Hampton to transfer, Robinson to miss bowl
In the span of four days, the Iowa football team lost two running backs and ruled a third ineligible for its bowl game.
Hawkeye officials issued a statement Monday confirming tailback Jewel Hampton is seeking a transfer. Officials also announced that fellow running back Adam Robinson would miss the Insight Bowl on Dec. 28 after “failing to comply with team expectations and policies.”
On Friday, it was revealed that running back Brandon Wegher had been released from his scholarship and would transfer.
The sophomore trio was expected to share duties in the Iowa backfield this fall, but none was available when Iowa lost its regular-season finale at Minnesota.
Now, none will be available for the bowl game against Missouri.
“Jewel Hampton has decided to leave the team and plans to transfer to another school to complete his degree and finish his career,” coach Kirk Ferentz said in the statement. “We wish him the best of success in the future.”
Ferentz and athletic director Gary Barta will hold a press conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday, though Iowa declined to expand on details — and indicated no additional comment would be available until today.
Iowa officials contacted Sunday and most of the day Monday said they were unaware or could not confirm a change in the status of Hampton.
Hampton, a 5-foot-9, 210-pound native of Indianapolis, suffered a season-ending knee injury Sept. 18 at Arizona. It was the second straight year Hampton was sidelined after knee surgery.
His 2009 season ended in July after he was hurt during non-contact drills.
Hampton showed freshman flashes in 2008, finishing with 463 yards and seven touchdowns, while serving as the primary backup to all-American Shonn Greene.
“He’s shifty. He’s strong. And he’s powerful,” Hawkeye defensive end Adrian Clayborn said of Hampton before the season. “He has all of it.”
On Sunday, a man who answered the last known telephone for Hampton asked who was calling.
When a Des Moines Register reporter identified himself, the man said he was not Hampton and hung up.
Robinson, a former Des Moines Lincoln star, emerged as the Hawkeyes’ leading rusher this season, netting 941 yards and 10 touchdowns.
He suffered two concussions, however, and did not play during a 27-24 loss to the Gophers.
“While Adam has been cleared medically, he will not be participating in the upcoming Insight Bowl game as a result of failing to comply with team expectations and policies,” Ferentz said. “Adam will have the option to rejoin the team when classes resume in January.”
Three players have left the program in less than one week.
Wegher, a former Sioux City Heelan star, departed for personal reasons during summer camp in August and never returned.
In addition to Wegher and Hampton, Ferentz told reporters senior receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos would not play at Iowa again after his arrest on drug charges.
With Hampton, Wegher and Robinson out of the lineup, freshman Marcus Coker is the likely starter for the Insight Bowl.
Coker played in six games, rushing for 403 yards, while averaging 5.0 a carry.
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Gambling site has Iowa off board
The Las Vegas gaming website VegasInsider.com indicated the Insight Bowl game between Iowa and Missouri has been “taken off the board” at most of the major casinos and operations that offer betting.
Games are pulled from wagering options when there are unanswered questions about important players.
Iowa announced Monday that injured running back Jewel Hampton has left the team, and starting running back Adam Robinson will miss the bowl game for “failing to comply with team expectations and policies.”
No reason was cited for Hampton’s departure. And it was no immediately clear if the Las Vegas reaction included questions about other Hawkeyes.
There are no known questions, however, about the status of Missouri players.
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football
Wow, what’s next? This team and season has turned into a soap opera.
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I just read a report that there will be a news conference at 10:00 tomorrow. Been hearing these wild rumors all day here in KC.
This sounds more like the University of Miami.
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That was Miami of 20 years ago. Update yourself.
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This is what I just heard….hope it is not true…..
