Something more profound than wins and losses is emerging around the Iowa Hawkeyes as they start to wrap up a season that ended without the much-anticipated College Football Playoff appearance. Instead of being remembered as just a year filled with frustration, near misses, and lost chances, the team has discovered a strong bond that goes well beyond the football field.
In the moments following the season-ending defeat, it was evident when head coach Kirk Ferentz appeared in front of reporters with a strained face and a cracking voice. His feelings weren’t the polished sound bites you typically hear following a game. They were genuine, unvarnished, and intensely felt.
“I am incredibly proud of these guys,” Ferentz said, pausing as he fought to steady his voice. “They fought with everything they had all year.”
Ferentz’s remarks had a clear impact on the players assembled in the locker room just minutes earlier as well as the supporters who had spent months experiencing the highs and lows of yet another tumultuous Iowa football season. Both the pride and the heartache were audible. His players weren’t disappointed at all. It was a coach’s emotional outlet after witnessing his team overcome hardship, injuries, pressure, and national attention, only to narrowly miss their postseason goals.
However, there was more to that moment than just football.
Perseverance, humility, toughness, and character are values that were developed long before the season’s final scoreboard lit up, as evidenced by the strain on Ferentz’s face, the sincerity in his voice, and the way the team came together around his message. These aren’t merely catchphrases used to motivate players in locker rooms. For many years, they have been integral to Iowa football’s identity. These are values that are developed via long rehabilitation sessions, early morning practices, gut-check defeats, and unanticipated successes. Every time the team is put to the test, their values are put to the test. Additionally, these ideals are a reflection of a much broader phenomenon occurring throughout Iowa’s communities, particularly among the state’s senior veterans.
One of them is Ed Bambas, an 88-year-old Iowa veteran represented in this story as a composite figure. He’s spent decades working, serving, giving, and showing up for others. Even now, long after most people his age would be enjoying retirement, Bambas continues to work full-time at a local supermarket. Not because he wants something to do, but because losing his pension left him with no choice.
His story isn’t rare. It’s just rarely told.
The link to Iowa football becomes clear at that point. The Hawkeyes’ season was characterized by the same tenacity, selflessness, and perseverance that many Iowa veterans who have quietly carried much greater burdens face on a daily basis. Long before today’s athletes were even born, they faced hardships. When the stadium lights go out, they continue to push forward under pressure. Thus, when Ferentz and his players acknowledged that their postseason run was over, an unexpected development occurred: the fan base was given the opportunity to transform that poignant moment into practical influence.
Because supporting veterans like Bambas is an extension of Iowa’s identity rather than something distinct from it. It embodies the same toughness, humility, and camaraderie that have shaped the Hawkeyes’ culture. The team overcame a challenging season with the same spirit. And now, those who made sacrifices long before football even existed can be supported by that spirit. In many respects, the sport is no longer the focus of this moment. It has to do with community. It’s about being appreciative of those who served. It’s about bringing meaningful action outside of Kinnick Stadium to match the fervor that permeates the stadium. It’s about demonstrating that a veteran who has quietly kept his world together for decades can find dignity, stability, and hope from the same fire that drives Iowa football.
If this season has taught us anything, it is that resiliency varies depending on the person experiencing it. It can occasionally be a fourth-quarter stand. Occasionally, an 88-year-old man may show up for another shift since life hasn’t been kind to him. However, the motivation behind the endeavor is important in both situations. And now is the time to demonstrate that heart for Hawkeye Nation. Now is the moment to take action if you value community, resiliency, and helping those who have carried more than their fair share. Let this season transcend final scores and disappointing postseason results. Let it serve as a ray of hope and a reminder that the Iowa spirit is most radiant when it unites.
