Iowa City Press-Citizen from Iowa City, Iowa • Page 7

SATURDAY, November 21, 1998 HAYDEN FRY Iowa City Press-Citizen 7A Your view Retired coaches reflect oe decision with retirement. "If you don't really have the attitude that you're dying to do it, then you ought to think about leaving if you can," James said. "I think Fry has enough money now to retire." 'Change your habits' Nearly every fall, former Michigan State University coach George Pcrles could anticipate meeting Iowa in a Big Ten conference game. Perles, 64, coached MSU from 1983 to 1994. He lives in East Lansing with his wife, Sally, and calls Fry a dear friend.

In his 11 years at MSU, Perles guided the Spartans to two Big Ten titles, a Rose Bowl victory and a school-record four consecutive trips to post-season bowl games (1987-1990). He previously served as defensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972 and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 1978 and then assistant head coach in 1979. In those years, he created a strong defense that helped Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl championships (1974-75-78-79). Perles left the Michigan State program in 1994 after recording a 5-6 season. Coaching at Michigan State was a End of career can be tough but rewarding By Grace Shim and Kathryn A.

Ratliff The Press-Citizen Just as Hayden Fry is synonymous with Hawkeye football, former coach Eddie Robinson is synonymous with the Grambling State University program. The 79-year-old University of Iowa alumnus retired from a record 57 years of coaching after the 1997 season. But he is still employed as a part-time senior adviser to the university president. "It's somewhat like football, the way we have meetings to decide how to move the school forward," he said from his Grambling, home. With Fry to announce next week whether he will stay on with the Hawkeyes, several high-profile former coaches reflect on their own difficult decisions to step down and life after football.

They understand that such a decision is not only life-changing for a coach, but for the fans who pack the stands year after year. Because they know a coach can be more than a coach. He can be the sun that an entire program and an entire state revolve around. When a coach decides to retire, Robinson said, there is a period of great experience, Perles said, because of his memories and attachment to the university. It was there that he earned two degrees, played football, coached under I i i 1 i Perles Duffy Daugherty from 1967-72 and A time when he gets himself ready." "You realize that there comes a time for change," he said.

"You know your age, know what you're doing, and the only certainty of football is uncertainty." Robinson Press-CitizenScott Norris Iowa head coach Hayden Fry looks on while fans cheer as the Hawkeyes take the field before their game with Arizona earlier this season. Fry is expected to announce his career plans next week. What should Hayden do? definitely think Hayden Fry-should retire. I feel he should have retired really quite some time ago. It's time to step down.

Patricia Van Rollins, Iowa City think Hayden Fry should retire. If you look at where we were when he came here and where we are now, we have gone fidl-eirele. He came and resurrected the program, and the last few years we have been on the decline. I am grateful to Fry that he came here and made us known and got Iowa on the map, hut I think it is time for him to step down. Mike Goedken, Solon hope Coach Fry doesn 7 retire.

He has brought class and respect to this program, and I want him to do what he wants to do. A had season for the team is of course not something we want, but it's also something that makes us stronger and more dedicated to doing better in the future. Carol Everett, Coralville I'm in favor of Hayden Fry staying at Iowa as long as he 's able to coach. I think he's a wonderful person and a wonderful coach. He 's a super coach and a high-class man and a good role model for the kids of Iowa City.

Colleen Thompson, Iowa City feel that he should retire because the team has not been doing well, and they need some new enthusiasm and new blood brought into the program. Julie Spencer, Iowa City don 't think Hayden should retire. I think, however, he should replace some of his weaker assistant coaches. I don 't think he has lost any ability to coach football. I do think he doesn't have the coiisLUncy he us.

And I think lie knows tliat. Jim Wachendorf, Coralville think Hayden should stay until he no longer wants to coach football. I remember all those long years before he came here, and I am afraid that we might see bad times again after he leaves, so I am in no hurry to get rid of him. He has done a givat job, and let us give him his due. Dean Shannon, Iowa City graduated from the University of Iowa in 1968 and have been an Iowa football fan since.

