Iowa vs. Iowa State University

Go State! Go State!  The biggest rivalry football game in the Midwest was this weekend…Iowa vs. Iowa State University.  Parker and I had been trying to figure out a weekend to get back to Iowa so that I could meet his mom; this was the perfect chance.  Parker’s brother and fiancé also joined in the festivities.  We spent the morning together doing Bible study at Parker's favorite coffee house.

After work on Friday, and some delicious pizza at Punch, the four of us drove down several hours to the boys’ hometown, just outside of Des Moines.   

It was my first time ever in Iowa.  My first impression is that it stunk…literally.  There were tons of hog farms that we passed.   

Iowa: Fields of Opportunities

My favorite part was when the boys started singing together in the car.  They both have amazing voices.  Leave it to my dear boyfriend to have a whole playlist entitled “vocal” for just such an occasion :)  It was fun to stay in the house where the boys grew up and have so many memories.  On game day, we got in the mood for ISU by listening to their band CD on the drive up. I should probably pause this post now and stress the importance of music and band in the Lohrenz family.  Both Marsh and Parker played in the ISU band in college.  They were also in choir there.  The boys’ mom is the biggest supporter of the ISU band that you’ll ever meet.  In their 6-year college marching band span, she never missed a football game.  We’re talking the actual whole-day event…pre-game practice, warm-ups, marching to the field, pre-game show, half-time show, and the march off the field, back to an area where singing took place and band speeches and awards for the best department of the day were given.  I seriously had no idea that marching band included so much!  It was so special to get to experience the whole day’s events together.   

 

 

 

 

 

We got up to ISU early enough to get me a t-shirt for the game.  The weather was in the 80s and I remember almost sweating to death.  Our tickets were on the hillside and we sat on blankets together.  Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a nail-biting ending.  Here I was prepared for average football with a focus on mostly the band.  ISU came out with the 43-40 victory after triple overtime!  We met one of Parker’s former college roommates after the game for dinner.  Then, Parker and I enjoyed some quality time together as we walked around the ISU campus.  He showed me Coover Hall, where he spent most of his time studying electrical engineering.   

Parker also took me to the clock tower, where he kissed me and tried to make me an official Iowa Stater according to the campaniling tradition.   

 

ISU has deep roots in Parker’s family.   His great-grandmother went there and it’s also where his parents met.  It was such a great weekend!