As tempting as it is, I write this without anger or a tone of snarkiness. It was great for all good Iowa football fans to have the Hawkeyes in the Rose Bowl. The game was obviously disappointing, but the best team won, and I congratulate Coach David Shaw, a class act, and the Stanford team, with kudos going to the immeasurably talented Christian McCaffrey. What a future he has!
The histrionics of the Stanford University marching group would explain why many who viewed the halftime show in person or watching at home were affronted by the boorish and crass nature of their presentation. I understand this kind of performance has gone on for years. Traditions are not necessarily a wise process to perpetuate. Our world is full of too much disrespect, rudeness, crudeness, meanness, and bullying.
Wikipedia says Stanford University is “a private research university in Stanford, California, and one of the world’s most prestigious institutions,” very impressive indeed. For the millions of halftime viewers unfamiliar with Stanford, the chance to make a good first impression was lost to a group of seemingly self-guided and petulant kids with an agenda to ridicule. Is that the image you want? A prestigious education does not necessarily immune one from ignorance and immaturity, nor does it ensure perspective or common decency.
The state of California leads or has high rankings in many agriculture areas, as does Iowa. Both feed the world…what a vastly important function of these two agricultural powerhouses. As an Iowan all my life it’s something of which I am very proud. It’s hardly a subject for mockery or ridicule.
While that group can denigrate our good Iowa life, we here in the flyover states have our own perceptions of California…fair or unfair. There’s not one legitimate collegiate band in the world that would showcase the representations OR misrepresentations of your lovely state. For those who want Iowa fans to lighten up and laugh, I say let’s talk after your state is mocked at a public display with a viewership of millions.
The score at the half of the game was sobering. A nice, but brief and sunny tribute to Iowa and its people would have been heart warming, uplifting and welcome! Now that would be an image to match your fine academic school, a nice memory for Iowans to recall and one that millions of random viewers would have enjoyed.
A closing thought: My hometown is West Branch, IA, birthplace of Herbert Hoover, our 31st president. Mr. Hoover was a proud graduate of Stanford University and resident of its city. He was a fine man and humanitarian. He was a humble man of Quaker descent. We can only imagine his thoughts regarding the Stanford group, but I’m guessing disappointment and sadness would quickly come to mind followed by, what kind of nation have we become?
With best regards from the state of Iowa,
Kathy Reimer
Contact Kathy Reimer at kassann ‘at’ hotmail.com.