Iowa Fun Facts

2021 Vintage Iowa Hawkeyes Football Calendar This year's calendars feature Fun Facts, one per month, located at the bottom of the grid page January Herky The Hawk is more than just the school mascot. During the Korean War, he became the insignia of the 124th Fighting Squadron. Herky was named after the Greek God Hercules and first appeared at a sporting event in 1959. February The Hawkeyes wrestling team is a collegiate powerhouse, having captured 33 Big Ten titles and 23 national championships dating back to 1958. Their most famous coach was former Olympic Gold Medalist Dan Gable. His teams compiled a record of 355-21-5, including 17 national championships and 21 straight Big 10 titles. March One of the most beloved American sports heroes played for the Hawkeyes - 1939 Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnik. Kinnick Stadium is the only college football stadium named after a Heisman Trophy winner. April The University of Iowa champions diversity. In 1855, UI became the first university in the country to admit women on an equal basis with men. In 1879, UI was the first to grant a law degree to an African American. In 1970, IU became the first state university to recognize the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied Union. May Created in 1994, the Iowa Dance Marathon is one of the largest student fundraising groups in the U.S. and has raised a total of $27,508,627.59 for pediatric cancer research so far. June Iowa City, Iowa, was ranked as the #1 Best College Town in the USA, according to the popular website REVIEWS.org. July The University of Iowa boasts 14 former football players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and five who were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Alex Karras, Paul Krause, John Niland, Duke Slater, Andre Tippett, and the first African American to play for the New York Giants, Emlen Tunnell. August The Iowa Hawkeyes have won five national championships since they began play in 1889, including back-to-back titles in 1921 and 1922. The other three championships came in 1956, 1958, and 1960. September The “Iowa Wave” began in 2017 when football fans in Kinnick Stadium turned toward the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, which has a viewing area overlooking the stadium, and waved to the children watching the game. The move has grown so popular that both home and visiting teams, and their coaches, continue to wave to the children during each game. October Iowa’s visitors locker room is famously painted all pink. It is one of the best bits of trolling in college football and dates back to 1979. Opposing teams DO NOT approve. November During Hayden Fry’s time as head coach at Iowa (1979-1998), he introduced many traditions, including “The Swarm.” Led by school mascot Herky the Hawk, the football team jogs slowly onto the field through the tunnel. With the captains in front, the entire team locks hands as a symbol of strength, unity and support for each other. December Iowa's main football rivalry is the in-state Iowa State Cyclones. The teams first squared off in 1894, and since 1977 have met annually for the right to raise the Cy-Hawk Trophy (named after the team mascots Cy the Cardinal and Herky the Hawk). Iowa leads the all-time series with a record of 45-22..

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