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When the Iowa football team plays at home this fall, there should be plenty of energy at Kinnick Stadium.

Iowa athletic director Gary Barta said Monday he expects to have fans back in the stands on Sept. 4 when the Hawkeyes open their season against Indiana.

According to Barta, Big Ten Conference and University of Iowa officials have given the go-ahead for fans to return to Kinnick Stadium. Barta noted, however, that it’s still uncertain how full the iconic venue will be on game days.

“I don’t have any clarification on (capacity) percentage,” Barta said. "We’re having 50-percent at spring sports. I’m certainly pushing for, rooting for and praying for 100-percent in Kinnick Stadium.”

Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz is also excited about fans being allowed to attend games again – no matter how many.

“There were a lot of strange things about last season, on all levels," Ferentz said. "One of the strangest was not having any fans, especially at our home games at Kinnick. I warned our team about that. I said, 'Going on the road, it's not that big of a deal.' But we're so accustomed to having great support at home, creating energy in that stadium. Boy, do we miss that. We look forward to, even if it's a smaller crowd, having live fans in the stadium."

Spring practice for the Hawkeyes begins Tuesday and Ferentz is hoping to get fans inside Kinnick Stadium before preparation work for the upcoming season ends on May 1.

There was other football-related news announced at Monday's press conference.

A Bettendorf couple who own Iowa 80 -- the World's Largest Largest Truck Stop -- in Walcott, have made a substantial financial contribution to endow the head football coaching position at Iowa in perpetuity. The $10 million gift from Will and Renee Moon will support other athletic department projects as well.

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