First their were rumors that the reason that Melvin Gordon changed his verbal from Iowa to Wisconsin was because of somethings he saw in the locker room when he visited there. Than came the confirmed news that Johnson-Loulianis, the Hawkeyes star receiver had been kicked off the team because of a large amount of drugs found in his room. Than Las Vegas took Iowa’s bowl game against Missouri off the boards. And today the Iowa City newspapers are speculating that RB Jewell Hampton has also failed a drug test and confirmed that star Freshman RB Brandon Wegher who opted not to play this year has requested a release from his scholarship , that was granted and would be transferring. One of the local papers reported that the entire football team was asked to take a drug test , and although names have not been released a number of team members flunked the tests and will not return to the football team.
Could all this turmoil be the reason finished the year with losses to Ohio State and Minnesota and ended up with a 7-5 season after having been a co-favorite for the Big Ten Championship?
They already were in for a re-building year because they lose to graduation, Offensive starters QB Ricky Stanzi, FB Brett Morse, WR Derrell Johnson Loulianos, WR Colin Sandeman. TE Allen Reisner, LG Julian Vandervelde, and K ,Daniel Murray plus Defensive starters DE Adam Claybourn, DT Christian Ballard, DT Karl Klug, LB Jeff Tarpinian, LB Jeremhia Hunter, FS Brett Greenwood, and P, Ryan Donahue.
They also have a highly regarded QB recruit that chose Iowa over Wisconsin despite the fact that the Badgers have three kids from his High School on their squad right now. Could he be changing his mind if all this bad news turns out to as bad or worse than it appears?
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This is the problem with rumor mills, gossip and rumor mongering. Some of us buy into it. Hampton did not test positive for drugs. There’s no evidence of that. I figured he might leave because he probably would be the 3rd running back next year.
Let’s also clarify that DJK did not have “a large amount of drugs” in his room. According to the story in the paper, it was “residue of cocaine and marijuana,” and of course he tested positive and had already admitted it to the police. The larger amount of drugs was in the roommates room–one of six people living in the house. Still, not cool.
There is no news and no evidence and no indication that any players “flunked drug tests.”
Please stop speculating. This is what old women used to to do ruin people’s reputation in my little home town, with false information that was poison nonetheless. Please wait and use the facts.
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Don’t judge without the facts. The news conference today indicated that DJK’s was an isolated incident. Robinson is suspended because he continued to cut classes, same reason he didn’t start the Ohio State game.
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you mean a joke opera?
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What the Heck is going on!!!!!! Just read on FB that a bunch of players failed drug test including 10 starters (maybe just someone pulling leg). KF had better get a hold on the this now!!! How disappointing this entire season and team have become….
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…and the hits just keep on come’n! Just provides an opportunity for someone else.
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There’s a word for what’s happening with the Iowa program. That word is ‘disarray’.
I feel bad for all involved, but this is not a situation without blame. To whatever extent individuals are responsible for their own conduct, I have to ask where the team leadership is at both the coaching level and the player level.
Strong and clear leadership was missing all season. The Wisconsin game showed that the coaching staff was not to be trusted. Various player indiscretions are only exacerbating the sense that the Iowa team lacks focus and cohesion.
Ferentz needs to take stock of his personal and professional objectives, then do what needs to be done to make sure that everyone else is on the same page. This isn’t a time for good management. It’s a time for leadership.
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I’m glad KF’s press conference dispelled all of these irresponsible rumors, generated as much by Iowa fans as anyone else. But I do think that KF seemed very detached from the team all year. He needs to realize that they don’t pay him $3.75 million a year because he’s a nice guy or for his looks. He needs to stay on top of everything for that kind of money. He admitted he doesn’t know who each player rooms with. He should. I’d have a trained dog following every one of them.
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coaching error is the term!
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Old Dog, I agree 100%. Hopefully KF’s presser tomorrow is just to update on what’s already happened. If it’s to drop more shoes, let them drop. All druggies and dead beat Dad’s and over inflated ego take a hike.
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Good Lord … can we go back to August and start over?!
