Hayden Fry - Memories and Stories

[Hwk-I-St8]

The Hayden/Bo connection was special...the stuff college football legend is made of.

When Hayden was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame (2004 I believe) he asked Bo to introduce him at the induction ceremony. That Fall Hayden was recognized at Kinnick for his election and Bo came out to midfield with him. The IOWA crowd gave a standing O to Schembechler when he was introduced...it was quite a moment. You could see that he was touched and maybe a bit surprised. One can only guess what he and Hayden said to each other at that moment.

I'll never forget it.

I was at that game. It was really cool. I really miss the old football days. The game has changed....I still love it, but it's just not the same. It seemed like there was a sense of camaraderie back then that has gone away. Maybe it's just obscured by all the money now.

 

[rchawk]

I remember yelling at Bo from the stands in Kinnick. Nothing profane or crude, he would be yelling at a ref about a call he didn't like and I would yell "Sit down BO!" or something like that. Me and 60,000 other people.

I think Iowa fans back then respected Bo. He was an ethical coach who ran a clean program and won a lot more games than he lost. When you beat one of his Michigan teams it was a darn good football team.

Iowans remember the wins over UM in 1981 and '85. Remember the loss in Ann Arbor in 1983? The score was tied late in the game, Iowa was moving into Michigan territory. Owen Gill was running the ball with his usual physical style when a defender hit the football with his helmet. Ball pops loose, Michigan recovers, they go on to score, game over.

 

[Hwkfn1]

I remember yelling at Bo from the stands in Kinnick. Nothing profane or crude, he would be yelling at a ref about a call he didn't like and I would yell "Sit down BO!" or something like that. Me and 60,000 other people.

I think Iowa fans back then respected Bo. He was an ethical coach who ran a clean program and won a lot more games than he lost. When you beat one of his Michigan teams it was a darn good football team.

Iowans remember the wins over UM in 1981 and '85. Remember the loss in Ann Arbor in 1983? The score was tied late in the game, Iowa was moving into Michigan territory. Owen Gill was running the ball with his usual physical style when a defender hit the football with his helmet. Ball pops loose, Michigan recovers, they go on to score, game over.

My second favorite Michigan game was 1984 when Iowa won 26-0. Of course 1985 goes without saying!

 

[LuteHawk]

Both Hayden and Bo had charisma with their players,
fans, and media. It takes a winsome personality to
become a living legend in college football. TV announcer
Keith Jackson thought that Hayden Fry was the original
folksy guy who everyone loved and adored.

 

[Herkmeister]

Both Hayden and Bo had charisma with their players,
fans, and media. It takes a winsome personality to
become a living legend in college football. TV announcer
Keith Jackson thought that Hayden Fry was the original
folksy guy who everyone loved and adored.

Well as folksy as Keith was, they were made for each other.

I loved Keith Jackson.

 

[katman15]

Hayden wasn't perfect...what coach, what person is? But IMHO it's impossible to give him too much credit for what he did for the University of Iowa. Those who didn't live through it can't appreciate what it was like in Iowa City when Hayden took over. Nearly 20 years of nonwinning seasons, and since that first snap of his tenure in 1979, things have never been the same.

Instead of poor-mouthing the program, Hayden came in and said Iowa would break the Big Two stranglehold that Michigan and Ohio State had on the Big Ten at the time. And that's exactly what he did by winning the conference title in his third year and going to the Rose Bowl when that was still the ultimate for a Big Ten team.

Hayden marketed the program, created the Tiger Hawk, and made Iowa a respected name across the country.

Coach Fry brought pride back to the Hawkeye state, and he did it with class, humor, and a personality as big as Texas. He was the right man in the right place at the right time, and no Iowa fan should ever underestimate his influence.

You Nailed it....One of a kind.

 

[FlickShagwell]

The Hayden/Bo connection was special...the stuff college football legend is made of.

When Hayden was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame (2004 I believe) he asked Bo to introduce him at the induction ceremony. That Fall Hayden was recognized at Kinnick for his election and Bo came out to midfield with him. The IOWA crowd gave a standing O to Schembechler when he was introduced...it was quite a moment. You could see that he was touched and maybe a bit surprised. One can only guess what he and Hayden said to each other at that moment.

I'll never forget it.

It was the 2003 Michigan game.

 

[BEAVERDALEHAWK]

I remember yelling at Bo from the stands in Kinnick. Nothing profane or crude, he would be yelling at a ref about a call he didn't like and I would yell "Sit down BO!" or something like that. Me and 60,000 other people.

I think Iowa fans back then respected Bo. He was an ethical coach who ran a clean program and won a lot more games than he lost. When you beat one of his Michigan teams it was a darn good football team.

Iowans remember the wins over UM in 1981 and '85. Remember the loss in Ann Arbor in 1983? The score was tied late in the game, Iowa was moving into Michigan territory. Owen Gill was running the ball with his usual physical style when a defender hit the football with his helmet. Ball pops loose, Michigan recovers, they go on to score, game over.

My second favorite Michigan game was 1984 when Iowa won 26-0. Of course 1985 goes without saying!

The 1984 Michigan game was my first ever Hawkeye football game- my senior year in high school.

 

[funnyfletcher]

Thank you for sharing all of these stories! I bought a copy of “High Porch Picnic,” and it’s autographed by Hayden to someone named Boone. I’ve thought about trying to reach out to Boone Myers to see if he would want the copy.

 

[JupiterHawk]

It was the 2003 Michigan game.

2003 Michigan....what a great game

 

[Fan In Black]

The Hayden/Bo connection was special...the stuff college football legend is made of.

When Hayden was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame (2004 I believe) he asked Bo to introduce him at the induction ceremony. That Fall Hayden was recognized at Kinnick for his election and Bo came out to midfield with him. The IOWA crowd gave a standing O to Schembechler when he was introduced...it was quite a moment. You could see that he was touched and maybe a bit surprised. One can only guess what he and Hayden said to each other at that moment.

I'll never forget it.

I love the story about the Kansas St. AD calling Bo to get his opinion on hiring Bill Synder. Bo told him "Hire him, get him the f--- out of this conference."

 

[Herkmeister]

Came across this on YouTube.

It certainly gives some insight into Jerry Levias. I was shocked to learn that blacks mistreated Jerry and his and family due to their decision for him to play. I assumed it was only whites.

Also sad that he had to live alone in his dorm room.

In my book, Jerry Levias is one incredible person and could not respect him more.

 

[Herkmeister]

Boy is this good if you have not see it.

 

[kceasthawk]

Never knew Hayden stole Bo’s gum. LOL

LOL! He took more from Bo then that on that fine Saturday evening. Hayden had himself a "High Porch picnic"!

 

[twindman]

I didn't remember he had cancer his last year.

 

[Cowboy4262]

Went to the Iowa football camps in 79, that year I fell in love with Hawkeye football. Got to know Carl Jackson Jr and his dad. Carl Jr took me up to see Hayden in his office. Hayden was the friendliest person I've ever met and as a 13 year old he was awesome to talk to. I had some wide eyes! As I walked out of his office Andre Tippett walked in and was looking for Hayden. I got to shake his hand. I really didn't know who he was until I went to all those games the next fall. Those were some great memories. I actually have my picture in the 1980 Football Year Book cheering when Iowa sacked UCLA's QB and scored the only TD and beat them! Loved Hayden Loved Iowa Football

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Went to the Iowa football camps in 79, that year I fell in love with Hawkeye football. Got to know Carl Jackson Jr and his dad. Carl Jr took me up to see Hayden in his office. Hayden was the friendliest person I've ever met and as a 13 year old he was awesome to talk to. I had some wide eyes! As I walked out of his office Andre Tippett walked in and was looking for Hayden. I got to shake his hand. I really didn't know who he was until I went to all those games the next fall. Those were some great memories. I actually have my picture in the 1980 Football Year Book cheering when Iowa sacked UCLA's QB and scored the only TD and beat them! Loved Hayden Loved Iowa Football

Andre Tippet is one of my all-time favorite Hawks! Him & Cook are why I became a Patriots fan long ago.