First FRYfest since Hayden Fry's death canceled due coronavirus
CORALVILLE, Iowa — FRYfest 2020, which would have been the first FRYfest since the passing of legendary Hawkeye football coach Hayden Fry. has been canceled.
Monica Nieves, the director of the annual celebration, confirmed the news saying it was a difficult decision to make.
“We were hopeful that FRYfest would be an opportunity to bring our community back together after a challenging summer of cancelations," Nieves said. "The continued health concerns related to COVID-19 pandemic has forced our hand to cancel.”
Fry passed away last December at the age of 90. He spent nearly two decades on the sidelines of Kinnick Stadium from 1979 to 1998.
Fry helped bring the Hawkeyes back to prominence just a couple years after he was hired taking the team to the Rose Bowl in 1981.
He took Iowa to a total of three Rose Bowls and three Big Ten championships.
The Big Ten announced Thursday that all fall sports would play conference-only games, including football. The goal would be to limit the spread of coronavirus and limit the schedule to only teams following Big Ten protocols.
That means Iowa will not play UNI, Iowa State, and Northern Illinois in 2020. FRYfest was scheduled on September 4, a day before the UNI game.
A new schedule for Iowa has not been released. It is unclear if the opponents and game dates will remain the same or change.
The FRYfest committee has not ruled out the possibility of a smaller celebration "if it can be done responsibly and in accordance with local health guidelines" in October.
