One person doesn’t make a culture, but John Streif made Iowa’s so much better
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Even before I started covering University of Iowa athletics, I knew first-hand about the power and influence of John Streif.
He had played a key role in helping my older brother withstand the horrific effects from battling a career-ending staph infection as a member of the Iowa football team in the fall of 1979, mostly just by caring and being there for him.
Sometimes, just caring for somebody and offering support and love can make a huge difference, and that’s what John Streif did for over 40 years as an Iowa athletic trainer before retiring in 2012.
He showed my brother light during the darkest hours, and my brother is one of countless former Hawkeye student-athletes who were touched by the grace of John Streif.
Why am I bringing this up right now with Streif well into his retirement?
Because I started thinking, with the Iowa football program being investigated for accusations of racial disparities and bullying, about all the former black players who have told me over the past three decades how important Streif was during their time in Iowa City.
Some have described Streif as a father figure, while others saw him more as an older brother or close friend.
Whatever role Streif has played, the black players trusted him and felt they could be themselves around him because they said Streif didn’t see color.
Of course, Streif saw color. Anybody who says they don’t see color isn’t being truthful.
A person’s skin color and sex are the first things that get noticed.
It’s how you react to what you see that defines a person, and that’s what the black players were referring to when saying that Streif didn’t see color.
Everyone mattered to Streif, the star quarterback and the third-team long snapper both received the same treatment that was fueled by showing respect and just being a good person.
There was no magic formula for Streif. It came down to treating people from all walks of life with dignity and respect, and being sincere and genuine about it.
It makes you wonder if the environment and culture within the Iowa football program under head coach Kirk Ferentz started to suffer, maybe just a little bit, after Streif retired.
One person certainly doesn’t make a culture, but one person can make a huge difference, and that was John Streif at Iowa.
Black players felt comfortable around Streif because he was true and genuine and maybe the friendliest person you could ever meet.
Streif was their friend when they needed a friend, somebody they could go to at all times for comfort, support and advice.
But for the past eight years, the players haven’t had Streif in their daily lives, and that’s unfortunate.
You knew that Streif wouldn’t be around the athletic department forever, but that still doesn’t make his absence any easier.
Iowa still has a quality training staff, and always will, but there is only one John Streif and his retirement created a huge void that will never be filled.
This isn’t to suggest that Streif’s presence would have kept the racial unrest form happening within the football program. It would be silly to think that one person could have that impact.
But at least the black players would have had somebody they could trust and somebody they could rely on for support during tough times.
I say that in the wake of numerous former black players having shared stories with me about how John Streif helped them persevere and cope with a new and strange, and sometimes uncomfortable and unfriendly environment.
Former Iowa basketball stars Ronnie Lester and B.J. Armstrong both said during radio interviews this spring that Streif played a huge role in their success in college. He helped to stabilize their environment, and he was somebody they could trust because they knew his feelings were genuine, and that he always had their best interest.
“John was a source of strength for me because I knew he cared so much about me, and still does,” Lester said. “He cares about everybody. He’s loved by so many.”
For many of the black athletes at Iowa, college was the first time they were surrounded by mostly white people and it was a culture shock to say the least.
It just seems that somewhere along the way the line between demanding and demeaning was crossed too often within the Iowa football program, and that black players were often the victims.
And if that isn’t bad enough, the black players since 2013 haven’t had John Streif to turn to for comfort and support.
John would be embarrassed if he read this column because it’s never about him. It’s always been about the student-athletes and making sure that they were watched over and protected with love, compassion and an open mind.
John was the softer side of Hawkeye athletics, a side that players, both black and white, needed for balance and for encouragement.
And when he left, maybe the culture started to change for the worse.
It’s just a thought that was recently brought to my attention even more by you guessed it, a former black player.