Staff Council president shares experience performing outreach at Orange Bowl

Editor’s note: Glenn Kell, president of the University of Iowa Staff Council, shares with fyi his experience traveling to the 2010 Orange Bowl with the UI delegation, and the group’s numerous outreach efforts.            

	Glenn Kell, Staff Council president. Photo by Tom Jorgensen.

I was privileged to attend the 2010 Orange Bowl. In my capacity as Staff Council president, I was invited to travel as part of President Sally Mason’s UI delegation. My wife, Peggy, and I left our house at 6:30 a.m. Sunday morning, Jan. 3, when the actual temperature was 10 degrees below zero. At the airport we met up with enough Hawkeye fans to fill four chartered planes. Most people wore Hawkeye attire and the mood was festive.

Upon arrival, the Floridians were apologetic—the temperature was only 60 degrees above zero. When we told them about the Iowa temperatures, they good-naturedly accused us of bringing cool weather with us.

On Sunday evening, we attended two receptions. The UI Alumni Association sponsored the first reception for the 250 people traveling with their tour and staying at the same hotel. When we entered the meeting room, we were greeted by an outstretched hand and a familiar face: Senator Chuck Grassley. I had not met him before, but he made everyone he encountered feel welcome. The senator attended many of the UI-related events and was always surrounded by people wanting to shake his hand.

The Orange Bowl Committee hosted the second reception of the evening for our group. As we boarded our bus to travel the approximately 25 miles to the reception, we discovered a motorcycle police escort to help us navigate the traffic in a timely manner. These enthusiastic police officers had large Hawkeye decals on the sides of their helmets. Approximately 15 motorcycle police with emergency lights flashing worked as a team to stop traffic from all directions to allow our bus to pass through intersections and onramps with ease.

The cooler temperatures forced this reception to be moved indoors. As we entered the reception area, couples or individuals were photographed with the Orange Bowl trophy. Orange Bowl Committee members were easily identifiable in their distinctive orange blazers. They are local business people working to stimulate tourism and the local economy. They conduct many other events—often sporting activities—that benefit the area.

On Monday morning we had some unscheduled time, so we went to see the nearby Holocaust Memorial. The introductory film and tour were very moving. As we walked around town, we saw Hawkeye fans everywhere—easily recognizable by their Hawkeye gear. Smiles and greetings (“Go Hawks!”) usually were exchanged.

After lunch at a sidewalk café, we headed to a series of five UI alumni receptions. These were sponsored by the College of Engineering; the Carver College of Medicine and the Graduate College; the College of Law and the Tippie College of Business; the Colleges of Dentistry, Public Health, and Pharmacy; and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

	Iowa flags fly proudly at the 2010 Orange Bowl. Photo by Linda Edge-Dunlap, UI Center for Media Production.

When President Mason’s party entered a reception, individual members scattered throughout the room to meet as many people as possible. Among the dignitaries attending the receptions with President Mason’s party were Senator Grassley, Congressman Dave Loebsack, and Lt. Governor Patty Judge.

I met many people, including an engineer from Houston, an optometrist from Cedar Rapids, a health insurance consultant from Florida, a political science graduate from the class of 1950, a finance consultant from Chicago (class of 2009), a businessman from Walcott, an attorney from Iowa City, and dozens of other nice people. President Mason spoke briefly about the University to each of the alumni gatherings.

At the conclusion of these receptions, we went to the Hawkeye Huddle. Twelve thousand excited Hawkeye fans gathered in a massive display of school spirit. The Hawkeye Marching Band played and the UI cheerleaders set the tone for this massive pep rally. South Florida had not seen anything like this in several years—when the Hawkeyes last played in the Orange Bowl, as it happens.

One of the benefits of the trip was the opportunity to get better acquainted with UI administrators. Traveling and attending so many meetings together allowed me to get to know these people as individuals and not just UI leaders. For instance, we went to dinner with UI Faculty Senate President David Drake and his wife, Barbara, and Senior Assistant to the President Jonathan Carlson and his wife, Susan. The relaxed dinner atmosphere allowed for visiting that could never occur in the midst of the usual busy work schedule.

We also got better acquainted with Laura McLeran and Michael Stokes from the president’s office. They coordinated the details of the trip and helped us get to the places and events we were to attend. There was no detail too small for their attention; they did a superb job of coordinating the activities for the UI delegation.

Tuesday morning was game day. It started with a brunch reception for members of the President’s Club, Golden Hawks, Champion Hawks, and the Kinnick Society. More than 500 donor members gathered to hear UI Foundation President Lynette Marshall, Athletics Director Gary Barta, and President Mason address the attendees. I had the opportunity to meet Henry Tippie, for whom the Tippie College of Business is named. It was his 83rd birthday, and the only present he wanted was a Hawkeye victory.

When President Mason was introduced, she was given a standing ovation. She gave a brief report about flood recovery, the recession-related economic challenges, the exciting football season, increased student applications, and the exciting work being done by faculty, staff, and students. When she completed her remarks, the crowd again gave her a standing ovation. The prolonged applause of these Hawkeyes reflected their pride in our university and confidence in its leadership.

Before lunch at another sidewalk café, we had time for a short walk on the beach. The weather was in the mid-50s—cool for that part of Florida but we needed to feel the sand between our toes and the splash of the waves on our feet. The cool temperatures kept us from enjoying the ocean more.

Soon enough, it was game time. When we arrived at Land Shark Stadium, we saw a sea of tailgating Hawkeye fans. Even before the stadium gates opened, the black-and-gold-clad crowd was cheering “I-O-W-A” and “Let’s go Hawks! Let’s go Hawks!” Everyone knew the Hawkeyes had arrived.

Game night was magical. Players took the field for warm-ups to cheers from the Hawkeye fans. As more Iowa fans entered the stadium, the volume of the cheers swelled. The 15,000 Georgia Tech fans knew there was a large contingent of excited Hawkeye fans present (35,000 in total)—almost nothing could quiet our fans.

Our football team gave us much to cheer about. Even when the game was over, our fans kept cheering. We cheered everything Iowa during the trophy presentation. And the crowd kept cheering as we exited the stadium down the broad spiral walkways: “I-O-W-A, I-O-W-A…”
           
Wednesday found us boarding buses and airplanes for the return journey to Iowa. Everyone was still basking in the thrill of an Orange Bowl victory. We were going home victorious. It did not matter that we were going to cold temperatures and fresh, blowing snow.

We were going back to Hawkeye country…our home.