Colorado State University Athletics
Bigger Than The Game
9/22/2021 12:08:00 PM | Football
Rams honored to have chance to participate in Iowa Wave
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – These are the type of moments players remember forever, and Saturday, Colorado State's football program has two in store.
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First, the Rams have a chance to play the No. 5 football team in the country, Iowa, at their home stadium which seats close to 70,000 fans. These games don't happen often, as this will represent just the seventh time in program history the football team has taken on a team ranked in the top five of the Associated Press poll.
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"You want to go against the best competition you can," running back A'Jon Vivens said. "You want to see if you stack up, and this team comes out and fights and competes every week, too. We want to go against the best teams and show we belong."
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They get that chance, as well as the opportunity to see in person one of the newest traditions which make college football special, but one which has touched so many in a short period of time.
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The Iowa Wave.
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Sitting behind Kinnick Stadium is the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, and when the facility was completed in 2017, it provided a view to the field of play for the children and their families undergoing treatment. The top floor is called the Press Box, and on game days, patients and family members can sit and watch the game from up above.
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The children put signs in the windows to support their Hawkeye favorites, and the magic of it all came together rather organically.
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On social media, a fan suggested the team should think of a way to do something to cheer up the team. At the end of the first quarter of the first home game of 2017, the announcer asked the fans in a packed stadium to turn around and wave to the children in the window.
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The Wave was born, and it has become a staple at every home game at the conclusion of the first quarter. For night games, fans turn on their cell phone lights to illuminate the gesture.
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When video started appearing on television and social media, it touched people nationwide.
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"It's going to be a great thing to experience in person. Even when I watched it on TV, it brought chills to me," Vivens said. "It was something I thought was pretty amazing, honestly. I'm glad we're going to get this experience and a chance to do it."
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What started as an Iowa activity as spread to the opposing bench and on-field officials, as they've started to take part in the moment, too. To be there in person and wave is something some Colorado State players are proud to be an active member of on Saturday.
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"I think it's real nice they do that for those kids. That's something that's a lot bigger than football," tight end Cam Butler said. "I'm going to wave. I'm definitely going to wave."
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Naturally, Colorado State's players and coaching staff are dutifully focused on preparing for an extreme measuring stick, and the first part of the week has been geared only toward the necessary work. But head coach Steve Addazio is not oblivious to what will take place at the end of the first quarter, and by the end of the week, he said he will take the time to address the team about the Iowa Wave.
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And he expects them to be participants, not just spectators.
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"I just think it's important because it's a give-back. It's an opportunity to say to people who are in struggles in their life that we care and we're here for you and we want to make a difference," he said. "To lift somebody up. That's what it's all about, and I believe in that. To be able to wave up there to those kids in that hospital who are fighting all kinds of different issues, to let them know that we're thinking of you, means the world. Without that, why are you even doing what you're doing?"
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Which is the way defensive lineman Manny Jones was viewing it already.
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The primary goal of the day will be to beat Iowa. That's it. But even in the middle of the game, he said some things are more important, especially a kind gesture for children who are in need of all the support they can get. The game will be a struggle for the Rams, but noting in comparison to the treatments and procedures these young patients face.
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"I've seen it on TV, but I feel like being there is a whole different experience," Jones said. "You really can't explain it with words. I like they found a unique way to do it and it's interactive with the program. It's not about Iowa. I'm going to wave. I'm doing it."
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First, the Rams have a chance to play the No. 5 football team in the country, Iowa, at their home stadium which seats close to 70,000 fans. These games don't happen often, as this will represent just the seventh time in program history the football team has taken on a team ranked in the top five of the Associated Press poll.
Â
"You want to go against the best competition you can," running back A'Jon Vivens said. "You want to see if you stack up, and this team comes out and fights and competes every week, too. We want to go against the best teams and show we belong."
Â
They get that chance, as well as the opportunity to see in person one of the newest traditions which make college football special, but one which has touched so many in a short period of time.
Â
The Iowa Wave.
Â
Sitting behind Kinnick Stadium is the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, and when the facility was completed in 2017, it provided a view to the field of play for the children and their families undergoing treatment. The top floor is called the Press Box, and on game days, patients and family members can sit and watch the game from up above.
Â
The children put signs in the windows to support their Hawkeye favorites, and the magic of it all came together rather organically.
Â
On social media, a fan suggested the team should think of a way to do something to cheer up the team. At the end of the first quarter of the first home game of 2017, the announcer asked the fans in a packed stadium to turn around and wave to the children in the window.
Â
The Wave was born, and it has become a staple at every home game at the conclusion of the first quarter. For night games, fans turn on their cell phone lights to illuminate the gesture.
Â
When video started appearing on television and social media, it touched people nationwide.
Â
"It's going to be a great thing to experience in person. Even when I watched it on TV, it brought chills to me," Vivens said. "It was something I thought was pretty amazing, honestly. I'm glad we're going to get this experience and a chance to do it."
Â
What started as an Iowa activity as spread to the opposing bench and on-field officials, as they've started to take part in the moment, too. To be there in person and wave is something some Colorado State players are proud to be an active member of on Saturday.
Â
"I think it's real nice they do that for those kids. That's something that's a lot bigger than football," tight end Cam Butler said. "I'm going to wave. I'm definitely going to wave."
Â
Naturally, Colorado State's players and coaching staff are dutifully focused on preparing for an extreme measuring stick, and the first part of the week has been geared only toward the necessary work. But head coach Steve Addazio is not oblivious to what will take place at the end of the first quarter, and by the end of the week, he said he will take the time to address the team about the Iowa Wave.
Â
And he expects them to be participants, not just spectators.
Â
"I just think it's important because it's a give-back. It's an opportunity to say to people who are in struggles in their life that we care and we're here for you and we want to make a difference," he said. "To lift somebody up. That's what it's all about, and I believe in that. To be able to wave up there to those kids in that hospital who are fighting all kinds of different issues, to let them know that we're thinking of you, means the world. Without that, why are you even doing what you're doing?"
Â
Which is the way defensive lineman Manny Jones was viewing it already.
Â
The primary goal of the day will be to beat Iowa. That's it. But even in the middle of the game, he said some things are more important, especially a kind gesture for children who are in need of all the support they can get. The game will be a struggle for the Rams, but noting in comparison to the treatments and procedures these young patients face.
Â
"I've seen it on TV, but I feel like being there is a whole different experience," Jones said. "You really can't explain it with words. I like they found a unique way to do it and it's interactive with the program. It's not about Iowa. I'm going to wave. I'm doing it."
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Players Mentioned
Thursday, May 14
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28