IOWA CITY — Kirk Ferentz was asked to win it all.
A Camp Courageous youngster asked the Iowa football coach to “beat all the teams.”
“That's a good idea,'' Ferentz said. “I'm going to repeat that to all the players.''
The recent Hawkeye Day for Camp Courageous had to move inside Kinnick Stadium because of thunderstorms, but campers lined up for autographs from Iowa seniors, toured the opponents' pink locker room and spent some time playing catch with Hawkeyes on the Kinnick Stadium turf.
One camper pointed to his ankle and asked starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi if he had healed from an injury.
Last fall, about 60 yards from this spot, Stanzi suffered a high-ankle sprain that needed surgery. “Ow,'' camper Brian said. “Yeah, that hurt,'' Stanzi said with a smile. “But I'm OK now.''
Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for children and adults with mental and physical disabilities, brain injuries, hearing and visual impairments, autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder and special needs.
And most of them are big Hawkeye fans.
“This is one of those experiences that will never be forgotten by the campers who attend,” said Charlie Becker, executive director of Camp Courageous. “We have campers who have a hard time falling asleep the night before.''
Brian wore a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls basketball jersey and a Hawkeye hat on the Kinnick Stadium field.
Stanzi said, yes, Michael Jordan is a No. 1 sports hero. Brian immediately pointed to his Hawkeye hat and said the Hawkeyes are No. 1.
“Any time us players get out here and show these guys the locker room, spend some time with them and get to know them, they're all great kids,'' Stanzi said. “They have such great hearts.
“They're fun to be around, they really are. I've had a blast meeting the people and their families,'' Stanzi added.
“The biggest thing is seeing how important Hawkeye football is to them.
“We get caught up in the game, and you don't get a chance to take a step back and realize how much impact it has on the fans, these young kids.''
Campers arrived at Kinnick Stadium and enjoyed a lunch in the concourse under the south stands.
Soon after, it was downstairs for autographs, everything from Orange Bowl posters to T-shirts to mini-footballs.
The Hawkeyes' penmanship was tested on them all.
And defensive end Adrian Clayborn said he was happy to take a break from strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle's torturous drills.
“It's fun to be out here with these guys and see the smiles on their faces, get away from the workouts Coach Doyle has been killing us with and help out the community,'' Clayborn said. “I think I'm having more fun than these guys.''
The campers are very astute Hawkeye fans. The running theme from campers was “beat Ohio State.''
“We've had a lot of those today,'' Ferentz said. “That's a popular request.''
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