Watching the @cyclonefootball team in all-black uniforms and fans joining an unofficial blackout with their dark attire, Troy DeJoode realized Darth Vader might just find a fitting spot in the parking lot. For Troy, dressing up as Darth Vader had become a way to honor his Star Wars-loving 5-year-old son, Carson, who, along with his 5-month-old sister, Claire, died in a car crash in 2010. In that costume, Troy sparked a kind of pure joy in others—the kind that perhaps only a 5-year-old’s love could inspire. But the costume was more than a tailgating prop. It was a connection. A tribute. An elegy. That personal gesture became a public touchstone last week when Troy’s costume – and its meaning – received millions of views on social media as the heart-wrenching and awe-inspiring story resonated across the globe, for the full story tap the link in our bio. #iowa #iowacheck #iowastate #inspiring #iowalife