Frank Lauterbur

Francis Xavier Lauterbur (August 8, 1925 - November 20, 2013) served as the head coach at the University of Iowa from 1971 to 1973, compiling a 4-28-1 record. Lauterbur was hired as the 22nd head coach in the history of Iowa football before the 1971 season. He was expected to bring strong defense to Iowa, since his 1970 Toledo team had led the nation in total defense and pass defense and ranked second in the nation in scoring defense. Iowa went just 1-10 in Lauterbur's first season in 1971, which was not a big surprise, considering that Iowa had graduated 17 starters off of a team that had won just three games the previous season. In 1972, Iowa improved to 3-7-1 and played competitively in most of the losses. Several players were set to return in 1973, and it looked as though progress was being made. The 1973 season was a disaster. Iowa finished with the worst record in school history. The Hawkeyes lost all 11 games in 1973 to finish the year 0-11. The only other winless season in Iowa history occurred in 1889, their inaugural campaign, when they lost the only game they scheduled that year. Lauterbur was later an assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL). His name was often abbreviated as FXL in newspapers.

Born 8/8/1925 and died on 11/20/2013 at the age of 88.

HEAD COACH SEASONS

1971-1972 Football
1972-1973 Football
1973-1974 Football

VIDEOS

BOOKS and MOVIES

FAMOUS QUOTES from Frank Lauterbur

I may go hunting tomorrow, but I promise not to shoot myself.
...from Iowa vs. Illinois on 11/20/1971

This is no business for a pessimist. Things were even worse when I took over at Toledo and we got them turned around. We can do it here. We have some fine young men at Iowa, and now it is just a matter of going out and getting some more players.
...from Iowa vs. Illinois on 11/20/1971

We decided to go with Fick because he is a better runner, we thought that would give our running game a better chance outside. Yes, we knew Sunderman had a chance at breaking some Big Ten records, but we play to win football games. What are individual records compared to the chance to win games.
...from Iowa vs. Indiana on 11/13/1971 - Lauterbur talking about starting Rob Fick at quarterback over Frank Sunderman.

It was the worst quarter I've ever seen, Michigan is one heck of a good football team, but like I said before the game, you can't make mistakes against a team like that. We made an ocean full, and if you don't make them drive for touchdowns, they're going to get a lot of points. That is exactly what happened.
...from Iowa vs. Michigan on 11/6/1971

It feels great! You know the greatest thing about our victory today, the thing that gave me the biggest kick? It was our goal-line stand there in the second quarter after they were given that safety. Wisconsin got a first down on our three. Our kids threw them back to the five and took over on downs...This team did a heckuva job. They just kept coming back and believed in themselves. There were a lot of people who gave up on us and that makes it harder for the team. This whole squad has a lot of character.
...from Iowa vs. Wisconsin on 10/30/1971

Well, I guess that's 'welcome to the Big Ten,' There will be other days.
...from Iowa vs. Michigan State on 10/23/1971 - Lauterbur talking about Michigan State attempting long pass plays in the fourth quarter up 34-3.

That was my fault, I should have sent in a different play. Yeah, I know Minnesota blitzed by sending two men in off the corner, and they moved into that defense late, but I should have had a different play in there.
...from Iowa vs. Minnesota on 10/16/1971

I've been beaten before, but this is our football team and we've got to build our team, because it's Iowa that we're playing for and that we're proud of, and it's time to quit talking about my past.
...from Iowa vs. Oregon State on 9/18/1971

They took that (bleep) football and rammed it up our (bleep) (bleep.) We tackled poorly and didn't hit well.
...from Iowa vs. Ohio State on 9/11/1971

I felt like Custer against all those Indians. That's the most points scored against me in coaching.
...from Iowa vs. Ohio State on 9/11/1971

I'm nervous and anxious. Sure, I've gotten ready for a lot of games in the past, but that old pregame feeling never changes. I'm not going to risk getting an ulcer by keeping it inside me.
...from Iowa vs. Ohio State on 9/11/1971 - Lauterbur talking to the media in the hotel the morning of the Ohio State game. Lauterbur was chain smoking cigarettes.

