• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Governor won’t “micromanage” pink locker rooms at University of Iowa

Governor won’t “micromanage” pink locker rooms at University of Iowa

April 22, 2013 By O. Kay Henderson

Governor Terry Branstad

Governor Terry Branstad

Iowa’s governor says it’s up to the coaches, not him, to decide if a pink decor is appropriate for the locker rooms visiting football teams use in Iowa City.

“I am not going to comment on the color of the locker rooms that they paint at the University of Iowa,” Governor Terry Branstad said today. “…I don’t think it’s worthy of the governor interfering with.”

Former University of Iowa coach Hayden Fry had the walls painted pink in the 1980s as a way to “psych out” visiting teams and current coach Kirk Ferentz has retained the tradition.

Two attorneys who spoke at a recent conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth in Iowa say the university is leaving itself open to allegations of sexism and homophobia. Governor Terry Branstad’s not convinced.

“That’s a big issue, my goodness,” Branstad said, laughing, when a reporter asked him about the controversy this morning.

Branstad said he is not going to “micromanage” the football team.

“First of all, they’re under the Board of Regents — the University of Iowa is under that — and then the Athletic Department’s under that. So I’m going to go down and tell the football coach what color he should be painting the locker room?” Branstad asked this morning. “The governor should not be doing those things.”

A spokesman for the university has said the color pink was chosen because it would have a “relaxing and calming effect” on visiting football teams, giving the Hawkeyes an advantage on the field.

Branstad made his comments during his weekly news conference. Find the audio here.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Republican Party, Terry Branstad, University of Iowa

Featured Stories

Abortion opponents call for ‘life at conception’ law to ban all abortions

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

UNI looks to end skid at Evansville

No. 11 Iowa State visits West Virginia

Fast start boosts Drake at Murray State

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC