Iowa football is known for having one of the most heart-warming traditions in college football.
At the end of the first quarter, everyone in Kinnick Stadium — from Hawkeyes players, coaches and fans to opposing teams — all turn to face the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children's Hospital and wave at its patients, who can see the game through their windows. It's called "the Hawkeye Wave."
On Friday, Oct. 2, Ohio State coach Ryan Day made a small, but impactful, addition to that tradition, sending a letter to each of the patients at the hospital ahead of the Buckeyes' game vs. Iowa.
Here's the letter:
Ryan Day and the Ohio State football program sent a letter to every patient at the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children's Hospital this week. pic.twitter.com/gRpPGhmHv5
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 3, 2026
"We know you are facing challenges that take real strength," the letter reads, in part. "You do not have to take on everything at once. Focus on the current step, the current day and the people who are there to support you."
Ohio State ultimately beat the hometown Hawkeyes 31-14 on the strength of Heisman front-runner Jeremiah Smith, who caught 11 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns.
Speaking after the game, Day said he wanted the children to know there were people out there supporting them.
“This is one of the great traditions in all of all of college football. And as a parent, you know, not just for the patients, but even for the parents,” Day said in his postgame news conference. “These patients are fighting for their life, just little kids. And then you think about the parents having to go through that. They’re just a lot. So it’s the least we can do is just let them know that, you know, there’s a lot of people pulling for them and supporting them.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryan Day added a touching chapter to college football's best tradition
