but the Hawkeye Wave is here to stay.
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