This morning, to celebrate the start of the college football season, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a first-of-its-kind Iowa Hawkeyes Football Top 25 Ranking Tracker Bobblehead. The unique bobblehead lets fans change the team’s ranking each week. The 25th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes kick off the season when they host Illinois State on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The officially licensed bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the University of Iowa.
- Released in conjunction with the start of the 2024 college football season, the bobbleheads are now available in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store at this link.
- The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in January, are $40 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
- Each bobblehead is individually numbered to 2,024.
- Standing on a football field base, the bobblehead features Herky the Hawk holding a football on a base that features numbered blocks that can be adjusted when Iowa’s ranking changes.
- The Iowa Hawkeyes are ranked #25 in the Preseason AP Top 25 Football Poll and #25 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.
- Iowa kicks off the season when they host Illinois State on Saturday, August 31st at 11:00am at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City.
- Created by journalism instructor Dick Spencer and first drawn as a cartoon in 1948, Herky made his mascot debut at an Iowa football game in 1959. An immediate hit, Herky acquired his name in a statewide contest. John Franklin came up with the winning suggestion as a reference to Hercules. Since his first appearance, Herky has become a familiar figure at University of Iowa athletic events – home and away. He can also be seen at events throughout the Hawkeye State during the year, including the Iowa State Fair, parades, grand openings, charity events, and weddings. Herky has become a regular representative of Iowa athletics in national mascot competitions, advancing to the national finals in 2006 and 2008.
- “We’re excited to unveil this first-of-its-kind Top 25 Ranking Bobblehead Series in conjunction with the start of the 2024 college football season,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “This bobblehead will be the perfect way for Iowa fans to track the team’s ranking each week for many seasons to come and a great way for fans, alumni, students, faculty, and staff to show off their school pride all year long!”
- The release follows the recent unveiling of the Herky on Parade Bobblehead Series which features replicas of 26 different Herky on Parade statues.
- The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st. St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as organizations, individuals, and teams across the country.