‘Just how much I love him’ Aaron Graves welcomes first son and returns for Iowa football’s season finale at Nebraska

LINCOLN — Aaron Graves’ life changed at 3:07 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

The Hawkeyes’ defensive lineman was in the hospital 301 miles away from Memorial Stadium. His wife, Aubrey, had been in labor since Wednesday, and they welcomed their first son on Thanksgiving Day.

Grayson Graves, a healthy boy born at six pounds and five ounces.

“The last 24 hours are probably the craziest of my life, for sure,” Graves said. “Just like the emotions of all that in the 24-hour time, this man is is just ridiculous.”

Graves made it to Lincoln by 10 p.m. Thursday night after a donor chartered a flight out of Iowa City to get him to the game in time.

The Hawkeyes beat Nebraska for the third consecutive time, in a dominant 40-16 win. It was Graves’ final regular season game as a Hawkeye, and one his family knew he couldn’t miss.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz told the team Graves’ news Thursday night, and Graves made it clear he was still on a mission, despite the emotional rollercoaster he’d been experiencing.

“Before the first drive started, I was like, ‘Guys, I did not leave my baby in the hospital to lose this game,’” Graves said with a slight chuckle. “So we better freaking come out firing on all cylinders.”

The Graves family announced they were expecting Grayson back in July, sharing the news over an Instagram post (but the couple actually found out on Easter Sunday). They were anticipating Grayson being born closer to a Hawkeye bowl game, or when Graves is in Las Vegas as a finalist for the William V. Campbell trophy ceremony on Dec. 10.

“Fortunately, everything just played out perfectly,” Ferentz said. “And both sets of parents were there. So I think everybody's good. I know where he's going when we get back home.”

Graves admitted he was thinking about his son throughout the game. Though he didn’t let it show on the field, the graduate celebrated the moment after the game felt the emotions of the last two days sink in more.

“It’s just how much I love him,” Graves said, overcome with emotion.

Graves is one of three Hawkeyes that got married during the offseason, too. He said Ferentz and the coaching staff checked in on how he and Aubrey were doing leading up to Grayson’s birth, and their support helped him feel comfortable to play in his season finale.

Graves’ teammates added that little spark, as well. The Hawkeyes all had a party in the locker room after beating Nebraska, and the team finally got to celebrate Graves becoming a dad.

“Incredible life moment, I’m incredibly grateful,” Graves said of Ferentz’s support. “People ask me all the time, ‘why did you choose Iowa so young?’ That's why. I get to play for an awesome man.”

Grayson, after turning just 24 hours old by then, was given his first game ball in the Hawkeye locker room, along with his dad.

“We were kind of partying up in the locker room there for for him,” Hawkeye co-captain Mark Gronowski said. “Not even just for the win, but for him being a new dad. ... He has so much passion for this game, this team, these fans, and it was really cool to see him make it out for a final regular season game.”

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