Your Best Johnny Orr Stories here.
- Thread starter Knownothing
- Start date
After first seeing this thread this morning I've been debating all day about what to add.
After spending many hours just being sad I started remembering the really funny stuff.
Coach Orr was bigger than life.He was the basketball coach but he also had a positive influence on
the football program at the time.Mostly with his sense of humor.Bless his heart.
Most of the stories I could tell would include too many dirty words .I dont feel like ....... things out.
I think the one story I'll tell,for now, will be one of the first stories I remember about him .Certainly not the funniest but
one I'll never forget.
Summer day and we just finished lifting weights and decided to run the steps at Hilton.Coach Orr came out and told us we needed to go back to the weights....and take Ronnie Virgil with us because "he is so dam skinny he has to jump around in the shower just to get his ... wet"
Funniest thing I've ever heard at the time.
Thanks again for everything Coach.
After spending many hours just being sad I started remembering the really funny stuff.
Coach Orr was bigger than life.He was the basketball coach but he also had a positive influence on
the football program at the time.Mostly with his sense of humor.Bless his heart.
Most of the stories I could tell would include too many dirty words .I dont feel like ....... things out.
I think the one story I'll tell,for now, will be one of the first stories I remember about him .Certainly not the funniest but
one I'll never forget.
Summer day and we just finished lifting weights and decided to run the steps at Hilton.Coach Orr came out and told us we needed to go back to the weights....and take Ronnie Virgil with us because "he is so dam skinny he has to jump around in the shower just to get his ... wet"
Funniest thing I've ever heard at the time.
Thanks again for everything Coach.
When I lived in Helser back in the early 1990's, my house invited Johnny up for a visit. He accepted our invitation and we all sat in a room for an hour or more listening to his stories. That is one of my fondest memories from ISU.
I had the pleasure of golfing with Coach a few times. I had (have) a habit of topping the ball on my drives when I'm trying to kill it. Back in the 80's, before the athletic center was built I had topped a drive and it barely rolled past the lady's tee. One of our foursome crushed one at 350-ish. Johnny, without missing a a chance to bust my stones says, "Hey, did you guys here about the new massive athletic center the university is building? Yeah, it's going to fit somewhere between *****'s p*ss-poor shot and Randy's!" I still use this one even today.
I was sitting in the stands behind the bench when we played Minnesota. Randy Brewer was Minnesota's all everything Big 10 player and David Moss was supposed to guard him. Moss was holding his own but didnt something stupid, got a technical and was benched by Orr. The game goes on for about a five minutes and I see Orr walk in front of the players and as he walks by Moss he freezes and says, " God dammit Moss ". I know it doesnt sound like much now but that was 32 years ago and I still laugh when I think about it. He was so charismatic and drove the crowd into a frenzy as he walked in.
I was at ISU when Johnny was Coach. Having grown up a huge ISU fan...I had Season tickets every year. My Dad was a Cyclone Club member, and attended many of the outings in NW Iowa. I heard dozens of funny stories (edited for content I'm sure) about those events.
A few years ago, Dad was diagnosed with a very bad form of cancer...he was only 62. The next day, my husband happened to be staying at a hotel in Eastern Iowa. When he went down for the continental breakfast the next morning, Johnny was sitting at a table with another gentleman. Although hesitant to interrupt, the hubby decided to see if Johnny might sign something for Dad. Not only did Coach take the time to write a note of encouragement, he pulled out a chair so that my husband could join them for breakfast. He wanted to know all of the details...where he may have met Dad...what treatments they would be doing, etc. Then, he talked about Romie and her diagnosis; they talked for half an hour until my husband had to leave for an appointment.
Dad was thrilled with the note; he kept it by his hospital bed during his treatments. It was at his funeral alongside the stuffed Mascots, red/gold bouquets, etc. Johnny truly "loved" the Cyclone Nation....and for little things like this....we will love him back forever. I hope that they watched the game together last night!
A few years ago, Dad was diagnosed with a very bad form of cancer...he was only 62. The next day, my husband happened to be staying at a hotel in Eastern Iowa. When he went down for the continental breakfast the next morning, Johnny was sitting at a table with another gentleman. Although hesitant to interrupt, the hubby decided to see if Johnny might sign something for Dad. Not only did Coach take the time to write a note of encouragement, he pulled out a chair so that my husband could join them for breakfast. He wanted to know all of the details...where he may have met Dad...what treatments they would be doing, etc. Then, he talked about Romie and her diagnosis; they talked for half an hour until my husband had to leave for an appointment.
Dad was thrilled with the note; he kept it by his hospital bed during his treatments. It was at his funeral alongside the stuffed Mascots, red/gold bouquets, etc. Johnny truly "loved" the Cyclone Nation....and for little things like this....we will love him back forever. I hope that they watched the game together last night!
I was at ISU from 85 to 89, so got to experience the real magic years with him. It was kind of a lottery system to even get tickets to games back then. The reason Hilton is feared today is because of the foundation he built. Tim Floyd, Larry Eustachy, Fred Hoiberg would have never come here if it wasn't for Johnny Orr.
I got the chance to meet John a number of times over the years. He liked to joke, drink and play basketball. Love this thread because it brings back all those fond memories of him and what he did for ISU. He was one of a kind and they broke the mold after he came along. RIP John!
I got the chance to meet John a number of times over the years. He liked to joke, drink and play basketball. Love this thread because it brings back all those fond memories of him and what he did for ISU. He was one of a kind and they broke the mold after he came along. RIP John!
Brand new story: Johnny Orr stole the front page of the Des Moines Register (and the front sports page) from Iowa on the day they are playing in a January bowl.
Way to stick it to them one more time Coach.
Way to stick it to them one more time Coach.
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
Have to give credit where it is due- the Register had a very nice four page tribute to Johnny (and I am saving it).
Can somebody post a pic of the paper? Would love to see it, and website doesn't do justice. TIA
Jamie Pollard @IASTATEAD19m
Great video for all Cyclone fans to watch for great memories of Coach Orr. Bettin on A Good Time: http://youtu.be/FzSUbDO-ayM via @youtube
Great video for all Cyclone fans to watch for great memories of Coach Orr. Bettin on A Good Time: http://youtu.be/FzSUbDO-ayM via @youtube
They sure don't make them like that anymore. And I say that in reference to Walden's wooden teeth.
<3 Johnny.
That's hilarious! I'm sure glad ISU marketing/production standards are better today!
I remember the story of when indiana & knight came to town & johnny sent someone to greet there bus as they arrived. Johnny instructed him to collect $5 for parking from the indiana bus. Knight was livid not knowing it came from johnny, so he storms into hilton to grett johnny, whose just rolling in amusement.
Just browsing Johnny videos on youtube now.
There are some gems out there. Some less than family content too.
Iowa State's Johnny Orr talks masturbation - YouTube
There are some gems out there. Some less than family content too.
Iowa State's Johnny Orr talks masturbation - YouTube
"I get a kick out of how a bunch of authorities guys are who have never been to my practices. That amazes me how they can tell me what's wrong with my team. And I must really be dumb because I'm there every day and god damn I have a hard time figuring it out sometimes."
"One time I got into an argument with a writer. Threw the ******* out of my office. And I'll never do that again because that son of ***** never wrote a good word about me for ten years."
