[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 15, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E203-E204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO NORM PARKER

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 15, 2012

  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the historic 
career of the Iowa Hawkeye nation's legendary Defensive Coordinator, 
Norm Parker.
  Norm came to Iowa City in 1999 with a new coaching staff faced with 
the daunting task of reestablishing the Iowa Hawkeyes as a powerhouse 
football program on the national stage. Coach Parker played a pivotal 
role in accomplishing this task in short order by consistently coaching 
the Hawkeye defense into one of the nation's best. Norm built the 
Hawkeye defense into one of the most consistently dominant defensive 
units in all of college football both statistically and physically.
  Over the last 13 years, Coach Parker has coached 34 players, prior to 
this year's upcoming draft, that have gone on to play at the sport's 
highest level in the National Football League. At the University of 
Iowa, Norm's rushing defense finished among the nation's top ten on 
five separate occasions, in addition to three top-ten scoring defenses 
in the last four years.
  Any fan of college football knows that Coach Parker held a commitment 
to his program that is unlike any other, and in 2010, despite his 
battle with serious medical issues, coached the Hawkeyes to a fifth-
ranked national defense, sixth-ranked rushing defense, and seventh-
ranked scoring defense before finishing the season as the Insight Bowl

[[Page E204]]

Champions. In 2011, Norm announced his retirement just weeks after 
being awarded the nation's Assistant Coach of the Year by the American 
Football Coaches Association.
  Throughout his 48-year football career, Norm has held himself to the 
highest standards of professionalism and commitment. His success as a 
defensive coach is only matched by his impact as a positive role model 
for countless young Iowans, on and off the field. Whether you are a fan 
of the Hawkeyes, the Cyclones, the Bulldogs or the Panthers, there is 
no denying the profound impact Coach Parker has had on college football 
and the state of Iowa in general.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe Iowa sportscaster Jon Miller said it best when 
he proclaimed, ``Simply put, Iowa football would not be Iowa football 
without Norm Parker. Iowa football will have a tough time remaining 
Iowa football without Norm Parker.'' The impact Coach Parker has had on 
Hawkeye football and the state of Iowa will be evident for decades. 
Even as a Cyclone, it is my distinct honor to represent all college 
football fans across Iowa, the nation, and in the United States 
Congress, in thanking Coach Norm Parker for his commitment and 
dedication to the sport of football, his students, and the people of 
Iowa and wishing Norm and his wife Linda a long, happy and healthy 
retirement with much less stressful Saturdays.

                          ____________________