I Love it, I Love it, I Love IT!

Those are the famous words of Jim Zabel, the former legendary broadcaster of the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was most definately shouting them yesterday on his sports call-in show on WHO after the Hawkeyes defeated Wisconsin 30-7 and (with a Michigan loss) won a share of the Big Ten title! So I join Zabel in echoing his famous words because the Hawkeyes are champions two out of the past three years and did it with smoke and mirrors (and no running game) this year!

The question I have for "Z" and other Hawkeye fans is what is the "it" that we love so much? Obviously, "it" has to be the outcome of the game and the season, but there has to be something more. There has to be a reason that I follow this team so much, that my weekend moods are determined by the outcome of the games. So here are the "its" I love so much about the Hawkeyes...

I love Matt Roth and his intensity and fire. I love Jonathon Babineaux and how he quietly goes about his business. I love David Bradley (the often criticized punter) for his heart- he lost both of his parents to sickness during his senior year of high school and Iowa has become his "family." I love Kyle Schlicher for making me forget (kinda) about Nate Kaeding. I love Chad Greenway and Abdul Hodge- Iowa's odd couple. I love Tyler Luebke for his hardwork, high school swimmer who walked on at Iowa to a Big Ten starter. I love Drew Tate and his excitement and passion. I love Sam Brownlee, the walk on fifth string running back who was forced to start because of injury, for his guts. I love Clinton Solomon for his dedication to the team- he ran into academic trouble and worked hard at Iowa Central CC in order to come back. I love Ed Hinkel for playing above his talent level week after week and amazing me with some of his grabs. I love Pete McMahon, the quiet, gentle giant of the offensive line. I love Norm Parker, the defense coordinator who lost his son this past summer and also had a toe amputated after an accident and couldn't be on the sidelines. I love Ken O'Keefe for not listening to fans who complain about his playcalling. I love Kirk Ferentz for being the kind of man I would like to be. I love Kinnick Stadium and the 18 game home winning streak. I love all my fellow fans for their loyalty. I love a team winning when it isn't "supposed" to, through injuries and demoralizing losses. Most importantly, I love seeing the Big Ten Trophy being hoisted to the throngs of fans celebrating!!! Way to Go Hawks!!!