DEVELOPING: Iowa Rhabdo Report Released

((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))

A report on the 13 University of Iowa football players that were hospitalized after a workout in January clears the players, trainers and coaches of any wrongdoing, but recommends that the workout that led to the injuries be abandoned.

Of course it does...

A five-member committee appointed by University of Iowa President Sally Mason released its findings to the Board of Regents.

The 13 players were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, which breaks down muscle cells and discolors urine. All the players were treated and spent substantial time in hospital, but they have all been released since.

According to the inquiry, back squats with heavy weights caused the injuries, but committee members say they don't know why the injuries occurred because similar workouts in the past did not cause what happened this past time.

Iowa AD Gary Barta says he will implement the committee's recommendations.

File this under "Don't do this again" with the matching index-finger wagging...
That sounds so authoritative...

Here were the initial thoughts of KCRG-TV's Marc Morehouse about "Rhabdo-Gate" and whether or not the school can move past it...

Ferentz Answers Iowa Questions On Signing Day

((HT: KCRG-TV Cedar Rapids))

Iowa Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz says he still doesn't know why 13 players were hospitalized with a muscle disorder following intense workouts.

Ferentz told reporters his teams had done similar or even tougher workout routines three times before without anything going wrong.

He says he has no idea why the workout gave the players rhabdomyolysis, which releases muscle fibers into the bloodstream and can cause kidney damage. All 13 players have been released from the hospital after a week's worth of treatment.

Ferentz says the workouts will not be repeated. But he says he has confidence in Chris Doyle, the Iowa strength and conditioning coach who designed them.

Here's Ferentz's day where he wanted to talk about anything else...
Chris Earl was outside- presumably cold...

Iowa football players released from Hospital

Kirk Ferentz/thematadorsports.com

We've been following this strange story all week. The last of the 13 University of Iowa football players who were admitted to the hospital last week after over-exerting during a workout, have been released.

There was a ton of concern both in Iowa and nationally after the players were admitted with symptoms of rhabdomyolysis which affected their kidneys. The players, allegedly, had been subject to a weightlifting drill and apparently pushed to the point of exhaustion.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz caught a lot of heat for not coming back from a recruiting trip when it happened and for the schools seemingly slow response to the issue. Ferentz wouldn't talk about it publicly, until Sunday.

Read the newspaper story from thegazette.com RIGHT HERE

We are still shaking are heads and wondering what the heck is going on up in Iowa. Between this and the rumored...and reported drug problems on the football team, it almost sounds like someone doesn't have control of things. We won't cast aspersions....yet. But someone has some 'splainin' to do. Thus far Ferentz and AD Gary Barta haven't exactly been fountains of information, we'll see if that changes.

Your statement from the school on this past weeks events: (ctsy: hawkeyesports.com)

"Getting all 13 student-athletes healthy and out of the hospital has been priority number one all along, so I'm very happy that they all are now back home and resuming their lives," said Kirk Ferentz, the UI's head football coach. "These young men and their families have been through a difficult and trying time. They are under my supervision and watch, and I am truly sorry for what they've experienced. They trained extremely hard and ended up in the hospital, and there is no indication they did anything wrong. So I'm pleased they are progressing well and I look forward to seeing all of them being back to normal." The University's athletics department earlier had confirmed the release of five student-athletes Friday. Six more were discharged on Saturday, and the final two were sent home on Sunday. "Now that these students are out of the hospital and on the road to recovery, we can devote our full attention to determining what happened, and making sure it does not happen again," said Ferentz. "There has been a lot of speculation by those who don't have the facts and it is unfair and inappropriate for anyone to make wild guesses about what happened."

"We obviously are extremely pleased all of our student-athletes have been released from the hospital and can begin the return to their academic, athletic, and personal lives," said Gary Barta, the UI's director of athletics. "We now can focus exclusively on discovering the root cause of this situation, and I'm anxious to work with President Mason's group to this end. We will review every aspect of the workouts and talk with everyone involved. The staff and coaches who work with these young men are highly respected professionals who are dedicated and care deeply about our student-athletes. I hope those who follow our program will respect this process moving forward and refrain from any further unproductive rush to judgment."

Here is a video of the Iowa workout program--which is what started this mess:

Iowa Promises Probe Of Hospitalized Players

((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))

The University of Iowa is ordering an investigation into what caused 13 football players to be hospitalized with a muscle disorder during offseason workouts.

Board of Regents President David Miles and school President Sally Mason call the case "a cause for grave concern."

The school will take the next three months to complete an investigation. The results will be presented to the Board of Regents.

The players have been diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition that involves the release of muscle fiber into the bloodstream and can cause liver damage. It can be
caused by physical exertion...

