Iowa responds to report that 18 football players had criminal records
By TOM WITOSKY
twitosky@dmreg.com
Iowa athletic officials acknowledged Wednesday that 18 members of last season’s football team have criminal records, but pointed out that all charges were misdemeanors, most were alcohol-related and they dated back to 2007.
Officials issued a statement in response to an investigative project, promoted by Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports, that measured the number of players with criminal histories on the 25 teams ranked by SI before the start of last season.
Iowa was listed as second-highest, tied with Arkansas, in terms of number of players with criminal records. Pittsburgh ranked first with 22.
Iowa officials pointed out that 15 of the 18 players were charged with alcohol-related infractions, particularly underage consumption. In addition, two athletes were charged with possession of marijuana and one athlete was charged with misdemeanor assault and pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct — a simple misdemeanor.
Hawkeye coach Kirk Ferentz said in the statement that his program would continue to deal firmly with athletes who violate the rules.
“For 12 years we have dealt promptly, firmly, consistently and within the student-athlete code of conduct when we have incidents involving members of our football program,” Ferentz said. “My staff and I will continue to work to ensure our student-athletes are successful as a student, as an athlete, and as a citizen of the Iowa City community.”
Gary Barta, Iowa athletic director, said the athletic department will continue to “work as hard as we can” to improve the behavior of Iowa athletes and enforce the school’s conduct policy, which includes dismissal from teams for serious legal violations or too many violations.
“We will continue to work as hard as we can to make sure that the young people we bring to campus understand what our expectations are, and if they meet them fine, but if they don’t they are subject to disciplinary action,” Barta said.
The SI/CBS Sports report outlined that 7 percent of athletes on the 25 preseason rosters — or 204 of 2,837 players — “had been in trouble with the law either before or after entering college.”
Of the 277 incidents uncovered, according to the report, 40 percent involved serious offenses — with more than 105 drug and alcohol situations.
Iowa has dealt with a string of public relations issues in recent months, including the workout-related hospitalization of 13 players and two drug-related dismissals of star players.
Asked if the university had been treated unfairly by the report, Barta said, “We are being lumped in and there is no differentiation between a misdemeanor or something more serious on the felony level.”
Barta pointed out that most of Iowa’s players with police records have remained with the team or have graduated — and at least two others were dismissed.
Wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and running back Adam Robinson were kicked off the team after each had been accused of possession of a controlled substance. Each pleaded guilty to the charges, but received deferred judgments.
Barta said the athletic department expects athletes to represent the university well, but also acknowledged that mistakes are made.
“We know young people are going to make mistakes,” Barta said.
“We need to limit the level and scope of those mistakes, and make sure they understand the consequences.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football
Sports Illustrated still exists? I stopped reading it after they made fun of the Hokey Pokey in 1990!!
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I saw the broadcast tonight on CBS and was very dissapointed to see that Iowa was 2nd behind Pitt in the number of players with criminal records.
After reading the response by the University I was very happy to see the true record of the players . lumping minor posession with crimes like theft, robery, assault and so on makes for a great story but makes little sense in the big picture. CBS should report accurate news, not Enquirer stories. CBS news shame on you!
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Agreed, CBS sports is just trying to make a splash here. Basically, if they are trying to say that Pitt, TCU, Iowa, etc are the “dirtiest” programs because they have guys get alcohol offenses, then what do they think of pay for play scandals like Auburn has? War Eagle = We are *****$
So a handful of guys got possession, etc. It’s Iowa City…have you ever been there? Drinking is about all there is to do.
Anyway, I don’t think the report is accurate anyway…how is Florida not headlining this list? They had over 30 arrests while Urban Meyer was there and for stuff way worse than possession.