A tie will never replace a victory, but sometimes you've got to crawl before you can run. I was very proud of the way we played, especially in the second half when our defense did a whale of a job.
...from Iowa vs. Michigan State on 10/28/1972

It was a judgement call. I didn't think it was very good judgement, but squawking. There were other things that hurt us that we had more control of.
...from Iowa vs. Penn State on 9/30/1972

We had a letdown in the second quarter, but we played a real fine second half. If we hadn't hurt ourselves with fumbles and penalties, we would have run them right out of the stadium.
...from Iowa vs. Wisconsin on 11/4/1972

We simply didn't play defense and they were great on offense. I think their not going into a huddle upset our rhythm, and the boys weren't going after the ball as they did in previous games.
...from Iowa vs. Minnesota on 10/21/1972

The officials didn't realize how hard it's been to score touchdowns around here.
...from Iowa vs. Oregon State on 9/23/1972 - Lauterbur talking about Dave Harris getting a penalty for spiking the ball after his 61 yard touchdown run.

We moved him to first team because of the job he did at Ohio State. It was a puzzle to us all of last year why he couldn't get started. We always regarded him as a fine runner. I guess maybe it was just that there wasn't enough blocking.
About Frank Holmes ...from Iowa vs. Oregon State on 9/23/1972

Who's got a cigarette?
...from Iowa vs. Oregon State on 9/23/1972 - Coach Lauterbur asking reporters for a cigarette in the post game press conference.

Bobby's a man I'd want on my side in a street fight. He'll knock you down, and anybody else who's standing, never break a sweat and keep smiling all the time.
About Bob Elliott

Bump Elliott talked to me yesterday afternoon concerning adjustments on my staff. I did not think I could do so and still be in command of the football situation at Iowa. With this in mind Bump fired me as of yesterday. There is no discussion of my contract with Bump, and I will still be paid for the next two years, whether I get a job or not. The Michigan State game will be my final one at Iowa. I did not resign, I was fired.
- Frank Lauterbur in his Tuesday press conference the week of the Michigan State game. Bump Elliott disputed that Lauterbur had been fired.

Probably the first and foremost thing on my mind is where I'll be working next year. I really don't have a preference - pro or college - but I'm going to stay in coaching. I'll go where I fit in. My first concern is to get my staff situated. I want to thank all of you from the news media for being great to me. I know it's been tough as we all like winning football, but you all have been great, and I will look forward to seeing you another time.
...from Iowa vs. Michigan State on 11/24/1973

When you're 0-8, what the hell, you can take risks.
...from Iowa vs. Wisconsin on 11/10/1973 - Lauterbur talking about attempting an onside kick on the opening kick off.

There is no excuse for our defense to play this poorly. We again were guilty of bad tackling, and somehow we've just got to improve on defense.
...from Iowa vs. Purdue on 11/3/1973

When you're getting beat, the other team has the right to do anything they want.
...from Iowa vs. Purdue on 11/3/1973 - Lauterbur talking about Purdue going for two, up 48-23 late in the fourth quarter.

This game was simply one in which one team executed the simple basics of football and the other did not. A big difference between the two teams was they tackled well and we didn't. You can't use the playing conditions as an excuse although they were the worst we've had all year. I'd much rather play on artificial surface, but the conditions were the same for both team.
...from Iowa vs. Illinois on 10/27/1973

Where the hell is some music? Give us some music.
...from Iowa vs. Minnesota on 10/20/1973 - Lauterbur yelling at the band during Minnesota's final drive against the Hawkeyes.

Our players want to fight, but I don't know if there are enough people around here that want to fight. All people want to do is talk about why we lose and how often we lose. They don't give these players something to fight for, or something to believe in. Some damn fine men stood on that field today. I wonder how many people would do the same thing.
...from Iowa vs. Minnesota on 10/20/1973 - Post game press conference where coach Lauterbur was yelling at the media members about fan support.

FAMOUS QUOTES about Frank Lauterbur

I am to close to Coach Lauterbur to let anything like that bother me. It was just one of those unfortunate things.
Bob Elliott ...from Iowa vs. Michigan State on 11/24/1973 - Elliott responding to questions after the Michigan State game, about Lauterbur being fired by his father Bump Elliott earlier that week.