Dreaming of Hawaii: Paterno and Fry reminisce

So, as one might expect, when Iowa coach Hayden Fry ponders the distant islands, his thoughts turn to ... diminutive football coach Joe Paterno.

What?

OK, here's the story:

Mark Snyder Mark My Words

It was a number of years ago - when you're as old as these two, it's "give or take a decade" - when the pair coached on opposite sidelines of the Hula Bowl in the nation's 50th state. With their families in tow, a bond was about to be formed.

Fry's daughter babysat for Paterno's children and the connection was sealed.

As the Big Ten's leaders in coaching seniority, the duo has more in common than most coaches.

Age and experience notwithstanding, the dark sunglasses link the men in the public's eye. But Fry has Paterno on another pedestal altogether.

"I don't think the good Lord put a better person on the face of the earth," Fry said of Paterno, who goes for his 300th victory Saturday against Bowling Green.

The reverence Fry, the dean of Big Ten coaches, holds for Paterno demonstrates the national respect the Penn State coach receives.

"I don't know that college football has a better representative than Joe Paterno," Fry said. "He's the greatest."

And the record books agree. With the victory, Paterno will reach the hallowed plateau faster than any of the five coaches he will join in the exclusive club.

As all the Big Ten coaches weigh in on Paterno's legacy at Penn State, his smoothest move may be debatable. Bringing his university into the future - first through the decision to join the Big Ten and second by his $3.5 million donation to the school - will be Paterno's legacy.

"It was a great move for us (to join the Big Ten.)" Paterno said. "It's been great for Penn State. Our academic part benefited as much as our athletics. It's been a very significant move for Penn State."

The horde of personal attention contrasts directly with Paterno's low-key approach to coaching. But with so many coaches in awe of his accomplishments, it's hard to deflect the spotlight.

The only problem may be that the majority of those peers seem to be eulogizing the still-active coach.

"What else can you say about Joe Paterno," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said. "Joe is going to be remembered as a great ambassador for college football. He's leaving a great legacy."

The only problem is, Paterno isn't leaving. He continues to want to coach until the sun emerges on a Happy Valley November day.

Here's to hoping the only November sun he sees is on his next Hawaii trip.

Snap, crackle, pop: Just one week into the season, Michigan State is fighting an uphill battle. After two devastating losses in consecutive weeks - the first a collapse against Colorado State and the second this week's duck-slap at Oregon - coach Nick Saban is hardly concerned with this week's opponent, suddenlysparkling Notre Dame.

"I'm not very concerned about whoever we're playing this week as I am about ourselves and our confidence," Saban said.

He wants his team to regain "the inner soul and the passion for the game" that has appeared absent since the first half of the Colorado State game.

"We've got to get back to competing that way," Saban said.

Suddenly, Saban may have more to worry about than his team's psyche. Cornerback Amp Campbell, the heart of the Spartan secondary, underwent surgery this week for a neck problem and offensive tackle Shawn Mason - "our best offensive lineman" according to Saban - is out for the year.

Not a good sign with the Jarious Jackson show rolling in.

Are you yellow?: Fry, who probably has forgotten more football than his players have seen, was awestruck by an Iowa first last weekend.

Kahlil Hill, a redshirt freshman playing in his first game for the Hawkeyes, caught the nation's attention by returning a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown, despite handling just three kicks on the day.

"It's the first time that's happened in the history of Iowa," said, Fry, who probably would remember. "He's an extremely gifted, talented young man. I don't know if he'll be in the same category as (former Hawkeye) Tim Dwight, but he'll be outstanding."

Fortunately for Hill, he has a head start on the competition. His father, J.D. Hill, played for nine years in the NFL, with a few for the Buffalo Bills in the 1970s with O.J. Simpson.

This week, the younger Hill faces Iowa State - another chance to display his 'killer' returns.

- Mark Snyder can be reached at msnyder@umich.edu.

09-09-98