Wife of former Iowa football star Ronnie Harmon speaks about racism
An open letter to HawkFanatic.com
I am married to Ronnie Harmon. For folks who might not know, Ronnie was a running back who played for Iowa Football from 1982-1985.
I am now president of a national scholarship nonprofit in Washington, DC, and have thought about the accusations of racial disparities in the Iowa football program. I have reflected on my past experiences at Iowa and also my husband’s.
Anyone who was a Hawkeye Football fan in the 1980s knows that Ronnie was accused of taking money to throw the 1986 Rose Bowl. The late Iowa head coach Hayden Fry shared publicly his belief that Ronnie did not “throw” the game, and I won’t bore readers with the incongruity of this accusation and Ronnie’s work ethic, integrity, deep love of the game, and the commitment and perseverance he demonstrated to come back strong after he broke his leg in the 1984 Wisconsin-Iowa game. It is hurtful to hear false accusations about a game that he and his teammates worked to get to for their entire four years together.
This brings me to current events and current questions about the racial culture we live in as a country and on our alma mater’s campus.
Hayden Fry tried to strike a balance between instilling respect and manners in his men (no hats allowed EVER in the building/facilities, and suit coats mandatory to and from games) and allowing them to express themselves and their culture. They were allowed to keep their hair as they chose and wear their gold chains and “urban” clothing.
But these young men battled daily life in Iowa City with stereotypes and racism, and they lived with the fear that their actions, gestures, vernacular, and even just being Black in a historically predominantly white community could put them in a compromising or even dangerous situation. Today these same men still experience racism from fellow students, community members, and the very coaches who made similar promises to their parents to support and protect them.
I read Pat Harty’s article, “Ronnie Harmon is One of the Greatest Hawkeyes of All Time, But Don’t Remind Iowa Fans of That.” He characterizes Ronnie as “allusive.” “never seemed comfortable in the spotlight,” and his actions [three dropped passes in the Rose Bowl] “suspicious.”
Former Iowa football players shared instances of racial injustice and disparities in the Iowa program. I would argue these players have fought bias and racism within the department, but also the fan base in the predominately white state of Iowa, with a Black population in 1980 of 1.4 percent and 4 percent in 2018 (State Data Center of Iowa, Feb. 2020 report).
In the early 80s, Hayden Fry began recruiting for “skill positions” in urban areas, like New Jersey and New York City. He personally went to recruits’ homes, sat down in their living rooms, looked their parents in the eyes and promised to support and protect them. Iowa Football may still recruit in this way, but I’m concerned with how they actually support and protect Black players, many of whom have grown up in areas, in cultures, and in homes distinctly different from those in the Midwest.
I believe the impact and weight of being Black in Iowa caused Ronnie and other Black student athletes who’ve come after him to appear “allusive” and “uncomfortable in the spotlight” especially within a culture of double standards, unfair treatment, lack of support, and discriminatory behavior toward Black athletes. Other white players during the 1985 season had games where they played “out of character.” They were never wrongly accused of taking bribes or falsely accused of illegal behavior for lackluster play. They were allowed to be white young adults who had bad days while their teammates were accused of being Black men with ulterior and sinister motives.
Ronnie’s experiences at Iowa, while more public than most, are not unique. I call for Iowa and other football programs to look hard at how they support their Black players:
- Lift up and validate their lived experiences as Black men
- Value their contributions to the team as Black MEN, not only football players
- Have equitable representation of Black coaches, mentors, and staff
- Have equal representation of white and black players in awards and pictures demonstrating accomplishment in their facilities.
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- Believe Black players when they speak about racial injustice and racism occurring to them or others in their lives
- Remove staff, including coaches who abuse their power by creating and maintaining a hostile and racist culture
- Have an equitable system whereby White and Black players have the same rights and privileges.
I understand fans were disappointed in 1986, but I am appalled by the leap to judgement that involved constructing false narratives about a seventeen-year-old student-athlete, deceitfully criminalizing him, and devaluing his athletic contributions, which still go unrecognized in the University of Iowa Hall of Fame (as do the efforts of entire 1986 team).
Now is the moment in this country to value and learn from the differences we have from one another. Please listen to the truth being shared, believe the student-athletes and do your part to demand systemic change from your leaders and your community.
Dr. Noël Suzanne Harmon