Phil Haddy wraps up 41 years of memories at Iowa

IOWA CITY - Phil Haddy has been everywhere, man, like an old Johnny Cash song. But after 41 years of serving in Iowa's sports information department, it's time for him to exit stage left.

 This is Haddy's final football season with the Hawkeyes. He started in 1971 promoting Frank Lauterbur's football program. He's withstood the down years of the 70s and basked in the victories of the Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz eras. He's the third-longest tenured sports information official in Big Ten history.

"It's been a great run," Haddy said. "I think I've been good for Iowa. Conversely, they've been absolutely fantastic for me. No person could have had a better job or worked with better people than I did for over 40 years."

Haddy became Iowa's third sports information director in 1993, when he replaced George Wine. Haddy left the position on a full-time level in 2010 when he entered a phased, two-year retirement. Haddy turned over the department to Steve Roe officially in July, and now Haddy serves as a special assistant.

Saturday, Iowa officials will induct Haddy, KCRG sports anchor John Campbell, former Associated Press sports writer Chuck Schoffner and former Waterloo Courier sports editor Kevin Evans into the Kinnick Stadium Media Wall of Fame. They will be honored on the field before Iowa's game against Pittsburgh.

"The thing that is most amazing is his years of service," Ferentz said. "He's done a lot of different things and not just covering football. The wrestling has been dear to his heart. He's served this university and programs well, and that's a long run."

Haddy has chronicled Iowa athletics over the years, from mountains of national wrestling titles under Dan Gable and Tom Brands to Rose Bowls under Fry to a Final Four under Lute Olson. But there's one special memory from a cold November afternoon in 1981 that stands tallest for Haddy.

In the regular-season football finale against Michigan State, Iowa needed to win plus have Ohio State upset Michigan in Ann Arbor to secure the school's first Rose Bowl since the 1958 season. Iowa's game started about 90 minutes later than the televised Ohio State-Michigan tilt, and the Buckeyes won 14-9.

"Hayden kept getting the score from a guy in the stands and he realized this is a reality now," Haddy recalled. "If we beat Michigan State, we're in the Rose Bowl. When it became obvious late in the game, like at the end of the third quarter that we're going to win this thing - I still get choked up even now thinking about it - somebody delivered 20-30 dozen roses to the press box. The university president got on the roof of the press box with just a few minutes left in the game and started throwing roses out to the fans.

"These are people who hadn't been to a bowl game. We're not going to this bowl, or that bowl. We're going to the Rose Bowl after 20-some years of being non-existent. The band started playing "California, Here I Come" without even practicing. Everybody knew the song, you looked around and everybody was crying - they weren't laughing, they were crying - because they were so happy. It's probably the greatest moment I can ever remember."

Haddy also worked through tough moments and survived a heart attack in 1999. But nothing in his professional career stung like the night of Jan. 19, 1993 when Iowa basketball star Chris Street was killed in an car accident on Highway 1.

"The saddest and worst moment I ever had in my 40 years on the job was the night Chris Street died," Haddy said. "I remember getting the call on that, and we all met in our office. (Former basketball coach) Tom Davis was there, everybody was crying. (Former athletics director) Bump Elliott was there. It was absolutely the worst three or four days I can remember from a job standpoint. Just terrible."

Like most who work with sports media, Haddy's weekends are filled with sporting events from late August through March. He credits his wife, Elaine, and his children, Jason and Jamie, for putting up with his absences through the years.  But, he adds, "you give up a lot, but you get a lot. The pluses outnumber the minuses by thousands."

He and his wife have worked a combined 86 years at the University of Iowa.

When Fry came back to Iowa City in August, he shared stories of the old days with both Haddy and Wine. The memories and laughs escalated throughout the evening.

"I have to wear my boots when I'm around the both of them because it gets pretty deep," Fry said. "(Haddy's) a fun guy, and he's got a great memory. He remembers a lot of things that you couldn't really share publicly."

Haddy's known for his jokes, light-hearted candor and for standing behind coaches on live television. Chances are you've seen Haddy even if you've never met the man.

Haddy finds his way in the background of postgame television interviews almost routinely, whether it's a University of Iowa football game or at the Final Four.

"Phil has a knack, a rare ability of always being there," Ferentz said. "One of the first things that came to mind - Rob Houghtlin kicked that field goal (in 1985), right - Phil running out on the field. Phil is always there at that time."

Haddy also has a penchant for finding the best steak house on Iowa's road trips.

 "He always orders the same thing. He gets the extra thick cut," Fry said, laughing.