The Early Lead: Like son, not like father

By BRANDON HURLEY

Sports Editor 

sports@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

My worst fear, OK, maybe not my worst, but one that is certainly near the top, became a reality a few weeks ago – my son HATED his first trip to Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. 

I honestly don’t think he enjoyed a second of it. Wait, let me correct myself, he probably enjoyed the car ride to and from Iowa City more than the actual game. 

The place I practically grew up in, spending several Saturdays each fall as far back as I can remember and attending every home game during my college career, watching the Iowa Hawkeyes pull out victories, endure losses, among a sea of black and gold with my dad – my son was not thrilled by it 

Kinnick Stadium has always been my sanctuary, so much so, that my parents told me I bawled my eyes out on the way home the first time we made the trek to Iowa City. So you could imagine my disappointment when Caiden asked how long the game would last. 

My dad, son and I decided to attend the Wisconsin-Iowa game on Oct. 22. It was a gorgeous day for an 11 a.m. kick-off – warm and the stands were full – we couldn’t have asked for a better day for Caiden’s first trip to Kinnick Stadium. The typical pre-game buzz was there as we trudged up to the top of the south end zone, my dad’s usual spot. I was excited – my son, on the other hand, was not. 

Before the game even started, he wanted to leave– that was my first bad sign. 

Then came the most anti-college football comment one could imagine – he said it was too loud. He covered his ears several times during loud cheers. What a weirdo, am I right? 

Personally, my favorite part of Kinnick Stadium is how loud it is and how many people pack the place to root on the same team. Apparently, Caiden wasn’t on board with that. 

A halftime disclaimer here: I had a feeling Caiden might not enjoy himself at his first college football game. No matter how often I put sports on the TV, especially Iowa football, he refuses to watch. We even have weekly watch parties at his grandparents and he still would rather play with toys or outside. 

Now, I understand I was a rare case at his age, he is, to be clear, only seven. I was one of those kids, probably one of 10 in the world, that would much rather watch sports than any cartoon. I read the sports section instead of kid’s books. I figured my weird sports nerd lifestyle would only naturally rub off on him. And though it hadn’t up to this point, I thought a trip to Kinnick Stadium would put him over the edge. Boy, was I ever wrong. 

The most excitement Caiden showed all game long was his trip to the concession stand for popcorn… dry, salty popcorn at that.  

He was so bored at one point that he watched the clock wind down in the first half and thought in nine minutes we’d head home, not that an entire half was left. 

Once the game was over, he was thrilled. He became even more excited when we stopped at Hy-Vee on our way out of town to pick up some strawberry milk. The kid couldn’t be any more opposite then myself, but it’s one of the biggest parts that makes him who he is. 

Perhaps my son’s general dislike for football has to do with the several occasions I “accidentally” woke him up as a baby while watching Iowa football games. Or maybe it’s because I always clicked off his cartoons in favor of an Iowa sporting event. Or perhaps, he just isn’t as into football as I am, and that’s fine. 

Despite his boredom and irritation a few weeks ago, I still had fun with Caiden in Iowa City. He will be back for round two, just not in the next few years.