Hawk Fanatic podcast: Don Patterson puts wrap on Iowa’s 2024 season and breaks down national title game
By Hawk Fanatic
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Hayden Fry never was a head coach in the NFL, but if he were coaching today, Don Patterson thinks Fry would prefer coaching in the NFL over the current circumstances in college.
Patterson made his comments about Fry during a regular guest appearance on the Hawk Fanatic/KCJJ radio show and podcast on Monday.
Patterson appears on KCJJ radio each Monday during the football season.
His most recent appearance was to put a wrap on Iowa’s 2024 season and to look at the matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame in the national championship game.
Patterson shared his analytical breakdown of the national title game and picked who he thinks will prevail.

He also looked back at Iowa’s 2024 season and forward to the 2025 season, and shares his thoughts on the addition of South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski.
Iowa lost to Missouri 27-24 in the Music City Bowl on Dec. 30 in Nashville, Tennessee to finish 8-5 overall in Kirk Ferentz’s 26th season as head coach.
Patterson thinks Gronowski’s experience as a four-year starter for South Dakota State will help Gronowski overcome not being able to participate in spring practice due to having surgery.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz announced this past Friday that Gronowski would have surgery in the near future and the plan is for Gronowski to be fully recovered by June.
As for the discussion about Hayden Fry, his name came up during our conversation about how much the college landscape has changed due to the impact from NIL and the transfer portal.
Patterson, who coached under Fry throughout Fry’s historical 20-year run at Iowa from 1979 to 1998, was asked Monday if he thought Fry would like being a college head coach under the current circumstances, or would he have chosen to coach in the NFL instead.
Lister here for what Patterson said.
His interview starts at the beginning of the podcast and lasts for about one hour.
Enjoy.