Beloved Hawkeye Elvis hangs up jumpsuit and pompadour wig

KICKOFF. EVERY SINGLE CY-HAWK SHOWDOWN WE CAN COUNT ON A GREAT GAME. THOUSANDS OF DIEHARD FANS, LOTS OF TRASH TALK. AND FOR OVER A DECADE NOW, WE’VE ALSO HAD THIS GUY IN THE HOUSE HAWKEYE, ELVIS, SHANNON EHRHARDT HAS THE STORY BEHIND THE KING AND WHAT’S NEXT. FOR 15 YEARS, EVERY SATURDAY ON MELROSE AVENUE IN IOWA CITY, THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL ROSE FROM THE DEAD. I’M A COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY. I HAVE BEEN FOR 20 YEARS A CORPORATE REAL ESTATE LAWYER BY DAY WITH A BURNING LOVE. BY NIGHT I WOULD STOP AND PUT THE WHOLE OUTFIT ON SO I COULD ROLL IN THE IOWA CITY WITH THE ELVIS MUSIC BLARING AND AND THE WINDOWS DOWN AND WAVING A PEOPLE. GREG SUKO SUITED UP AS HAWKEYE ELVIS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2010. I NEVER MEANT FOR ANY OF THIS TO HAPPEN OR TAKE OFF THE WAY IT DID. HE WENT VIRAL. HOW MUCH WERE YOU GETTING PAID TO DO THIS? NOT A TON. I NEVER I NEVER GOT PAID A DIME. I DID THIS BECAUSE I LIKED TO DO IT. AS THE UNOFFICIAL AMBASSADOR FOR HAWKEYE SPORTS, I HAD FOUR DIFFERENT JUMPSUITS. HIS MOM MADE THE FIRST ONE. AND THEN, IF YOU REMEMBER THE MOVIE INCREDIBLES, THE WOMAN WHO MAKES THE COSTUMES, THAT WAS KIND OF LIKE, MY MOM’S LIKE, NO, I DON’T LIKE THAT SUIT ANYMORE. YOU NEED A NEW ONE. AFTER A DECADE AND A HALF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAD ASKED ME HOW LONG I WAS GOING TO DO IT FOR, AND I DIDN’T KNOW THE ANSWER. MY MOM MADE ALL OF MY JUMPSUITS, AND SHE PASSED AWAY A YEAR AGO IN THE SPRING. AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S IT’S NOT QUITE THE SAME WITHOUT MY MOM HERE. AND I, I’VE MOVED TO CALIFORNIA SINCE THEN. IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO THE GAMES. AND I GOTTA HAVE ANOTHER KNEE SURGERY. I HAVE TERRIBLE KNEES. I WASN’T JUST ONE THING. IT WAS A LOT OF THINGS. HAWKEYE. ELVIS IS BEING LAID TO REST. IT’S FUNNY BECAUSE THE THE GRANDPARENTS WHO. WHO REMEMBER ELVIS AND SEE HIM IN CONCERT AND GET A KICK OUT OF SINGING. AND THEN THE GRANDKIDS, WHO HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS MAN IN A IN A GIANT. RHINESTONE JUMPSUIT WEARING A RIG IS ALL ABOUT. OH, BOY. HAHA. OH, IT’S THE OLD ONE. WHATEVER. I DON’T NEED THAT. THIS IS THE BACKUP WIG. WHILE HAWKEYE ELVIS IS RETIRING. HE’S NOT DEAD. I KIND OF LEFT THE DOOR OPEN A LITTLE CRACK IF THE RIGHT OPPORTUNITY FOR HAWKEYE ELVIS TO COME BACK FOR FOR ONE COMEBACK SPECIAL. I THINK I’LL HAVE SOME YOU,

Greg Suckow says his days of donning a black and gold jumpsuit and pompadour wig are over. So, you could say Elvis has left the building.The commercial real estate attorney first suited up as Hawkeye Elvis in 2010 and immediately became a fan favorite. He’d often stop just outside Iowa City to get into character so he could roll into town as The King, with Elvis songs blaring.Suckow went viral more than once as the unofficial ambassador for Hawkeye sports, donning four different jumpsuits over the years. “I never meant for any of this to happen,” he said.Watch Shannon Ehrhardt’s video above to hear from Suckow himself, who explains why he retired the Hawkeye Elvis persona.Just know there’s a chance you may see him again. “I kind of left the door open a little crack, if the right opportunity for Hawkeye Elvis to come back for one comeback special, I think he’ll absolutely do it,” he said.

Greg Suckow says his days of donning a black and gold jumpsuit and pompadour wig are over.

So, you could say Elvis has left the building.

The commercial real estate attorney first suited up as Hawkeye Elvis in 2010 and immediately became a fan favorite. He’d often stop just outside Iowa City to get into character so he could roll into town as The King, with Elvis songs blaring.

Suckow went viral more than once as the unofficial ambassador for Hawkeye sports, donning four different jumpsuits over the years.

“I never meant for any of this to happen,” he said.

Watch Shannon Ehrhardt’s video above to hear from Suckow himself, who explains why he retired the Hawkeye Elvis persona.

Just know there’s a chance you may see him again.

“I kind of left the door open a little crack, if the right opportunity for Hawkeye Elvis to come back for one comeback special, I think he’ll absolutely do it,” he said.