Brett Greenwood, once in coma, is Hawkeyes' honorary captain
There's no rain in the forecast Saturday night for Iowa's 7:12 p.m. game vs. Pittsburgh at Kinnick Stadium, but there might not be a dry eye in the house just before kickoff.
The University of Iowa announced Thursday that Brett Greenwood will be honorary captain for Saturday's game. Greenwood has been on the slow road to recovery since collapsing during a routine workout Sept. 9, 2011, at Pleasant Valley High School.
Greenwood was placed into a coma after suffering what was called an anoxic brain injury caused by heart arrhythmia. To this day, he's defied doctors' prognosis with incremental, positive steps.
Greenwood, a former walk-on who led the Big Ten Conference in interceptions during his 2010 senior season with five and is tied for sixth all-time at Iowa with 12, will accompany the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game, and he'll be at midfield for the coin toss before Iowa's first home night game since 2012 in a battle of 2-0 teams.
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It'll be an electric – and emotional – night. Just a few weeks ago on Twitter, former Hawkeye linebacker Pat Angerer tweeted an inspirational video that showed highlights of Greenwood's career before transitioning to a rehab workout at the Iowa Football Performance Center. In the video, Greenwood is using a walker to make his way across an indoor football field with vocal reinforcement from Hawkeyes strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle.
Angerer has been a big supporter of Greenwood's rehab. After the Greenwood captain news surfaced Thursday, Angerer tweeted: "He's done more for me than I have ever done for him. It's great being able to watch one of your heroes beat the odds."
Tickets remain available for Saturday's game by visiting Hawkeyesports.com or the ticket office at Carver-Hawkeye Arena or by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS.