Aug. 11, 2009
IOWA CITY – Hawkeye fans and fairgoers will have a chance to meet and reminisce with letter-winning former athletes, distinguished coaches and broadcasters at the 2009 Iowa State Fair Thursday, Aug. 13 through Sunday, Aug. 23.
The Hawkeye Heroes will be signing autographs for the public at the University of Iowa exhibit booth in the Varied Industries Building on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines.
Former UI wrestling coach Dan Gable will be in the booth from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. Losing only one match during his collegiate career, Gable went on to win the gold at the 1972 Olympic Games. As the UI’s all-time “winningest” wrestling coach from 1977 to 1997, Gable compiled a career record of 355-21-5. He coached 152 all-Americans, 45 national champions, 106 Big Ten Champions and 10 Olympians, including four gold, one silver and three bronze medalists. Gable remains involved on campus as assistant to the director of athletics in charge of performance enhancement.
Two other Iowa wrestling legends will visit the UI exhibit. Tom Brands (right), current UI wrestling coach, is scheduled for 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, while Terry Brands (left), UI assistant wresting coach, will appear from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug 13.
Gary Barta, director of intercollegiate athletics at the UI, will visit the booth from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.
The full schedule of Hawkeye Heroes follows:
Brian Mitchell – Baseball 1996-1999 (1-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13): An All Big Ten infielder at Iowa, Mitchell became the Hawkeyes’ all-time home run record holder and was an All-American. After playing baseball at Iowa, Mitchell went on to play baseball in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.
Terry Brands – Wrestling 1989-1992; assistant wresting coach 2004-present (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13): Two-time world champion and 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Brands is in his fifth season as an assistant coach at the UI. His twin brother, Tom, is the head coach of the Hawkeyes. Last year, Brands helped lead Iowa to its second straight NCAA and Big Ten team titles, crowning five all-Americans and two Big Ten champions. Brands was a two-time NCAA champion, three-time all-American and three-time Big Ten champion for the Hawkeyes at 126 pounds
Guy Bilek – Football 1965-1967 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14): Bilek was a letter winner in football in 1966 and 1967.
Jon Filloon – Football 1988-1991 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14): Filloon, of Manson, Iowa, played wide receiver for the Hawkeyes and was on the 1990 Rose Bowl and 1991 Holiday Bowl teams.
Bob Hansen – Basketball 1980-1983 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15): As a collegian at Iowa, Hansen played in four NCAA tournaments between 1978 and 1981 and helped the Hawkeyes to the Final Four as a freshman in 1980. As a senior in 1983, he was Iowa’s most valuable player. He ranks 22nd on the Hawkeyes’ career scoring chart with 1,145 points. He also played in the NBA with the Utah Jazz and Chicago Bulls, where he helped win the final 1992 NBA championship game.
Bob Brooks – Broadcaster (2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16): Brooks is a long-time broadcaster who provided play-by-play coverage of Hawkeye football and basketball for 55 years. Brooks worked at WSUI from 1943 to 1948 and at KCRG and KHAK before assuming his current post at KMRY. Brooks was the recipient of the 2002 Chris Schenkel Award, which is presented annually by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc.
Mark Ironside – Wrestling 1995-1998 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17): Ironside was a Big Ten wrestling champ and an All-American from 1995-1998. He was Big Ten Wrestler of the Year 1996-98 and was named Outstanding Wrestler at the Big Ten Championship in 1997. Ironside was the NCAA champion at 134 pounds in 1997-1998.
Steve Krafcisin – Basketball 1979-1981 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17): Krafcisin played as a junior on the 1980 Final Four team. He went on to claim second on the Iowa men’s basketball team as a senior with 15 blocked shots. He played in every game as a senior and led the team in free throws made, free throws attempted and rebounds. Krafcisin was also third in scoring that season.