I moved to Ann Arbor, for 24 years. The University of Michigan gets all the talent it wants and it was fun watching them win almost every game. What has been more fun is watching the crafty Hayden Fry either beat, tie or scare the heck out of the mighty Wolverii.es. This was always done with much less football talent Iowa just had better coaching. Gary Calhoun, Coralville Hayden Fry should continue as coach.

Too many people have forgotten what Iowa was before Hayden Fry. I truly believe Hayden Fiy has probably forgotten morefootlxill than most people or most coaches know. Terry Bowton, Coralville think Coach Fry should nitre. We should go hunting from outside of what we have. I think the University of Iowa deserves a name coach and not a rookie.

I'm open to a replacement with due respect to Hayden Fry. Sean Bonebrake, Ainsworth Hayden Fry should continue as coach. He's been a good coach: we 're just having a down year. Hayden should continue to coach as long as he feels he's got it in him. Paul Bender, Wellman think Hayden Fry should continue as long as he so desires to coach the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Larry Muller, Kalona Hayden has given Iowa a lot of thrills on the football field, some fame in bowl games, and we really appreciate all of his events, but right now he needs to step down and relax and watch the world go by and let Iowa move ahead with a brand-new coach. Sarah Putney, Iowa City Hayden should stay, and he should coach till he and Joe Paterno could meet each other. They will both be 70 next fall (it will be the) first time in NCAA Division I history that has happened two opposing coaches over 70 on the same field. He deserves to stay as long as he wants. I predict whoever replaces him will be a very boring button-down type guy, and we will miss Hayden tremendously.

Gary Sanders, Iowa City spent two years as athletic director in 1991-92. The biggest highlight of his college coaching career was going to the Rose Bowl and winning against Southern Cal in 1987, Perles said. Leaving the program took some adjustment a coach is used to entering the office at 7 a.m. and working until 10 or 1 1 p.m., he said. "You have to change your habits," Perles said.

As his post-Spartan record shows, a former coach does not retreat to the couch, a remote control and a bag of potato chips. Perles said he was fortunate to become involved in broadcasting and provided color commentary for several Big Ten and Mid-American Conference football games. Then he became involved with the all-star Hula Bowl, picking athletes from the Midwest to play in Maui. This year, Iowa's Eric Thigpen, senior safety, will play in the Hula Bowl on Jan. 24.

"My plate is pretty full," Perles said. Should Fry decide to retire, Perles said he would not be surprised if his friend decided to buy a ranch and raise horses. The Frys would also enjoy traveling, he said. "It will be very hard for anyone to duplicate what he has done," Perles said. "He has been a great moral friend who you could trust any day.

I think he'll find plenty to do. He's a very intelligent man who has plenty of friends." with his eight grandchildren. He and his wife, Carol, split their time between Seattle and Tucson, where And no matter what, people always will compare the new coach to the predecessor, Robinson said. Like Fry, Robinson has had an illustrious career. Among his many accomplishments, Robinson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997 and broke the 400-win barrier in 1995.

Despite his wealth of experience, Robinson said he could not give Fry any advice. "Because I realize it would be tough to give me any advice about how to retire after a number of years," Robinson said. Robinson said his love for football led him to get to know the athletic department and the players well when he attended the University of Iowa from the late 1940s to the mid-1950s and earned his master's degree. Despite the fact he was not a coach at the time, he said, "I always got into heated discussions with (Assistant Coach) Frank Carideo and Eddie Anderson." 'He'll enjoy It' Former University of Washington football coach Don James, who retired after 18 years in August 1993, his son Jeff Woodruff is a backficld football coach at the University of Arizona. Some of his former stints include hosting a college football radio show for Seattle sports fund raising or going to or watching games.

"There's always something. In fact we saw the (Huskies) women's team beat up on Iowa," he said of the 84-76 Nov. 15 basketball game. In retrospect, James said he recalled that it was fun winning two Rose Bowls against Iowa. In 1982, the Huskies won 28-0, and in 1991 the Huskies won really like him," he said of Fry.

