Iowa Business Has Free Beer Promo Backfire After Hawkeyes Fail To Score Against Michigan

Getty Image

Nobody really expected Iowa to put up a ton of points against Michigan in the Big Ten Championship Game thanks to its infamously anemic offense. Unfortunately, one business that offered to give away free beer until the Hawkeyes scored saw that promotion backfire in a big way.

The Iowa Hawkeyes mostly had their defense to thank for the 10-2 record they boasted heading into their showdown with the Michigan Wolverines, as the team (and soon-to-be former offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz) has spent the past couple of years trying (and largely failing) to address its offensive woes.

Those struggles led to some historically low over/under totals sportsbooks posted over the course of the season. However, nothing summed up the issue quite like the line that was released prior to their showdown with Michigan, as oddsmakers thought there was a very good chance the Hawkeyes wouldn’t score a single point by the end of the first half.

Anyone who was brave enough to bet the under walked away with a win, as Iowa was not only unable to put any points on the board by the time halftime rolled around but failed to make a mark on the scoreboard in its 17-0 loss at the hands of the Wolverines.

According to The Washington Post, an X-Golf location in Cedar Rapids had hoped to lure in customers to its golf simulators during the game by offering to give them free beer until Iowa scored (a promotion it had been running throughout the season).

While most of the people there were rooting for the Hawkeyes, they did get a consolation prize when everything was said and done, as the business said it ultimately handed out over 100 beers for free to the tune of $500.

As the outlet notes, X-Golf did get some free publicity after the offer went viral, as the promo even got a shoutout on ESPN.

At least it seemed to work out for them in the end.