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This is hilarious!! This team was suppose to win the national title and now they may not have enough players to win a worthless bowl game! LOL!!! Thanks Iowa for becoming the Miami of the midwest! Glad you pay your coach $4 million only to fail miserably while our coach is paid $300,000 and gets more for less. The fall of Iowa football and the rise of Iowa State football, who would’ve thought?! Great news! GO CYCLONES!!!
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CyGuy, your on our site constantly? This isnt the first comment you’ve posted trying to boast about how much we are messing up. Our football team crushed you guys 35-7. Both of our basketball teams are average so your comment how awesome and how Iowa is a Cyclone state after that game was also untrue. Iowa State gets the players that Iowa feels arent right and not good enough, no player in their right mind would choose Aimes, Iowa the home of some of the worst fans in college football over Iowa City home of the best and most loyal fans in the country.
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I disagree with you Wilhawks – Iowa fans are the worst. Just read the posts on this website. Iowa fans boo their own players when the game gets a little shaky. Last year, KF was the best thing since sliced bread, now all of you want him strung up. Ask people across the Big 10, Iowa fans are rude, ungracious, egotistical, and just plain morons. I have had several friends from Minneapolis, Columbus, and Ann Arbor warn me of what Iowa fans are like since the Huskers will be in the Big 10 next year. So, yes, any player in their right mind would choose Ames over Iowa City anyday, and most likely everyday.
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AMEN!
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Black Monday
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Morris might have to play two way.
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I have a feeling there will be a collective “THUD” tomorrow at 10:00 am. I am going to guess there is going to be a cleaning house going on. Hey Capt. Kirk….I still have 4 years left of eligibilty….I’m 6’0 250…(of course I’m 46)..but really the most important thing…I have never,ever smoked weed!!! I’ll pass the pee test, get me a helmet!! I can probably at least block for Coker! ha!
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What about bringing in that Lickliter kid?
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Minor setback, just sit back and take it easy people, this is america and we don’t have spy’s everywhere watching every move that kids make.
At some point american kids have to take credit for what they do, it can’t be laid on the sholders of mom and pa or the coaching staff 24 hrs a day.
If your not willing to do what you need to do to get an education and fullfill your 80,000 gift requirements then take a hike.
That old song “It’s my life and i’ll do as I wanta” is great if your living on your own dime.
Wake up athletes, it’s not a game when it’s about your future, as many of you seem to think it is.
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I have said this before; when I was at Iowa, one of the first things Hayden did was pull all of the players from their off-campus digs, and made them live together in a dorm (Hillcrest.) As I recall, a lot of this criminal and policy violation activity went away, as the staff was able to keep closer tabs on the players. Maybe it is time to revisit this policy?
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right on chijeff
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Iowa football is falling faster than their basketball program already has.
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Never thought I’d say it this year, but bring on basketball.
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Maybe, just maybe if they would start playing football. They meaning KOK and Parker.
Smash mouth Iowa football instead of this safe gameplan and cover 2 bend dont break.
Play the best players instead of Seniors.
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The only loss is Robinson and DJK. Hampton hasn’t played in two years and Wegher didn’t this year. Those two were lost to the Hawks long ago.
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This is the best comment so far. Hampton probably knows Coker is much farther ahead than he is and knows it will be tough to get his job back. As for Robinson, yeah, that’s a surprise to me, but I’m sure Ferentz doesn’t want more problems to linger in the program, and I don’t even know what happened yet! I like Coker. I think he has the right stuff. What happened to the Cotton kid from Mt. Pleasant though? Is he still around? And I need some help here. Didn’t Iowa have some player “problems” before the 2002 season? No one complained much then, but then again, when a team wins, fans will put up with anything. I’m curious to see what the responses would have been to this if Iowa would have finished 9-3?. I still think Iowa plays an inspired game against Missouri and wins 31-17.
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I agree that when your team is winning, all these various transgressions are a lot easier to overlook, it seems. Example: Auburn and Cam Newton. I suspect that if they had not been in the National Championship race, then the NCAA and SEC probably would have followed their own stated guidelines and not make up some bogus excuse or new explanation (rule bending)on his eligibility…
The 4 star RB recruit Iowa and Illinois are vying for should see this as a great opportunity to play since Iowa has room now for RBs. If he’s really that good then he should have no problem competing for the top spot.
