FanPost

"...beat Michigan for me"

Laugh and cry. This morning, I did a little bit of both.

This morning, I found out I lost my brother. My brother in arms. He was killed in an auto accident out in H-Base, Hawaii sometime late last night/early this morning.5318456591_a33a093528_medium



Tommy was not an Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He could've cared less how much Ferentz makes, how horrible the offensive playcalling is, or how gassed the defense always seems to be in the 4th quarter of games. He was always more of a baseball guy, didn't ever really move his pulse all that much when fall came around and college football was in bloom.

But he said something to me last week following the disappointing loss to Purdue, something that I probably won't forget for some time now, regardless of the outcome of Saturday's game...

"Sure would be nice if you guys beat Michigan for me"

I was almost stunned at such a comment at the time, beings that I didn't think he'd care at all about a team that's likely to get slaughtered at the hands of Wolverine seniors on senior day, that haven't beaten Iowa in their first 3 years. I was puzzled, so as an inquiring mind, I asked. He simply laughed and said, "yeah man, I hate those guys. They just have this sense of entitlement to them, that winged helmet, as if they've earned it before they step foot on the field. Just sucking up all the tradition before them."

He was a bit of betting man, so maybe that's what he was referring to. Maybe he was planning on taking the Hawks and the difference. Who knows. Fun fact about me, regardless of the usual no-religion mandate that I support here on The Pants, but I believe in God, but no so much in religion. So I can't tell you for sure if I'm barking up the wrong tree or not, but I feel like maybe it was fate that those words came out of his mouth. Maybe it was just kinda his last words to me that he knew would get a rise out of me.

I laughed, agreed, and hung up shortly there after. That was Saturday evening (eastern time), following the embarrassing loss wearing special military-themed uniforms. That was the last time I spoke to him.

This morning and today is absolutely rough, but, it sure would be nice if we beat Michigan for him.

Much love always and forever to the new Hawk fan in the sky. Go Hawks.

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