JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
1. After the game, on the field...in the mass of people, I heard a boy yelling 'Dad! Dad! running to his father. Then he jumped into his father's arms, smiling, saying 'We won! We Won' and father and son sharing an awesome embrace...it was one of Chris Doyle's sons, with dad supplying the bear hug. THAT is what life is about.
2. Kirk Ferentz, getting ready to leave the field after hoisting the trophy and thanking the fans...spots a man in a wheel chair. He goes over and gives an exuberant hug...I wondered who the man in the chair was, so I took a closer look...it was Norm Parker. I got closer, and could tell both men were emotional...and it was the sort of embrace that a father gives to son, similar to what I saw with the Doyle's...but different...I dont want to make too much of it, but it seemed like each man was caught up in a singular emotion of not knowing how many more times they will be able to go down this path together...after a minute, Ferentz left...and a minute later, Parker was left by himself against the rest of the able bodied people on the field...tears streaming down his face...powerful stuff folks...powerful stuff. I locked eyes with him and congratulated him. He held out his hand, I shook it and in a barely audible voice, he said 'Thank you'...not a passive 'thanks'...it was just a heavy moment on the field....and I left him and watched him just look around and soak it all in.
I have been blessed to witness a lot of amazing Hawkeye moments...these will be two of my all time favorites that will never make a highlight reel on a DVR, but will be things I remember until I am gone.
2. Kirk Ferentz, getting ready to leave the field after hoisting the trophy and thanking the fans...spots a man in a wheel chair. He goes over and gives an exuberant hug...I wondered who the man in the chair was, so I took a closer look...it was Norm Parker. I got closer, and could tell both men were emotional...and it was the sort of embrace that a father gives to son, similar to what I saw with the Doyle's...but different...I dont want to make too much of it, but it seemed like each man was caught up in a singular emotion of not knowing how many more times they will be able to go down this path together...after a minute, Ferentz left...and a minute later, Parker was left by himself against the rest of the able bodied people on the field...tears streaming down his face...powerful stuff folks...powerful stuff. I locked eyes with him and congratulated him. He held out his hand, I shook it and in a barely audible voice, he said 'Thank you'...not a passive 'thanks'...it was just a heavy moment on the field....and I left him and watched him just look around and soak it all in.
I have been blessed to witness a lot of amazing Hawkeye moments...these will be two of my all time favorites that will never make a highlight reel on a DVR, but will be things I remember until I am gone.
Good stuff. My 8 year old stayed up for all of it and we were both going nuts in the living room on the Coker and Hyde runs. Stanzi and Clayborn didn't have the best of games but they deserve to end their careers with a W.