Which sounds really creepy...

WHO-TV raises an interesting question...
 

The Board of Regents released a statement on their own...
Here it is, thanks to our friends at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids...

Gary Curtis, over at Sportingnews.com, says that the tests of the players for illegal drugs came back negative, but that doesn't rule out the idea of the above WHO-TV story.

Head Coach Kirk Ferentz met with pissed off parents Wednesday night and is looking to return to the hospital tomorrow.

From Curtis:
“Kirk took a lot of (stuff),” the source said. “But he stood there and took it all. He’s been incredibly remorseful about the whole thing.”

Iowa football players Hospitalized allegedly due to workouts

Iowa Mascot?//Courtesy: sports.legends.com

We aren't 100-percent sure, because the University isn't saying specifically what caused a dozen players to go to the hospital Monday night.

However, the Cedar Rapids Gazette is. According to the paper, the players are suffering from exertional rhabdomyolysis, essentially the result of the muscles being too overworked.

Thankfully, the players are recovering.

Read the Gazette's story RIGHT HERE

The one thing the school will admit to, is that the players were participating in allowable NCAA winter workouts. All good. They might want to consider lightening those workouts a bit.

This has not been the best run of luck for the Hawkeye's. Between the rash of marijuana arrests in December leading up to their bowl game, to Adam Robinson, one of those players trying to get back on the team and now this, they haven't gotten a lot of positive publicity.

Who knows what or why this has all been happening. Up until then, the program generally wasn't in the news very much. Now they are. Could there be a run of questionable recruits up there? Could coach Kirk Ferentz be losing control? Hard to say. Either way, they need to get there act together, fairly quickly, or they are going to be lumped in with other programs in competition for such titles as the dreaded "Fulmer Cup".

Your TV version of this story from our friends at KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids:

BREAKING: Iowa's Robinson Kicked Off Team

((HT: WHO-TV Des Moines))

Iowa has kicked running back Adam Robinson off the team a week after he was arrested for marijuana possession.

Head Coach Kirk Ferentz announced the move in a statement- adding that he wasn't going to say anything else.

Robinson was charged back on December 27th in his hometown of Des Moines. He was suspended for the Insight Bowl for failing to comply with team policies and expectations.

The Iowa State Patrol says Robinson was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for not having a front license plate. A trooper detected a marijuana odor coming from the vehicle, then found marijuana after a search.

Here's team coverage from WHO-TV with John Bachman and Andy Fales at the time of Robinson's arrest and Jewel Hampton's transfer...
 

The Iowa Hawkeye's have some off the field issues...

Kirk Ferentz/Courtesy: coacheshotseat.com

And the hits keep coming. Iowa, a team that did what it normally does this season, start strong and fade down the stretch is now doing it's best imitation of team about to implode.

The teams all-time leading receiver, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos was arrested last month on drug charges. Now comes word that running back Jewel Hampton is leaving the team and running back Adam Robinson has been suspended for the teams bowl game, the Insight.com bowl.

More from the Des Moines Register RIGHT HERE

There are also rumors flying around that there are possibly more suspensions coming and Athletic Director Gary Barta even admitted today that they may have a "Problem" with the schools drug testing program.

It will be interesting to see what, if any, fallout comes from this. Iowa has periodically had some trouble with wayward athletes and it sounds like that might be coming back.

Here's the press conference featuring coach Kirk Ferentz and AD Gary Barta. Thanks KCRG-TV:




Here is the presser in full for those with interest. Thanks again KCRG:

Iowa's leading receiver facing drug charges...

Derrell Johnson-Koulianos/Courtesy: liz martin-the gazette

We know one Iowa Hawkeye who won't be playing in a bowl game this year. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, the team's leading receiver and in fact the school's all-time leader in receptions was arrested Tuesday after police found cocaine, marijuana and other prescription drugs in his house.

The charges, all seven of them, are misdemeanors and Johnson-Koulianos posted bail late Tuesday night. As for football, his coach, Kirk Ferentz suspended him from all team activities.

Read more from the Gazette.com RIGHT HERE

Read the article closely, because there was something towards the end that made us raise our collective eyebrows. Apparently Ferentz banned Johnson-Koulianos from speaking to the media this season. And in fact, he benched him last week for the season ending game against Minnesota.

Make one wonder exactly why these rules were in place, specifically for him. If he was their best player, he should be available and wouldn't be benched unless someone might have known there might be a problem before that problem came to a head. We aren't making any accusations here, it just sounds a bit fishy.

KCRG-TV in Des Moines has your video story:



Here's WHO-TV's take on the story...
 