"We travel together, but I like golf a little more than he does." James said a coach should retire when football is no longer fun. "I think the outside interest, the traveling we've done, the cruises and the time with family, I'm glad I did it," he said, adding he is not bored does have a few words of advice for two-time Rose Bowl rival Fry. "I don't want to push him into anything, but I think if it's something he wants to do, he should do it," James said of retirement. "But I want to tell him he'll enjoy it." James, 65, spoke from his Seattle home this week. He ranked fourth on the all-time bowl game coaching victory list in 1992 and led the Huskies to a 12-0 record in 1991, but James said there is plenty to do outside of football.

James gives speeches and works in public relations with Seafirst Bank and is chairman of many Seattle-area auctions and fund-raisers, in addition to various other activities. James said he also spends time James talk radio station KJR from 1993 to 1997 and being on the board of the Seattle and King County United Way board from 1995 to 1998. James said there's a lot you can do with the university, whether it's GjfTTTirrfjIFTtD I Fry's record at Iowa Bom: Feb. 28, 1929, Eastland, Tex. College: Baylor, B.S.

(Psychology), 1951 Assistant Coach at Baylor, 1980 Assistant Coach at Arkansas, 1961 South Methodist Head Coach, 1962-72. North Texas State Head Coach, 1973-78. Iowa Head Coach, 1979- Going bowling In 20 years, Coach Fry took the Hawkeyes to 14 bowl games. 1962 Rose: Washington 28, towaO 1982 Peach: Iowa 28, Tennessee 22 1983 Gator Florida 14, Iowa 6 1984 Freedom: Iowa 55, Texas 17 1966 Rose: UCLA 45, Iowa 28 1986 Holiday: Iowa 39. S.

Diego St 38 1987 Holiday: Iowa 20, Wyoming 19 1988 Peach: N.C. State 28, Iowa 23 1991 Rose: Washington 46, towa 34 1991 Holiday: Iowa 13, BYU 13 1993 Alamo: California 37, towa 3 1995 Sun: Iowa 38, Washington 18 1996 Alamo: towa 27, Texas Tech 0 1997 Sun: Arizona State 17, towa 7 Year Wins losses Ties Pctg. 1979 5 6 0 .455 1980 4 7 0 .364 1981 8 4 0 .667 1982 8 4 0 .667 1983 9 3 0 .750 1984 8 4 1 .654 1985 10 2 0 .833 1986 9 3 0 .750 1987 10 3 0 .769 1988 6 4 3 .577 1989 5 6 0 .455 1990 8 4 0 .667 1991 10 1 1 .875 1992 5 7 0 .417 1993 6 6 0 .500 1994 5 5 1 .500 1995 8 4 0 .667 1996 9 3 0 .727 1997 7 5 0 .583 1998 3 7 0 .300 Total at Iowa 143 88 6 .603 Teaas Sports Hall of Holiday Bowl Had of Fhw Minnesota job two years ago because he was waiting for the right opportunity, which everybody assumes is his alma mater. Stoops, 38, played defensive back at Iowa under Fry from 1979-82. But now Stoops is closer to his 40th birthday than his 30th.

This could be the last year that he is available. Auburn and Oklahoma already have expressed interest in Stoops, who is the highest-paid coordinator in college football with a $150,000 salary. Stoops and Elliott were considered the leading candidates to replace Fry until Elliott revealed on Nov. 10 that he has a life-threatening blood disorder that could become leukemia. Fry gave Elliott and Stoops strong endorsements at the Big Ten KickotT Luncheon in August.

Elliott likely would be Fry's first choice because they have spent the past 1 1 years together. Elliott's father former UI men's athletic director Chalmers "Bump" Elliott also hired Fry to be the Iowa head coach in 1978. Regardless of who the head coach is next season and beyond, winning will not come easy. It never has at Iowa. The Big Ten is more competitive than it was when Fry arrived in 1979 thanks in large part to Penn State joining the conference.

