In April, it was announced that the University of Iowa would be waving goodbye to Pat Green's song "Wave on Wave," which was used as the "Hawkeye Wave" tradition since 2017. Taking its place would be a new song to be determined by fan-vote, which would subsequently be narrowed down by a bracket-style competition where the replacement anthem would be selected.

Now, the University of Iowa has called an audible on those plans. On Wednesday, the college announced that patients at UI Stead Family Children's Hospital will be the ones to pick the songs that prompt the Hawkeye Wave.

The Hawkeye Wave is when fans at Kinnick Stadium wave to patients at the hospital, adjacent to the stadium. Patients are often seen waving back, in a heartwarming display of unity.

So, a tradition that began with a theme song has now evolved into having its own soundtrack — fittingly decided by the ones whom it's ultimately all about.

Photo Credit: Matthew Holst, Getty Images
Photo Credit: Matthew Holst, Getty Images
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This change-in-plans was cosigned by fans, many of whom reached out to the University of Iowa and suggested letting UI Stead Family patients be the ones to choose the songs they want played during football games.

Here's how it'll work: ahead of every Iowa home-game, the hospital will select a "Kid Captain." He or she will be honored at the game and will help select a song to accompany the Hawkeye Wave for that day's game.

The Hawkeye Wave commences at the end of the first quarter. Fans' attention turns away from the field and onto their next door neighbors in UI Stead Family Children's Hospital. In unison, fans wave to the pediatric patients and their families, who are watching the game. The entire display is an inspiring...wave of hope, you could say!

Hawkeye fans proved not only engaged but immensely generous in helping select the new Wave song. I believe it's only a matter of time before one of the kids gets nostalgic and selects Pat Green's biggest hit for nostalgia's sake.

Behind the Scenes with the Iowa Hawkeyes-Iowa's Ladies Football Academy 2022

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be behind the scenes with the Iowa Hawkeyes? When you're part of the Ladies Football academy you get the full experience of what it's like to be on the field in Kinnick Stadium with Kirk Ferentz, coaches and the Iowa Hawkeye football players.
Take a look inside the locker rooms and other places regular people can't normally see.

Here's a bit of history.
The Ladies Football Academy has been a University of Iowa football tradition for over a decade. This year's event was the last; held on June 11, 2022. 665 women participated in the day-long event raising funds for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Over $500,000 was raised this year alone.

Since the tradition began in 2010 (the academy was canceled two years during the pandemic) the program has raised nearly $3 million.

The ladies must raise at least $500 to participate in the football camp, but in exchange, they can meet the Iowa Hawkeye football players, coaches, and trainers, get autographs, tour the football facilities and run drills with the players. It's definitely a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experience.

Let's take a look behind the scenes in this year's final Ladies Football Academy.

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