TWTW: Iowa Loses To Minnesota...

Wait... what...???

Just when the HQ thought they figured Minnesota out as one of the Bottom of the Barrel... they go and do this...???

What's wrong with this picture...???

Apparently, everything...

Here's your highlights... if you're a Minnesota fan...
 

TWTW: Stanzi Rolls A Seven As Time Expires, Iowa Stays Unbeaten 15-13

((HT: MyABC5.com/Des Moines))

Ricky Stanzi connected with Marvin McNutt for a 7-yard touchdown pass as time expired and No. 7 Iowa remained undefeated with a 15-13 victory against Michigan State on Saturday night.

The Hawkeyes are 8-0 for the first time in school history and have sole possession of first place in the Big Ten.

Iowa (4-0 Big Ten) has won 12 straight dating back to last season, the second-longest streak in the nation.

Michigan State (4-4, 3-2) had grabbed a 13-9 lead with 1:37 remaining when Kirk Cousins hit Blair White on a 30-yard touchdown. But the Hawkeyes stormed back with a sharp, game-winning drive led by Stanzi.

Those of us at OSG HQ would like to know who Kirk Ferentz made his deal with before the season started...

Here's your postgame wrap from Des Moines...
Dave Zawalinski is somewhat breathless trying to make slot...

TWTW: Iowa Scores 20 Unanswered, Beats Wisconsin 20-10

((HT: WKOW-TV/Madison, WI))

Trailing by a touchdown at halftime, the Iowa Hawkeyes (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) began the third quarter by turning an interception into a tying touchdown pass from quarterback Ricky Stanzi to tight end Tony Moeaki.

Iowa took the lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Adam Robinson early in the fourth quarter, and the Hawkeyes' defense kept the Wisconsin Badgers scoreless in the second half.

After appearing vulnerable to the run early on, Iowa's defense clamped down on Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2) and running back John Clay, who might have been slowed by a second-quarter leg injury after a big first quarter.

Clay finished the game with 75 yards rushing.

Here's your game wrap from ABC27 in Madison
Jake Zimmerman got to stand outside and talk while freezing...

TWTW: Iowa Causes Wolverine Blackout 30-21

((HT: Des Moines Register/Logue))

The Iowa Hawkeyes’ have their first 6-0 start since 1985 — not to mention their first victory against the Wolverines since 2003.

“We still have a lot of things we can work on,” quarterback Ricky Stanzi said. “And that’s an exciting thing.”

Tony Moeaki, who missed the previous three weeks, started the party with a 34-yard catch and run in the first quarter, then added a 42-yard score with 12:56 left in the fourth period, putting Iowa ahead 30-21.

“It’s tough to sit out,” said Moeaki, who finished with six receptions for 105 yards. “I’ll definitely savor this game.”

Moeaki thwarted a Michigan defense intent on stifling the Hawkeyes’ rushing attack, and enabled Stanzi to shrug off another streaky performance.

“Good to see Tony back, for a lot of reasons,” coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He really is a guy everybody looks up to because of his toughness.”

Here's your post-game from indoors, thankas to our friends at ABC-5 in Des Moines

TWTW: Iowa Wins 7th Of Last 8 Against Penn State

((HT: WOI-TV/Des Moines))

Iowa slugged out an ugly win in soggy Happy Valley to upset Penn State for the second straight year.

Adrian Clayborn returned a block punt for a touchdown and the Hawkeyes beat mistake-prone No. 5 Penn State 21-10 on Saturday night.

A year after a stunning 24-23 win knocked the Nittany Lions out of the national title race, the Hawkeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) took down Penn State (3-1, 0-1) again, this time in a drenching rainstorm.

"It was a team loss. No one person, or one play lost it," Penn State coach Joe Paterno said. "We got licked."

Here's Dave Zawilinski standing in front of a video monitor for some highlights

So Much For That Idea... State Penn Locked Up

A lot of people thought the Iowa-Penn State game was a trap for Joe Paterno and the rest of the Nittany Lions when they went in to Iowa City.

It was...

The only saving grace in the Penn State loss to the Hawkeyes is that he lost in the early part of November. The number one and two teams in the BCS are a collective 2-7 in recent history, and some of those losses were against teams outside of the Dirty Dozen.

In an unrelated development, at press time, Jimmy Clausen is not a good quarterback, and Notre Dame is not a good team.

Here's the end of the Iowa-Penn State game... good for the local kid getting the game-winning field goal in a beyond-huge pressure cooker...

((HT: ESPN on ABC/the youtube))


Here's your postgame coverage from our friends at Iowa's NewsChannel 7
((HT:KWWL-TV))