The Eye of the Hawk (Cont'd)

impatient.  Then near the end of the first quarter, UI mounted a threat.  As they drove goalward, the chant grew, “Go Hawks!” 

The Hawks would not be denied, and when sophomore QB Drew Tate threw an 11 yard TD strike to junior Clinton Solomon, the Hawkeye faithful rocked Kinnick in appreciation of the lead.

Throughout the afternoon, the stadium buzzed with fans’ reactions to scores from around the country as they came in, while here in Iowa City, the contest was close -still up for grabs at halftime - but the Hawk defense was stifling and this was Iowa’s day.  Tate’s third scoring pass, a 36-yarder to Solomon late in the third quarter, put it away, and Cap screamed his lungs out to On Iowa, “Iowa, Iowa…Iowa, Iowa…I-O-W-A!” 

At the final gun, the Hawkeye players went to the stands, shaking hands and celebrating with fans.  Cap stayed until the last strains of “Alma Mater Iowa” had faded, then headed for the Vine as the crowd spilled out of the stadium.

The Vine was packed and loud when he arrived – big smiles, high fives, experts who never had a doubt – the spoils of victory.  Cap took it all in, and then he heard it: a steak calling his name.  He beat the crowd to the Iowa River Power Company, and secured a table overlooking the river.  As the sun faded over the rooftops, he munched a rib eye and watched Wisconsin and Purdue battle to the death.

TC eased out of the River Power Company parking lot, and worked his way through the post-game traffic to the ped mall.  The place was jammed with fans celebrating the victory, and others who were just thankful to have a reason to celebrate.  He drifted with the crowd, talking about the game and exchanging the latest scores with strangers who were all members of the same club: the fans of college football.  He wrapped up the day with a latte’ at The Java House and headed for the car.

Back in the room, the Game Day Final show blitzed the screen with highlights from across the country.  Wisconsin’s last-minute miracle win, Oklahoma prevailed, Michigan’s second half rally, Utah’s convincing performance, USC looked tough, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Texas, Miami, Georgia, LSU, Boise State, Louisville, Florida State and more: all winners - happy and hopeful tonight.  Autumn showdowns.  And where will it all lead?  Anything could happen.

Cap’s eyelids grew heavy as he relaxed, exhausted and grinning. What a day.  The last thing he remembered before the screen went dark was Trev Alberts putting a helmet sticker on an Iowa Hawkeye helmet for Drew Tate.  Iowa, Iowa…

Iowa University had exceeded Cap’s expectations – by far.  The Iowa River, the Pentacrest, the ped mall, great restaurants, bars and coffee houses, live music, the Athletic Hall of Fame, Kinnick Stadium, Go Hawks!, Herky, On Iowa, and Old Capitol – a great place to spend a college football weekend.  A return visit to Iowa City is definitely in his plans - when the leaves of autumn call him back to Big Ten country.

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