Bret Bielema, a Buick Skylark and a steak at Lone Star
"That was my first semester. My second semester, then I became a full-time GA (graduate assistant), made $6,000 a year, and did that for two years before I became -- I was very fortunate, I was only a GA for two years before I became the linebackers coach at the University of Iowa.
"I remember [Iowa coach Hayden Fry] came in and said 'I got some good news and bad news.' I'm like 'what's the bad news?' He goes, 'Well, the only car we can give you is a Buick Skylark.' I'm like, 'Have you seen what I'm driving, man?' So I got a brand-new Buick Skylark. The good news, he goes, 'I can give you $60,000.' I was making $6,000. I thought like I was a millionaire. I went to Lone Star and ordered a steak. I thought I was pretty big-time."
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"That was my first semester. My second semester, then I became a full-time GA (graduate assistant), made $6,000 a year, and did that for two years before I became -- I was very fortunate, I was only a GA for two years before I became the linebackers coach at the University of Iowa.
"I remember [Iowa coach Hayden Fry] came in and said 'I got some good news and bad news.' I'm like 'what's the bad news?' He goes, 'Well, the only car we can give you is a Buick Skylark.' I'm like, 'Have you seen what I'm driving, man?' So I got a brand-new Buick Skylark. The good news, he goes, 'I can give you $60,000.' I was making $6,000. I thought like I was a millionaire. I went to Lone Star and ordered a steak. I thought I was pretty big-time."
ESPN Story
