Mark Gronowski took a subtle shot at Nebraska fans after the game

Fans maybe shouldn't have been talking crap to Gronowski all game
Iowa v Nebraska
Iowa v Nebraska | Steven Branscombe/GettyImages

Bye, bye Nebraska.

Iowa and Nebraska share a border and have shared a rivalry since the first game was played in 1891.

They did not play each other every season back then, but since the Cornhuskers joined the Big Ten in 2011, the two schools have met in the regular-season finale each year.

Nebraska dominated the early portion of the rivalry, but the Hawkeyes have closed the gap following a streak of 10 wins in 11 games.

The rivalry has taken on a new meaning over the past decade, and fans and players have enhanced the vitriol we have seen before, during, and after the game every season.

During his weekly press conference before the game, Head Coach Kirk Ferentz noted that the rivalry is more between the fans than the players, but the players understand the importance of the rivalry game.

One of those players, Mark Gronowski, took it personally when Nebraska fans were hounding them throughout the game.

During his postgame media availability after dominating Nebraska on Friday (posted by "247Sports"), Gronowski discussed why he was waving to fans after scoring a touchdown.

After running the ball in for a touchdown to give Iowa a commanding 33-16 lead in the third quarter, Gronowski was pictured waving to the Nebraska fans.

He said the reason for that gesture towards the fans was that Nebraska fans were "talking trash all game," and they could hear the fans behind them.

He followed that up by saying that it felt "really good to put them away."

It is clear that the rivalry means a little more to the players than Kirk Ferentz let on.

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