Looks like the smoking gun just got cooled off after the press conference this morning. Thank goodness! Now the coaches can start coming up with some new game strategy rather than the same ol’ same ol’.
I don’t ever want to hear other players and their coaches saying, “we knew what they were going to do–what they always do.” Too easy…
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More drug related issues perhaps?
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one bad apple spoils the whole barrel. whos the bad apple or apples ?
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“He’s shifty. He’s strong. And he’s powerful,” Hawkeye defensive end Adrian Clayborn said of Hampton before the season. “He has all of it.”
Seems to me the shiftiest, most powerful person in the Iowa football program is the one making over three million dollars a year.
I would hope the incoming governor, in his zeal for budget trimming, would take a SERIOUS look at the program left in the hands of the state’s highest paid employee and take appropriate measures.
The Film Board didn’t do as much to embarrass Iowans the way the U of I football program has, and the football program continues to do so with little or no checks in place.
The buck stops on the desk of the guy making the big bucks.
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Hey, Gomer Pyle. The state doesn’t pay Ferentz or any other university coaches. They are not “state employees.” So the governor doesn’t need to take a serious look at anything, other than perhaps your high school diploma. That one is in question. The Iowa football program has done far more to make the state proud in the past ten years than to embarass it. Most of these players earn their degrees, are good fellows, and stay out of trouble.
You hate Iowa football, so don’t try to hide it. You do nothing but make negative and snide remarks. We don’t need you in here. You should hop that bus back to Mayberry.
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Just the fools who pay ourtrageous prices to see a 4-4 team…. get a grip fans, start asking something for all those millions other than an excuse to leave Iowa for a few days the end of Dec.
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Now it’s a little easier to see why the Hawks stumbled to the finish line.
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Isnt’ it finals week? Could be some academic casualties coming. Also makes for a good time to withdraw from school, if you think your grades for this semester won’t look so good.
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10:00 Press Conference? Probably to announce another contract extension and another million bucks to KF to reward him for another outstanding season.
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If these are the only players involved, so be it. If there are any more Ferentz should resign.
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all you need to know is DRUG TESTING and say goodbye to the thugs!!!!!!!!
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Fire Kirk the highest paid state employee. Pull out of the Big 10 and join the MVC. LETS GO HAWKS!!!!
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Hello, Hawkeyes, from an admiring Tiger. WOW! I have to say that I’m really impressed when I read your almost universal attitude that your program needs to be cleaned up–no excuses. Not many schools’ fans have that kind of class. I’m a little nervous about playing an Iowa team that will now have scrappy survivors who want to prove a point. I suspect you’ll do just fine in our bowl game, but, of course, I’m hoping it will be a losing effort on your part. Looking forward to meeting some of you in Phoenix. Anyone who bleeds black and gold can’t be bad!!!
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build a dorm strictly for the athletes to live in and they all must live there. do drug test every couple of weeks and most of the problems that the Hawks have had would not happen again
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I think that the action that Coach Ferentz has taken recently with his players shows how much class he has. Compare coach Ferentz to Coach Chizik. Although allowing rule breakers to play may pay off in the short term, in the long term Newton will have to sacrifice his Heisman and Auburn will have to forfeit all of the games that they played this year.
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Although AD Barta and Coach Ferentz tried to put this matter back in the bag–kind of like cleaning up after your dog–I doubt that the issues are gone.
When a few problems are found, there are likely to be more (starting with what must be a truly inadequate drug testing policy & procedure). If the sources of the problems are not addressed, the problems will only grow.
My guess is that more players will leave the team, voluntarily or not, as the university clamps down on their less than stellar off the field activities.
I’m very afraid all this will seriously affect the team’s focus for the Insight Bowl against an extremely tough opponent. It could be ugly!
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