The best tradition in college football returns on Saturday, when the fans, players and coaches from Iowa and North Illinois turn away from Kinnick Stadium and wave to the patients at the Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

But players and coaches from Northern Illinois, the Hawkeyes’ first opponent in 2018, didn’t want to wait until game day to send their message. So the Huskies produced a short video introducing themselves to the children at the hospital.

It turned out to be an incredible gesture.

Northern Illinois and Iowa are scheduled to kick things off at 3:30 on Saturday. “The Wave” will take place at the end of the first quarter of the game.

Now the children looking through the window will have a little better idea of some of the opposing players who are waving back at them.