Layne Anderson – Women’s cross country coach 2003-2009; women’s track coach 2009-present (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17): Making the transition from women’s cross country to track, Anderson lead the distant runners to sixth place at the Big Ten meet, a great improvement for the Hawkeyes. He has coached such standout athletes as Meghan Armstrong and Diane Nukuri, who won the Big Ten title and set multiple school records in ’07.
Chuck Hartlieb – Football 1984-1988 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17): As a record-holding quarterback during the Hayden Fry era, Hartlieb holds several game bests, including seven touchdowns in 1987, and passing for 558 yards and 44 completions of 60 attempts in 1988. He was selected for First Team All-Big Ten honors in 1987 and 1988 and tied for Hawkeye Team MVP with Marv Cook and Dave Haight in 1987.
Tom Brands – Wrestling 1989-1992, head wrestling coach 2004-present (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18): Tom, along with brother, Terry, took Iowa by storm during their collegiate careers. He is a four-time letter winner and All-American, three-time NCAA champion, and an Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame inductee in 2003. At the 1996 Olympics, Brands took the gold in the freestyle championship. His past two seasons as head coach has resulted in two straight NCAA and Big Ten team titles, with five all-Americans and two Big Ten Champions.
Teresa Kuhlman – Cross Country 1977; track 1977-1979 (4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18): Kuhlman was one of the first runners to take part in women’s cross country at Iowa, as 1977 was the inaugural year for the sport. That year, she was a first-year letter winner, participating in the cross-country regionals. Kuhlman also took part in the Big Ten Indoor and Outdoor Track Meets, lettering as a part of the 600 m., 800 m., 4×800 m., and 4×400 m. races.
Mary Schwarze – Field Hockey 1977-1981 (4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18): Lettering three years as halfback and link for the respected women’s sport, Schwarze was a part of the 1981 Big Ten Championship team. It was that year they took 4th place in the AIAW National Championship in Berkeley, Calif., as well as claiming title to winningest team in Iowa Field Hockey History.
Wilburn Hollis – Football 1959-1961 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19): Hollis, a star quarterback, was honored Second Team All American and First Team All Big Ten in 1960.
Craig Clemons – Football 1969-1971 (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 19): Clemons was honored First Team All-American and First Team All Big Ten in 1971. He went on to play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears.
Jon Miller – Broadcaster (2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20): A West Branch native, Miller founded the popular Iowa sports Web site, Hawkeye Nation in April of 2001, which he continues to serve as the sites publisher. He can be heard giving sports updates on 1040 WHO and each morning on 1460 KXNO. Miller currently resides in West Des Moines with his wife and two daughters.
Gary Dolphin – Broadcaster (noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21) Dolphin is the current “Voice of the Hawkeyes” on radio broadcasts for both Iowa football and men’s basketball.
Ryan Hogan – Basketball 2002 (3:30-5:30 Friday, Aug. 21): Hogan was a standout basketball guard in the 2002 season
Scott Helverson – Football 1981-1984; NFL Official (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22): Helverson was a wide receiver for Iowa’s 1985 Big Ten championship team, and played in the 1986 Rose Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl. As a senior he caught 54 passes for 703 yards and five touchdowns. He has been an official for NCAA, Arena Football and the NFL. A highlight of his officiating career was being back judge for Super Bowl XLII, won by the New York Giants, 17-14, over the New England Patriots.
Also appearing at the UI State Fair exhibit will be UI cheer and dance squads with Herky on the following dates and times: from 3 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13, Friday, Aug. 14 and Saturday, Aug. 15; and from 1 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. Herky will also be at the exhibit from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday Aug. 21 and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22.
Visitors will also have the chance to win tickets to UI athletic events and to sport their school pride with Hawkeye temporary tattoos and football posters. Many trophies won by UI athletics teams will be on display at the fair, including Floyd of Rosedale, the wrestling NCAA Championship trophy and Big 10 Championship trophies. The neighboring Hawk Shop will be open, selling black and gold merchandise for fans of all ages.
For more information on the UI State Fair exhibit, see http://www.uiowa.edu/statefair.