Hawkeye Tattoos: You Know You Want One

The Iowa Hawkeye Tattoo. Definitely a badge of honor and pride. Some are on arms. Some are on the backs of legs, shoulders and ankles. Some are in places I don't really want to know about. Some are on some of the most unsuspecting people. But nonetheless, they are everywhere.

I wanted to know why people choose to brand the logo of the Hawks on their bodies forever.

Do you have one? Why do you have one?

Here is what I found:

The first is from @pfac51(Twitter):

“I got mine back on November 16, 1996 the day of the Iowa/Wisconsin game. I used the 1982 Rose Bowl pin that my mom got at the 28-0 Huskie beat down as my mark. It's on my right arm. If I wanted a tattoo it had to be one that I could live with forever. Hawkeyes forever.”

Pfac51's 1982 Rose Bowl Pin Tattoo

The next is from Ethan Palmer(Facebook):

“Got mine the weekend of the Insight Bowl, 2010 in Arizona. Always been an anti-tattoo guy but now I see what the hubbub is about. I love it. On my left calf.”

Ethan Palmer's Calf Tattoo

Next is from OskyHawkeye(Twitter):

“There really isn't much of a story. Just wanted a tattoo that showed this is the Hawkeye State. Wanted Herky to look a little more B.A. by having him bust out of the state.

OskyHawkeye

This is from @Big_D_Jamz(Twitter):

“I have a Hawk Tat on my left shoulder. It's a block I with a tiger hawk coming out of the middle of the ” I “. The story behind it was for the longest time I wanted an Iowa Tat being such a huge fan and being a season ticket holder now for the past 10 seasons. Well when I got my divorce 6 years ago I decided that it was finally time, and I choose to cover the Tat that I got for my ex wife and cover it up with my Hawkeye Tat.”

“So nothing really groundbreaking why I got it but nonetheless it helps cover up some of the worst times in my life with something that reminds me of some of the happiest times in my life, haha!”

Duane's Shoulder Tattoo

5th is @bradez11(Twitter):

“The best reason to describe why I got a Tiger Hawk tattoo would be pride. Pride for the Hawkeyes, pride for the state of Iowa and pride for being an alum of the University of Iowa. I have one other tattoo that I got while I was in college and had decided in 2007 that I wanted to get another. I feel strongly that if someone is going to get a tattoo, they should get it of something they really love and want to see for the rest of their life. That couldn't be more accurate of the Tiger Hawk. I grew up 15 minutes away from Iowa City and have been going to Iowa football games since i was about 10 years old with my parent's season tickets. Despite living in Chicago, I currently have season tickets as well, although I still sit with my father every chance I get. It's that sense of pride that really made the Tiger Hawk the only tattoo that I would get.”

Jeremy's Foot Tattoo

Last but certainly not least: Bret Bielema!!

Perhaps my favorite and the most popular Iowa Hawkeye Tattoo belongs to the ankle of Wisconsin Head Coach: Bret Bielema. Bielema got his when he was a player for the Hawkeyes back in the 1980's. Unfortunately he was unavailable for comment.

Bret BielemaGreat to see that Hawkeye Pride is out there everywhere. Thank you to everyone who sent me pictures of there tattoos.