PHOTOS: Hayden Fry Way unveiled

It was classic Hayden Fry.

The legendary University of Iowa football coach is back in town today, drawn by the inaugural FRY Fest.

The event, a celebration of the Hawkeyes in general and Fry in particular, kicked off this morning with the unveiling of Hayden Fry Way, which is what Coralville's First Avenue is now co-named.

Fry brought with him that southern drawl, phrases like “honky-tonkin'” and “sody pop” and his trademark wit.

He said he recognized many faces in the crowd of several hundred - and all the voices.

“Particularly those of you 20 seats behind the bench” when a play didn't go right, he said.

First Avenue - make that First Avenue Hayden Fry Way - is one of the busiest stretches of road in the Coralville-Iowa City area and was on the route Fry took to work during his 20 years as coach.

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It's also one of the main routes to Kinnick Stadium, and Fry joked that he could imagine how opposing teams will feel when their bus hits Hayden Fry Way.

“This is truly unbelievable,” he said.

“Unbelievable” is a word some might use to describe Fry's tenure at Iowa. “Legend” is one that was used frequently this morning to describe the man.

“Some people are just bigger than life,” Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta said.

UI President Sally Mason said the school has had a lot of people reach great heights in academics and athletics, “but Hayden Fry certainly stands out among these legends.”

Fry is credited with returning a floundering Iowa football program to glory. From 1979-98, he amassed a record of 143-89-6, won three Big Ten titles and took Iowa to 14 bowl games.

He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Fry is famous for the coaching tree that stems from him, with many of his assistants becoming head coaches.

“I'm so old, one of them has already come out of retirement,” he said.

Fry turned 80 this year and has battled cancer. But he looked good this morning. He even wore his trademark mustache, although, alas, no white pants.

Fans were ecstatic to see again see Fry, who retired to Nevada.

“Remarkable,” said Dennis Breer, 63. “He's got good wit. He really enjoys it.”

Breer and his wife, Ilajean, got up at 4:30 a.m. to drive over from the Des Moines suburb of Clive for the event.

Younger Hawkeye fans were there too. Mitch and Emily Walters, 34 and 28, respectively, drove down from Cedar Falls.

“My dad used to tell me I was baptized a Hawkeye,” Emily said.

They brought their 7-month-old son. Care to guess his name? Hayden, of course. There was never any debate, his father said.

“That's the best coach,” Mitch said.

Other events planned for today include a Hawkeye trade show and tailgate party, a broadcasters panel, Fry look-alike and sound-a-like contests, a pep rally and concert.

Coralville has proclaimed it Hayden Fry Day, and Mayor Jim Fausett gave Fry a key to the city.

Iowa opens its season Saturday at home against the University of Northern Iowa.