Coming off a big 16-13 Cy-Hawk rivalry win, the Iowa football team is preparing for its next opponent. Another in-state foe, Northern Iowa, visits Kinnick Stadium this week (3 p.m. on Sept. 19, FS1).

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – Seven months on from Parker Sutherland’s death, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa will honor him at the football game Saturday.

The UNI football player and City High graduate died on Valentine’s Day – ten days from his nineteenth birthday – after collapsing during a workout two days earlier and suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.

As the football season starts, parents Adam and Jill and sister Georgia said they’re trying to turn their pain into a positive way forward through steps like creating a foundation in his name.

“We talked about this last year, how great it’s going to be in Iowa City,” said Jill, with Adam pointing out that Parker grew up as an Iowa fan. “As a UNI Panther, getting to play in Kinnick, we talked about that, so it’s in a different way this year.“

Following a funeral in a packed City High gym with the entire Panthers football team present, tributes to Sutherland can be found across Eastern Iowa.

UNI and City High helmets feature stickers honoring “PCS” – his middle name was Charles – with the phrase “one of one” from his college coach, Todd Stepsis. This season, the Little Hawk football players play on a Bates Field emblazoned with the number 88. A poem he wrote about home hangs in the weight room and in the Sutherland’s home.

The Iowa Wave Shirt, an apparel company, released a limited-edition collection of purple and gold apparel saying, “field rivals fight together.” The proceeds will go to the University of Iowa’s Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

According to UNI Head Football Coach Todd Stepsis, the coaching staff will wear number 89 purple Iowa Wave hats at Saturday’s game. He said he pushes the team to be positive and uplifting like Parker – though “his shoes are unfillable.”

“This is the opportunity and responsibility really that we have as coaches and as programs to do something, to impact this environment, this community, be a part of something way bigger than us,” he said.

His high school coach Mitch Moore says DI athletic talents certainly set Sutherland apart, but his character was special.

“What most of us miss the most is his infectious positivity,” said Moore. “He was just a really consistent person. He was always happy. He always had energy. He always looked at the best in every situation.“

Moore said his staff chooses a player each week who “lived like Parker” – saying “the best in people has come out in the worst of times” in the wake of his death.

His sister Georgia remembered her brother’s sense of humor and love.

“He’s the biggest person I look up to, and my biggest bully,” she said with a laugh. “I get told all of these amazing stories from all of his friends and he just seems like such an amazing friend.”

Doctors told the family it is likely Parker experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. They chose not to perform an autopsy.

As the family moves forward, they plan to attend UNI games and support Georgia at her volleyball games. Jill and Adam are also in the early stages of creating a foundation, likely with three different initiatives.

“We want people to be prepared and educated with sudden cardiac arrests and maybe a component of a play part. Parker loved Legos, Parker loved to play sports,” said Jill. “Nothing is set in stone, but there will definitely be something that we work on.”

Jill said an eventual push for statewide legislation to require EKGs is a “high aspiration and hope,” along with education for CPR and AED use.

In the meantime, cheers and community will help the Sutherlands through.

“[We lost] a family member, but we gained so much more family in the process,” said Adam. “But, of course, I would take it back any second.”

DES MOINES, Iowa — Housing projects across eastern Iowa are receiving support through tax credits awarded by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, including several awards of $1 million.

In Linn County, three projects are receiving funding.

The Old Marion Library redevelopment is the county’s only project receiving $1 million in tax credits. Plans call for a four-story, mixed-use building with commercial space on the ground floor and 63 apartments on the upper floors.

The city sold the site to private developers in March for $1 as part of an agreement that also included 20 years of tax rebates.

Other Linn County projects receiving tax credits include $913,434 for The Core of Hiawatha and $190,434 for OFB LLC’s Triangle Park Place project.

“When families have access to quality, affordable homes near good jobs, everyone wins,” said Debi Durham, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Iowa Finance Authority. “Families put down roots, employers can find and keep workers, and communities have the stability they need to grow and thrive. That’s good for local businesses, our communities and our economy.”

In Johnson County, HC Investment Property received two awards for its Creekside South development. The apartment portion will receive $1 million for 80 units, while the townhome project will receive $187,005 for eight units.

West Village Apartments will receive $790,000 to develop 36 apartments in Johnson County.

A Decorah project also received $1 million in tax credits to convert a former child care site into a 27-unit neighborhood of homes and townhomes.

In total, 69 projects received support to create more than 2,000 new homes, townhomes and apartments across Iowa.