June 17, 2007
IOWA CITY — ” `Pardon me, Kirk Ferentz said, “I have to collect myself,’ ” Randy Peterson writes in today’s editions of the Des Moines Register.
“The personal side of one of the most recognizable of Iowa’s nearly 3 million residents was exposed.
“Emotion blitzed the University of Iowa’s big-time football coach when the topic drifted to Father’s Day. Memories surfaced as he considered his first trip back this fall to the stadium where he coached “the most emotional football game of my career” in 2004 – 24 hours after attending his father’s funeral.
“His Hawkeyes face Penn State on Oct. 6 …
“At Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., where Iowa’s heavy-hearted coach beat the Nittany Lions in 6-4 …
“Only three hours from Dad’s burial site.
” `Happy Father’s Day,’ Ferentz cracked, trying to detour feelings showing in his eyes while sitting in his office.
“Happy Father’s Day today, indeed – Ferentz’s third without his former Little League baseball coach, No. 1 fan and, quite simply, dad.
” `Baseball – that was our father-son thing,’ Kirk said. “No fishing. No hunting. No golf, and no football. Our thing was baseball.’ “
Click HERE to read the full story…and, for those fans of the Hawkeyes who are fathers, Happy Father’s Day.
Click HERE to learn more about the Big Ten Network.