The Stanford band is totally fine.

As a lifelong Iowan, I can assure you that your band does not bother Iowans as much as they are portraying. More than anything these angry Iowans are upset that your football team, who is much better than ours, stomped the Hawkeyes into the perfectly manicured Rose Bowl dirt. Honestly, I think Iowans are so dumbfounded at how the Hawks received such a brutal ass-kicking that they do not know who to blame. Despite Iowans' hardworking, heartland-tough mentality, when it comes to sports, Iowans are awful losers.

There is literally nothing else to do in Iowa on a Saturday other than watching the Hawkeyes or the Cyclones. People bleed, piss, and cry the Hawkeyes' and Cyclones' colors. When the Hawkeyes made it to the Rose Bowl, the whole state disregarded their allegiances and prayed that Iowa could prove itself on the national stage. There were literally Iowa State Cyclone fans that invested their hard-earned money in traveling to Pasadena to root for their rival team against your beloved Stanford Cardinal. So, when your band made fun of Iowa, we took offense. However, my problem with my fellow Iowans is that they are at such a loss for what happened on January 1 that I think the only excuse they can think of is that Iowa lost because your band made fun of them.

Your band is hilarious. Finally, an entity that brings some lightheartedness to the seriousness that middle-aged people have toward a bunch of 18-22-year-olds running around in tight pants with the intent of knocking each others' heads off. Now, I know your band gets drunk before or after games, and does not observe the traditional college-style marching band practices. But how can my fellow Iowans call your band so classless?

Iowa, let us not forget that the "classier" University of Iowa leads the country in hard liquor consumption. Come on, guys. I have been to Iowa City on a Saturday in the fall. Is there anything pleasant about a drunk Iowa student yelling "F**k *insert opponent*" at the top of his or her lungs in the Kinnick Stadium bathroom while you are trying to take a leak at halftime?

Stanford's band does not bring a bad aura to the Stanford name. They are simply college students who have the same kind of fun as the rowdiest kids in Iowa City.

Before Iowans point fingers at the Stanford band for being classless, they should remember that this is the University of Iowa, not BYU.

Sincerely,

an Iowan