Opponents and other news and results 2026-2027

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Now a marching band member dies from the heat.

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/49870190/iowa-band-member-taken-life-support-collapsing-game

How do we know that he died from the heat? Nothing in the article proves that. It even says that he died before they were to perform and that he had cardiac arrest. Maybe he had unknown cardiac problems. Certainly students have been found to have previously unknown problems.

They say he collapsed in the heat. Well duh, it was hot, he couldn't have collapsed in the cold.

It was bad reporting to even say that he collapsed in the heat, because it seems to imply that it was due to  the heat, even though it doesn't have any proof of that. A more reasonable statement, until more is known, would be to just say that he died after collapsing due to "sudden cardiac arrest."

The author made it worse when it went on to discuss the temperature and what the school did and didn't do with game times. Better reporting would have been to first acknowledge that we don't know how much, if any, the heat was a factor.

The way words are used matters and we all need to be careful how we say or write things.

This is not to say that heat wasn't a factor. It may well have been. But until we know the facts, we should be careful.

I should have written "dies IN the heat", not "dies FROM the heat" to be more accurate, though Jim is correct that there has been no reporting yet specifically tying the cardiac arrest to the heat.   

What I found interesting was that Iowa actually has a safety policy about uniforms for the band members that is nicely thought out, especially since the standard band uniform is wool .

From the official University statement:

The Hawkeye Marching Band is supported by UI Health Care and UI Sports Medicine at all practices and events, and students participating in HMB must have clearance from UI Sports Medicine to actively practice or perform during the season.

UI Sports Medicine consults with students as needed; providing appropriate care and referrals to students when injured or ill, and providing training to staff and students on appropriate topics related to weather, nutrition, injury prevention. Recommendations include hydrating in advance, eating appropriately, wearing suitable clothing, and staying equipped with water, sunscreen, hats, and other protective items.

The Hawkeye Marching Band modifies rehearsal and game day procedures when conditions warrant. While preparing for the Sept. 5, football game, HMB rehearsed indoors on Tuesday and Wednesday. Throughout the week, and during dress rehearsal at Kinnick Stadium, hydration breaks were provided three or four times per hour, and cooling towels were available for students. On Sept. 5, the band was outfitted in its alternate hot-weather uniform that included shorts, t-shirts, and ball caps, rather than the traditional marching uniform. Hydration stations and regular water breaks were available throughout the day. These measures were implemented in consultation with UI Sports Medicine and are consistent with HMB's established protocols for extreme heat and humidity conditions.

(Bold and italics are mine for emphasis)