Luka Garza feted by Iowa fans at Kinnick

IOWA CITY — The Iowa football team stopped what it was doing in Kinnick Stadium for a few minutes Saturday morning to listen to a basketball player.

A recognition and farewell to Iowa’s Luka Garza was held on the Kinnick field 10 minutes before the final football practice of the spring.

Garza spoke to the several thousand fans present, thanking all sorts of relatives, teammates and coaches.

“I can remember texting Coach (Fran McCaffery) after my sophomore season, wishing him a happy birthday,” Garza said. “He responded and told me he thought I was going to be the Big Ten Player of the Year the next year.”

Garza was, and again as a senior in the 2020-21 season when that almost became a footnote after he won every major national Player of the Year award.

Included was the Naismith Trophy, which was presented to him Saturday by a representative from the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

“I love this place and always will,” said Garza. “I can’t even explain how much pride this brings me to bring this award back to Iowa City. It’s been an honor to represent the University of Iowa for four incredible years.”

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