Mindy and Missy had an awesome day at Kinnick Stadium on June 8, 2013! It was the third annual Iowa Ladies Football Academy- where all the Hawk ladies get to experience a day in the life of an Iowa Football Player!!!! This was every Hawk fan's dream and it was all thanks to our hubbies! What a great Mother's Day gift!
The Ladies Football Academy is a fundraiser for the U of I Children's Hospital! Over $230,000 was raised this year! Thank you to all of our sponsors who generously donated on our behalf!
OUTDOOR PRACTICE FIELD
INDOOR PRACTICE FACILITY
The day started at the indoor practice facility!
WEIGHT FACILITIES
We then went to the weight room and got our first glimpse at some of the Hawkeyes in action pumping some iron... and being swarmed by the ladies!
Here we are with THE Mark Weisman- the only hope for the running back core!!!! Miss was super stoked about meeting him!
The girls with Anthony Hitchens- Hawkeye Linebacker.
With B.J. Lowery (#19 Defensive Back) and Riley McCarron (#83 Wide Receiver)
Check out the size of these guys- Christian Kirksey (#20) and Brandan Scherff (# 68)!
Coach Doyle teaching us a thing or two about lifting and Brandan Scherff demonstrating!
THE GAME DAY EXPERIENCE
Every good Hawk fan knows the ritual of the Hawks arriving at the South endzone of Kinnick on game day- The Hawk Walk. But before the Hawks arrive, they are getting their game on during the bus ride! When they arrive at Kinnick, they walk through the crowd of screaming fans to reach the statue of Nile Kinnick, the stadium's namesake. When they pass by the statue, all players touch Kinnick's helmet!
Our bus tour guide- Casey Kreiter- the long snapper!
Getting our game faces on during the bus ride! Don't we look tough?
The adoring fans awaiting us for our Hawk Walk! They are so excited to see us!
Touching Kinnick's helmet.
LOCKER ROOM- In the Hawkeye locker room... with Nico Law (#21)!
AT KINNICK FOR FIELD GAMES
Meeting everyone's favorite mascot- Herkey!
Miss and Min performance testing. Based on their results, we can rest assured that there were no performance enhancing drugs involved.
Going deep for the pass! Touchdown!!!
Mindy is a natural point- after kicker! She drilled one down the middle of the uprights! Here she is, counting her steps.
Look at that form as Mindy scores the extra point to win the game!!!
Missy missed the extra point and the punt was awful! Special teams is not in the cards for Miss.
Look at that follow through as QB.
Mindy working on her stance and speed work with the Offensive Line!
Hanging with the Tight Ends, Ray Hamilton (#82) and #87 Wil Rathjen! We are pretty sure the TE coach was trying to recruit us.
By far Missy's favorite part was tackling! What QB wouldn't be afraid of this power house?
GEARING UP
THE SWARM!
One of the many traditions started by Hayden Frye is the Swarm. During the Swarm, the players run out holding hands... a symbol of team unity! With the Hawkeye football players leading the way, we got to come running out onto the field to ACDC's Back in Black after getting pumped up in the tunnel. Check out this wild footage of the lead up and the actual Swarm onto the field!
MEETING COACH FERENTZ
Coach wanted to talk to us about being walk ons for this season... he gave us every indication that we could have a scholarship position if we continued to work hard! Mindy has a bright future as a kicker and Miss is hoping for a defensive line position.
Coach was so excited about our potential, that he decided he wanted to go home with Mindy!
The end of a great day...
.... and the beginning of recovery!
