Hawkeye fans ready to cheer for team in Big Ten championship showdown

IOWA CITY — This season for the Iowa Hawkeyes has been full of unprecedented moments — its first undefeated regular season, its first time as Big Ten West Division champions and its most wins in a season.

On Saturday, Iowa fans could watch history unfold again as the Hawkeyes enter Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to take on the Michigan State Spartans for the Big Ten crown and what appears to be the key to the College Football Playoffs.

With such a historic season, the atmosphere around Iowa City is electric.

'There's just kind of this excitement in the air and you walk around town and you see people excited about being a Hawkeye. It really is a great time to be at the University of Iowa because everyone will be able to say they were a part of the first time the Hawkeyes went 12-0 and the first time we were in the Big Ten Championship,' said Richard Pfarrer, resident education coordinator for Petersen Residence Hall. 'There's always something special about the first time it happens.'

365 MILES FROM IOWA CITY TO INDIANAPOLIS

Having grown up less than 40 minutes east of Kinnick Stadium in Durant, Autumn Vorwarld has been cheering on the Hawkeyes her entire life and started attending home games about 10 years ago. In the last four years, Vorwald, who now lives in Davenport, said she's missed only about one home game a season — this year she missed the Nov. 21 game, when about 8 eight inches of snow fell.

It was in that game, with Iowa's 40-20 win over Purdue, that the Hawks clinched their spot at the Big Ten Championship game. But Vorwald's plans to go to Indianapolis to cheer on the team had been put in motion three games earlier when Iowa beat Maryland 31-15.

'If they keep going, we're going to Indianapolis,' Vorwald recalled her friend saying that day.

So the decision was made and the timing couldn't be more perfect, with Vorwald's 33rd birthday this Sunday.

'I can't think of a better birthday celebration than watching the Hawkeyes win the Big Ten Championship,' she said.

It's pretty safe to say she'll be in good company.

'There's just going to be so much excitement, Iowa travels very well,' she said. 'It's going to be like Iowa City in Indianapolis.'

A PARTY TO REMEMBER

While traveling fans hope to add some black and gold to the Indianapolis population Saturday, UI officials are provided activities back home for Iowa Citians who can't make the trip.

Friday, students, faculty, staff and the public attended a special pep rally.

The rally was held at Black's Gold Grill in Petersen Residence Hall, 304 Grand Ave., the university's newest residence hall, which opened earlier this year.

Pfarrer said the event began as a promotional event for the new residence hall, but soon morphed into a rally thanks to Iowa's undefeated regular season.

'We started with a small idea and it's kind of grown,' he said.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, Petersen's multipurpose room will be host to a viewing party.

With seating for about 250 people, Pfarrer said he is hoping for a packed house.

'We're hoping for standing room only,' he said.

HAWK APPAREL SALES STAY STRONG

At Coralville's Black and Gold Shop, 1000 25th Ave., general manager JJ Corkhill said that despite the considerable hype over this season, apparel sales have been only slightly higher than last season, when Iowa went 7-6.

But business has been growing, he said, adding that he typically doesn't have to add staffing at times like this, but said everyone just works a little harder.

'We're just a little bit busier than normal, As the season goes on, we've been getting a little busier and busier as people get more excited,' he said.

Corkhill attributed that to the Iowa fans, who always seem to support their team, regardless of wins or losses.

'It's a great fan base, I've been around multiple fan bases in my life and these are the most rabid and loyal fans I've ever seen,' he said.