Oct. 3, 2003
There’s no denying the truth. Fact is — and always has been — the breakfasts staged each Friday morning at the Downtown Sheraton in Iowa City by the Johnson County I-Club are “black and gold love fests.”
And, why not?
Only those fans who love the Hawkeyes would get up as early as 4 a.m. to make their way to these buffet breakfasts that always feature door prizes, bad (and good) jokes, the UI Marching Band and, of course, Kirk Ferentz, the head coach of the Hawkeyes.
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Ferentz said he really didn’t know how lucky he was at the time when Fry offered him the opportunity to join Iowa’s coaching staff in the early ’80s until now. Iowa’s current head coach admitted that he came to Iowa City and his meeting with Fry very comfortable being a member of the staff at Pittsburgh. He left, though, wanting desperately to be a Hawk.
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Friends and fans of the Hawkeyes had even more reason to attend today’s breakfast, however.
It’s not often that one of their own gets inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame. And, it’s not often that the individual on the receiving end of that honor has a bountiful supply of good jokes, good stories and a love for the University of Iowa and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
“I look around the room and I realize things haven’t changed much,” said a deceivingly serious Hayden Fry, the sole focus of attention during both pre-game (as the grand marshall of Homecoming 2003) and at halftime (as in Hawkeye being inducted into the Hall of Fame) at Saturday’s Big Ten Conference football game between the Hawkeyes and nationally ranked Michigan.
“But, make no mistake. Things have changed…I had to park three blocks away for this morning’s event!”
And, yes, the crowd roared. Like it did and did often when the legendary and award-winning Hayden Fry stalked the sidelines of Kinnick and, for the record — compliments of the Johnson County I-Club — was the keynote speaker at 118 of these “Friday Morning Pep Rallys for Adults” — the description former UI Athletic Director Bump Elliott used when asked to explain why hundreds of black-and-gold clad friends of the Hawkeyes would gather at 6 a.m. the morning before every home football game at the University of Iowa.
Hayden was in true Hayden form on this particularly morning. He told jokes. He told stories. He heaped praise on the visiting team — all visiting teams, in fact. And, he didn’t miss a beat: He asked for a moment of silence in honor of all of the friends and fans of the Hawkeyes who couldn’t be with their peers on this particular morning and he saluted 101-year-old Edna Englert.
And, of course, he gave a tip of his coaching cap to Iowa’s current head coach, Kirk Ferentz.
“He’s my second son. And, he’s a winner because he’s a good person. He’s sensitive. He’s passionate. He’s intelligent,” said Fry, who also took a moment to offer a little guidance.
“Kirk,” he said with a stern tone. “Don’t you ever admit that you made a mistake! I would have made the same choice last week at the coin toss and, heck, I’m bullet-proof!”
And, yes, the crowd roared.
Ferentz said he really didn’t know how lucky he was at the time when Fry offered him the opportunity to join Iowa’s coaching staff in the early ’80s until now. Iowa’s current head coach admitted that he came to Iowa City and his meeting with Fry very comfortable being a member of the staff at Pittsburgh. He left, though, wanting desperately to be a Hawk.
“The people I had the opportunity to work with, the feeling of family. Those were very special times,” said Ferentz. “It would be absolutely wonderful if we could look back some day and say we came close to achieving that same kind of feeling now among our current staff and student-athletes.”
Ferentz also shared a few memorable notes from his first meeting with the Ol’ Coach. “I did my homework. Fry was an ex-Marine, square-jawed Texan. So I figured I’d better get a haircut and wear a coat and tie. Then I get there and he’s in jeans and cowboy boots, and asks me if I’d like some bubble gum!”
And, the crowd roared.
Then, he said, Fry asked if “Mamma was aware of the opportunity.”
“I kept thinking, ‘Heck, I love my mother, but I’m 25 years old, I’m pretty certain I can make this decision on my own.’ Then, later, I come to realize that he’s talking about (my wife) Mary!”
And, the crowd roared.
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Ferentz noted that the game could fall squarely into one like the epic 1985 game: Two stingy defenses go head-to-head with the outcome maybe resting on the play of the special teams. “It could very well come down to a field goal and, if that’s the case, we like our chances,” said Ferentz.
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All kidding aside, Ferentz said the task on hand for the Hawkeyes on Saturday was a sifnificant one. “It’s a typical Michigan team. Loaded and dangerous. They’re quarterback is a senior and playing like one.
“We’ll have our hands full, but we’ve had a great week of practice and I like the attitude. The guys have been focused from the git-go,” he added.
Ferentz noted that the game could fall squarely into one like the epic 1985 game: Two stingy defenses go head-to-head with the outcome maybe resting on the play of the special teams.
“It could very well come down to a field goal and, if that’s the case, we like our chances,” said Ferentz.
Ferentz said his game captains on Saturday will be Bob Sanders and Howard Hodges on defense, Robert Gallery on offense, and Nate Kaeding on special teams.
In closing he said he was disappointed that he’ll be busy at halftime when former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler presents Fry with a plaque in honor of his induction into yet another Hall of Fame.
“I’m sorry to miss that,” said Ferentz, looking at Fry, “because it couldn’t happen to a more deserving individual. Now, of course, you know I’d be there if I could…as you know well, we’re a little busy at halftime.”
And, true to form, the standing-room-only-with-the-room-busting-at-the-seams crowd roared.