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this is all a bunch of crap, true kids shouldnt be goin and gettin in trouble but everyone makes mistakes, and only three were non- alcohol related im pretty happy with that stat let kids be kids, if we’re goin after rapists and murderers itd be one thing but the fact of the matter is KF has morals and sticks by them in recruiting and im glad he is the head amn in IC
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At some point we need to look at the program and ask what is going on. Yes, all kids make mistakes, but look at where we are ranked on the list. Between this and an incredible number of kids ending up in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, no doubt due to overzealous training, a coach who stays away when he should be home….we have got problems. Put your head in the sand all you want, but the picture that is being painted is one that shouldn’t make any alum very proud. It seems like Kirk has bought into the win at all costs crowd and done so in a big way.
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You have got to be kidding. This report is statistical manipulation at it’s worst. Iowa’s program is widely regarded as one of integrity and a “clean” program. Our scandal is people working out too hard and the coach not coming back fast enough. So what? That’s small potatoes as compared to some of the scandals at other schools.
It’s Iowa. There’s not much to do. They are going to drink. Get over it. Look at our graduation rate…that tells the story. We are heads and shoulders above most schools.
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Might be a little deceiving, those rankings. A star football player in Iowa City drinks too much, does somthing dumb like ride his scooter by a bunch of cops, and ends up with a record. Now if that happens in Norman, OK, or Linocln, NE, or Austin, TX, where football is bigger than life itself, does that player get busted? Or does he get an escorted ride home, so he can play next Saturday. Just wondering….
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I think there is probably a difference in the way each university town responds to alcohol use in the student bar areas. While Iowa City has been somewhat militant in arresting football players, as well as others (not saying this is wrong, just an observation) I think you would find it to be quite different in an SEC town where football players are untouchables except for unmistakable felony offenses. The same is probably true for the Big 12. I live near Lawrence, KS and I know they is pretty easy on athletes. Face it. Iowa football players are typical college students and do not vary much from the norm nationwide. The difference is law enforcement’s approach by city or area.
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Hah!! More than militant if you ask me…I did my time (college) in Iowa City, and I was made to feel uncomfortable tailgating. I was warned by almost everyone I was around to not even touch the sidewalk if I had a beer in my hand. The cops that roam around on game day should be shipped off to a military base somewhere across the pond, so they can see what a real threat is.
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I live near Lawrence,KS and I know they “ARE” pretty easy on athletes.
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For more commentary than fits in this little box, discussion of coaches (nationally) failure to do some simple preliminary investigation of recruits, a prior warning of the problem three years ago, and a list of Hawkeye players arrests at that time, see
“Hawkeye Football Players’ Criminal Records; We’re Number Two! We’re Number Two!” March 3, 2011, http://fromdc2iowa.blogspot.com/2011/03/hawkeye-football-players-criminal.html
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What people do not understand is that these athletes live in a bubble in Iowa City. There is plenty of police force to deal with the population and it tends to be a lot easier to get into trouble. If you are from a city college, its a lot easier to get away with things like underage drinking. At the ped mall in Iowa City its four blocks and the campus isn’t much bigger, so easily patrolled.
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“Criminal Record”. This is very relative. Each state has it’s own laws. Each city also has it’s own laws that can be “criminal” in nature. For example, Public Intoxication has always been used as a catch all for the Iowa City Police. In Arizona, there is no such law. So just being in a public place and intoxicated, makes you a “Criminal” in Iowa City, IA. Take it with a grain of salt, it’s a lot of BS.
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The majority of the comments here are spot-on. The ranking is very deceiving, and doesn’t take into account several variables. It’s poor science and poor journalism.
Hawkeye athletes are much more visible than many other big-time college programs, and, having lived in I.C., I can attest to the strict law-enforcement. It’s almost as if there is an over-compensation when it comes to athletes. Not wanting to appear biased, the officers have an extra low threshold to cite. And, believe me, things are much different in Norman, Miami, Lincoln, etc., where there is a lot of “looking the other way.”
That being said, the actions by the players should never be condoned, and the I.C. police have a job to do. But, I have confidence that this program has not sold out as some have implied, and overall does a great job with the kids.
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