Outback Bowl Football 2017…A “Kinnick South” Reunion

If you only look at the Hawkeye’s score in the Outback Bowl you might expect we were sorry we made the four hour drive from Fort Lauderdale to Tampa…

That score? The Gators ate us alive! 30-3. (I guess that makes us GATOR BAIT after all!)

But losing the football game is really a small part of any bowl game experience for Hawkeye fans. That’s one reason why Iowa is invited to many of the higher ranking bowl games…because win our lose…the loyal Iowa fans keep flocking to bowl games regardless of the outcome. (Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is debated on regular basis by die-hard Hawk fans.)

The Outback Bowl was originally known as the Hall of Fame Bowl, and it’s been held in Tampa for the past 27 years. And with Tampa temps in the mid-80’s on game day, the Iowa fans who had traveled from the frigid Heartland felt as if they had died and gone to heaven! 

From the crystal clear, bright blue skies…and the sounds of Jimmy Buffett music drifting through the crowds…it was a beautiful day.

The Howard Johnson Hotel on Mabry is within walking distance of Raymond James Stadium. (Thanks Peepaw! Good call!) And as we gathered our belongings to head to the game, I picked up a large scarf to take along. Peepaw gave me one of those “looks”. You know the ones. The “are you CRAZY” looks…since the day was hot and rather muggy. But when we arrived at the stadium he quickly clammed up when I spread the large scarf on the ground in the shade of a tree. There was plenty of room for BOTH of us to sit in the shade and sip an ice-cold beer. (I refrained from gloating.) We enjoyed the view and the shade for quite some time…just people-watching and soaking up the game day atmosphere at the PreGame Bowl Bash which included the Iowa Marching Band.

Iowa fans tailgate in any weather, so we finally headed out into the heat and the bright sunshine to wander through the throngs of Iowa fans…and a few Gators too. We soon found some familiar faces. Our friend Marty,his daughter Makenzie, and the rest of their bowl game crowd. 

Of course I had to check out their tailgate spread. And in true Hawkeye fashion there was plenty of EVERYTHING on that table!

What’s a tropical tailgate without hot dogs?

And grilled burgers galore…

We felt as if we were right at home near Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City since we were surrounded by so many Iowa fans. (Is that Elvis?)

Before long it was time to head into the stadium. And Peepaw earned a gold star for our seat location at this game…except for one small matter.

He picked seats in a spot that was in the shade within fifteen minutes of the start of the game! Gold star for sure!

The only drawback? Let me explain.

I used to be five feet tall…but now I stand a whopping four feet eleven inches. And that’s why I opt to watch most games (except Hawkeye bowl appearances) in front of a TV…instead of in the stands.

Yes…Dear Readers…THIS was MY view for nearly the entire game! Between the three Gators who stood up, and the Gator senior citizens who were engaging in a serious “Public Display Of Affection”…there was plenty to see, and PLENTY NOT TO SEE during that Outback Bowl game!

But just as I was about to slip into a less than charitable state of mind…I heard a familiar voice. And I knew this trip to the stadium was worth any amount of aggravation. 

My friend Patrice Kirksey was IN THE HOUSE!

It was wonderful to see her again. And I was so grateful she took the time to track me down in that huge stadium.

So whenever anyone starts to feel sorry for our dear old Hawkeyes and their string of bowl defeats…including this Outback Bowl game…just remember. There is MUCH more to a football game than FOOTBALL…And I’ll share more about our friendship reunion later.

It turned out to be a great game…in spite of the view…and the score!