"It's going to be difficult for somebody to come in here and consistently win with the way college football is changing," Fry said. It also will be difficult for Iowa to win next season if the offensive line continues to struggle. Help is needed immediately. Fry said he will evaluate his assistant coaches alter the season. He will make changes if needed unless he is the change.

1996 Robert UNayiang There will come a time when he wants to do something else. "I'll probably go out into Mother Nature and see what the good Lord's built that I never have experienced or explored," Fry said Tuesday. "In fact, I don't know if I'll ever come to another football game once I get out of it." But what if Fry is too proud or stubborn to get out of coaching after a losing season? Alter all, he is Iowa's all-time win-ningest football coach with a 143-88-6 record. He also ranks fourth among active Division I coaches with 232 career victories. But more important to Iowa fans, Fry did what many thought was impossible by turning a hapless program into a consistent winner.

Fry is smart enough to know when he should retire. He will not make a hasty or self-centered decision based on one bad season unless his ego takes over. Fry likes to remind people that, on two occasions, Iowa played in the Rose Bowl the year alter having a losing season in 1980 and 1989. He also likes to bring up the fact that all but five of Iowa's touchdowns this season were scored by cither a true freshman or redshirt freshman. That sounds like a head coach who wants to be around for at least one more season to stuff his portfolio.

Fry needs only two victories to match former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler's 234 career wins. He needs six victories to catch former Ohio State coach Woody Hayes. Fry said there never is a good time to leave coaching. But it would seem easier for him to leave alter a successful season. So much in today's society is based Fry From 1A head coach.

There are arguments to support both sides of the Fry retirement debate. Fry called this season his worst in 37 years as a Division I head coach. He has dealt with personal tragedies, injuries, academic suspensions, suggestions that he should retire, player defections and superior opponents. Besides being ranked last in the Big Ten in total offense, Iowa is 3-7 overall this season and 4-10 in its last 14 games dating back to last season. Perhaps Fry is not up to the task of repairing the program at an age when most people are well into retirement.

So now could be the right time to step down and let a younger coach assume the challenge of running a multimillion-dollar program that, for the most part, supports nonrevenue sports teams at Iowa. Recruiting is the most important part of building and maintaining a successful Division I college football program. It also is the most demanding part of the business. Especially in a state such as Iowa, which has the smallest population of all the states with Big Ten schools. Fry said recruits have started to ask how long he will remain at Iowa.

That is one of the reasons he wants to make an announcement early next week. "There are a whole lot of factors that have to be given consideration," Fry said. "I mean a lot of factors, and certainly recruiting is one of them." For the past 20 years, Fry has traveled across the country selling himself and the Iowa program to recruits. Memorial Tram Distinguished Alumni, Baylor Univ. Johnny Vaught Lifetime Achievement Anna Texas High School Hall of Fame Sporting News Coach ol the Year ABC-TV Chevrolet Coach ol the Veer Big Ten Coach of the Year (3 timet) Midwest Media Coach of Hie Year American CoSege Football Coaches Association uitlnctottiie rear (twice) United Press International Coach a tne rear 96-60-5 Big Ten record Non-league record Home game record Away-game record OVERALL RECORD AT IOWA 46-28-1 77-38-3 66-50-3 143-88-6 Big Ten championships: 3 Seasons with ten victories: 1985, 1987 and 1991 Season with a No.

1 national ranking: 1985 First division finishes in the Big Ten: 14 Seasons with eight or more victories: 8 Number of times finished in the nation's Top 1 0: 2 In the nation's Top 25: 9 Press-Cozen thing harder than retiring after one losing season is retiring after two. And what if Fry slicks around loo long for Stoops to continue waiting? Stoops reportedly turned down the Source Iowa Hawkeyes 19tf8 Football Media Guide on a what-have-you-done-lately altitude. That is especially true in sports. But what if Fry returns and next year's team finishes with a worst record than this year's team? The only.