Iowa's Home Away from Home...At Home

Confused? Every week the Hawkeyes play at home in Kinnick Stadium, the team heads to Cedar Rapids to spend the night before the game. Currently the team is housed at the Crowne Plaza downtown but due to the recent flooding of the area, and financial issues outside the control of the hotel staff, we're not sure if this will be our home the entire year.

The football team has had this tradition dating back to the 1990 season. Coach Hayden Fry felt a team is better prepared if they are able to focus and have a good night's rest. Something which may not be possible in a dorm room on a Friday night. When Kirk Ferentz became the head coach, the Friday destination became the Crowne Plaza.

Those who spend the night with the team include the head coach, coordinators, graduate assistants, football operations director, trainers, security and me, the video guy. Along with dinner, snack and breakfast (pre-game meal), the team holds meetings as well as watch the motivational video which is prior to the bus ride to the stadium.

The staff at the Crowne Plaza has done an exceptional job for us in our ten years in Cedar Rapids. Now with management issues, which is out of their control, it would be easy for them to slack off of their committment. However they have rallied around the fact they take care of the football team as they prepare for each home game. Meals continue to be great, chocolate chip cookies are warm and chewy and the distractions are few. Over the years we have dealt with High School Volleyball tournaments, concerts, but nothing may compare to the WWE night prior to our first game of this season. There are many different types who attend those events.