Hayden Fry

Book excerpt: A "high porch picnic" is a Texas expression for "an exceptionally good time." Considering Hayden Fry's glorious career as one of college football's most unique coaches, that's a good way to describe his life. Ranked 10th on the all-time collegiate list for Division I victories, Fry successfully combined his football coaching savvy with a down-home charm to make him one of the game's most colorful personalities. Hayden Fry tells of his childhood days in Odessa, Texas, his introduction of African-American athletes to the Southwest Conference, his relationships with various politicians and celebrities, such as George Bush and Roy Orbison, and his rise to fame as the State of Iowa's most recognizable citizen.