This Saturday, I had the most fun at a football game I think I have ever had in my life. Growing up in a family of Iowa Hawkeye fans, going to games at Kinnick Stadium was a pretty special, and often a rare occurrence. Sometimes we’d even do a fun thing called “tailgating” in one of my parent’s friend’s RVs or in the back of someone’s car in a parking lot. However none of these experiences prepared me for what game day is like as a student.

Saturday’s game started up at 6:30, however, the tailgating festivities always begin bright and early. Tailgates are great places to get hyped for the game and fill up on as much free food as possible before entering the stadium. I met up with some of my closest friends from high school at a tailgate and we were all wearing glitter!

We knew that the stands would fill up more quickly than last week’s game, so we left tailgating early to arrive one hour before kickoff. Not without some touch-ups on lipstick, though.

There really isn’t a bad seat in the house. Next time, though, I think I’m going to make it my goal to get even closer to the field. The whole student section is first-come-first-served so why not be as close as possible!? However as long as you’ve got good company (and the Hawks are winning) the game will be fun no matter what.

Screaming at the top of my lungs, cheesing until my face hurt for the Smile-Cam, and dancing to any music that was played made for a great time with my friends. Then, as the sun descended, the cell phone flashlights rose. Needless to say, Kinnick was pretty lit.

By the time the game was over (and won) I was starving, exhausted, and ready to go to bed. I don’t recommend buying any food at the game because, in my opinion, it’s far too overpriced for the budget of a college student. And since you can’t bring in your own water bottles, I make sure to have enough money for that when I go because its always important to stay hydrated.

Being a Hawkeye fan is amazing, but being a Hawkeye fan in the student section is even better. We’re only into the second game of the season and I can’t wait for more!