Iowa’s “Wave” and the Code

At each Iowa Hawkeye home game in Kinnick Stadium all 60,000+ fans turn around at the end of the first quarter and wave to the kids who are watching the game from the top floor of the Children’s Hospital next door overlooking the field. The top floor of the hospital has four big screen TVs which carries the same feed as the stadium board, and the kids have goodies and other treats to make their afternoon special.   The wave is just the latest development in a long tradition of Iowa football and sick children.  The head coach Kirk Ferentz and his wife Mary donated $1 million dollars for a neonatal unit in the newly constructed hospital.  Mary had been instrumental in the Ladies Football Academy for seven years, helping raise over $1.8 million for the hospital.  For ten years each game has featured a Kid Captain – a young person who has recovered from an illness and who gets premium seats, participates in the coin toss and other pregame festivities, always a “goosebump moment” says the co-founder of the Kid Captain program.  The connection between the coach, his wife, the team and the fans is special.  What does the Code say about things like this?  The Code says “I will display caring and honorable behavior off the field and be a positive influence in my community and world,” and “I will give of my time, skills, and money as I am able for the betterment of my community and world.“  Iowa football has chosen to make a difference in the lives of sick kids; is it possible for your team or your school to make a difference in some way in your community?