I had a friend who was a walkon around this time. I remember he echoed your comments about Hartley - said he was the nastiest guy around. Hands of stone as a tight end but was brutal to practice against.
Yeah u didn't want to be that defensive player that Hartley would drive into the 'ground' concrete they called the Memorial Stadium turf.....tight end took great pleasure in those pancakes...story....Mackovic when hired kept White assistants Bob Gambold and Tim Harkness on his staff....Harkness cause he was tight with guys like Hartley, other African American players....Mackovic staff members didn't know what to make of Hartley cause he rarely talked but at that size, way he carried himself...well....anyway staff meeting they bring in Hartley cause they want to move him to tackle or defensive line....Hartley sits with his arms folded (reportedly) and Mackovic is going over why they want to move him....Hartley finally looks at Harkness shakes his head, Harkness says, 'Coach I don't think Frank wants to move to another position'......Mackovic, 'that your final decision Frank?' Hartley nods his head....Mackovic, 'OK well we expect a lot out of you'....Hartley leaves....Harkness then made the TE coach to make sure Hartley stayed in line....Harkness stayed till 1990 at Illinois when all those guys from class of 86 left.
Great stuff, as always, Jeff. Yes, what a great recruiting class.
I had a friend who was a walkon around this time. I remember he echoed your comments about Hartley - said he was the nastiest guy around. Hands of stone as a tight end but was brutal to practice against.
Yeah u didn't want to be that defensive player that Hartley would drive into the 'ground' concrete they called the Memorial Stadium turf.....tight end took great pleasure in those pancakes...story....Mackovic when hired kept White assistants Bob Gambold and Tim Harkness on his staff....Harkness cause he was tight with guys like Hartley, other African American players....Mackovic staff members didn't know what to make of Hartley cause he rarely talked but at that size, way he carried himself...well....anyway staff meeting they bring in Hartley cause they want to move him to tackle or defensive line....Hartley sits with his arms folded (reportedly) and Mackovic is going over why they want to move him....Hartley finally looks at Harkness shakes his head, Harkness says, 'Coach I don't think Frank wants to move to another position'......Mackovic, 'that your final decision Frank?' Hartley nods his head....Mackovic, 'OK well we expect a lot out of you'....Hartley leaves....Harkness then made the TE coach to make sure Hartley stayed in line....Harkness stayed till 1990 at Illinois when all those guys from class of 86 left.