University of Iowa cancels pep rally due to weather concerns

IOWA CITY - Due to impending inclement weather, today's Hawkeye pep rally on Iowa City's pedestrian mall has been canceled.

The Iowa City area is expected to begin to see thunderstorms after 3 p.m. with rain carrying through until early Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities.

According to a city news release, the rally, which was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., is part of a series of rallies and lunches - sponsored by the Johnson County I-Club, City of Iowa City, Iowa City Downtown District, UI Alumni Association, and the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau - created to support the Hawkeyes.

Iowa is set to play the Pittsburgh Panthers Saturday at 7 p.m. in Kinnick Stadium.

Saturday's forecast is for sunny skies and a high near 70 degrees, according to NWS.

The next event in the Iowa City series will be a lunch with Coach Kirk Ferentz on Oct. 9, the day before Iowa's homecoming game against Illinois. The lunch will be held at noon at the UI Athletics Hall of Fame on Melrose Avenue and Mormon Trek Boulevard.