I'll be out of the office...

Got a little thing going on...

Be back at the "live bloggin" week.

Best of Hawkeye Lounge | Everbody Knows Somebody That Knows Nothing

It all  started with the thread titled "jewel hampton." Where GK549 informed Hawkeye fans:

A rob gone. Johnson will have his redshirt removed more than likely.

Tallgrass passes this along:

Heard a rumor ARob, Hampton, and Bernstine all tested positive for drugs and are done.

douglasbader wants to start anew:

I fucking hate today's players. After the idiotic social media shit they have pulled, I can confidently say Kirk Ferentz isn't the problem.

Fuck all of these players, good fucking riddance.

HiawathaHawk states:

I don't think A-Rob will be missed by much of the team.

L. Wade Childress reacts to Hampton news and tells us:

very interesting

i also think there is a chance prater goes pro, mainly cuz hes not smart.

CamelTones has it all figured out:

Something I've kind of realized this morning is Kirk's early teams that were good (02-04) were led primarily by upper classemen, yes there were a few younger guys that played significant roles, but for the most part, the guys that started the winning under Kirk also took some of Iowa's worst beatings. And those that were not part of said beatings were sitting on the bench until their 4th and 5th years in the program.

This group that turned it around after 06 and 07 turned it around as sophomores in 08 and has basically had people around Iowa City and on facebook sucking their collective cocks for 3 years now.

atemp confirms:

Have heard double-digit suspensions.

hawkeyealum states:

I just got an email that said the suspensions will be for one year. Indicated it was Binns, Mcnutt and three others.

L. Wade Childress has people and those people are saying:

i dont have many details but one of my guys has finally actually put Binns, mcnutt, arob, jewel, and bernstine's names with these rumors without any prompting from me. i told them that shit was all over the boards but he was fairly confident.

iHawk assures us that the press release isn't all the news:

There's definately more suspensions coming than we've heard about.

iHawk follows with:

 

I would imagine there will be more suspensions for the bowl game - I really hope not, but I've heard from a very good source, but right now they can only be considered rumors.

hawkeyealum passes along an email he received:

Rumor has it that DJK was just a small part of this larger investigation that's going on that includes not only more players who are using, but also local, prominate Iowa City businessmen who are financially backing and profiting from said "drug ring". One businessman being floated around is (edit removed named). Apparently, he was accused 13 or so years ago of this same sort of thing, but nothing ever came of it.


As far as additional players go, looks like Hampton, A-Rob, Coker are using--McNutt has been mentioned too, along with some other random freshman who are not really known. Apparently, the drug testing dates were getting leaked to the players before they are "randomly" announced.Some of the student managers/trainers were supplying the above players with their urine so they didn't get in trouble. The other interesting thing is that the rumored fight that occurred in the locker room ater OSU between players was Clayborn and A-Rob, and it had to do with using drugs. Apparently, it was an actual fight and Clayborn hit A-Rob, causing him to have another concussion (or re-aggravating the one he had)....

The newest piece of info is that apparently Clayborn was the police leak that got DJK arrested. Apparently he had been working with them for a couple weeks...

whew, that's a lot to digest. Let's move on.

Yesterday provided the "Dismissal/suspension prediction game." Here, Debit One proposed a game where members would "Provide a list of those who you think will be suspended and/or dismissed."

There was also a guessing game of "Over/under on number of additional suspensions and transfers." Mo T set the O/U at 4.5. Several members took the over, atemp, in response to a post about 10 players writes:

I've heard the same, someone sent me an email earlier saying they heard 11. Not sure how credible.

Herky823 agrees:

Hearing 11 suspended, many starters. Of course this is all from a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a player so who knows. Anyway, assuming a large margin of error I still take the over.

Mr. Hawk has the scoop:

I can confirm that at least two prominent players (in addition to DJK) will be gone.

And finally, on to today's ***Official PC Reacation Thread*** where HiawathaHawk says:

I've never seen a situation where so many rumors reached the mainstream public. Everyone you talked to had heard a different story with a boatload of names.

You can read the rest, I had to stop there. A guy that posted stories, for the public, on a public forum about Jewel Hampton driving around Miami looking for drugs and no one on the team likes Adam Robinson can't believe so many rumors reached the public.

Best of Cyclone Fanatic | That Iowa is a Drug School Cheech

No one takes pleasure in others misery like your rival. Sad truth, so let's skip the bullshit and see what the members of my favorite site and your's, Cyclone Fanatic has to say about the Hawkeye rumors and latest news.

Here is a great place to begin, a thread titled "And so the fall of Iowa FB begins."

After a short discussion on Hampton's dismissal Clones21 says:

Hopefully Robinson is next.

After some random posts about text messages from friends in the know, StLouisClone says:

Someone just sent me a text message that says 11 more players failed drug tests last week. Hampton wouldn't take the test and was kicked off the team.

cy4prez7 believes:

If suspended most will have to sit out part of next season too..recruiting takes a HUGE hit and the whole program in general will take a hit.

(can you feel their excitement?)

edr247 proclaims:

Most definitely. Iowa was close to breaking into the upper levels of national programs (after sitting in the average-to-good range for some time). They were prominently mentioned in the National Title race, and could have reaped the benefits that come with such recognition.


However, now we're likely looking at a self-imposed death penalty that could kill this program for some time. If we do end up looking at a staff change, loss of players and loss of recruits for a few years, Iowa could end up dropping to the bottom of the pack. Iowa would have a tough time recovering from that.

According to Palmer:

Downfall of the Hawks? No


Continuation of further proof that KF is not a leader of young men? Yes.

Okay, let's try a new thread. This one is titled "ESPN Article on Suckeye Druggies."

In here is a lot of outrage followed by Cyclone Erik stating:

Good point. There's hardly any testing at all.

SenorCy says:

After watching Pony Exce$$, if there really is a scandal, someone will eventually talk.

Per Dryburn:

Let's face it. KF and Barta accomplished what they wanted to accomplish, yet again. They have placated the naive fans into believing that there is really nothing wrong, and that they are running a clean program. So sad...not that their program is dirty, but that so many of the fans, and apparently the BOR buys into it.


This has gone on for years. Athletes living in federal housing (including the hc's son), numerous alcohol and assault arrests, sexual assault arrests (one that has yet to go to trial after 3 years), and now this, and Iowa fans just keep believing him. What a joke!

Make sure to read this awesome thread about Twitter and rumors.

And let's move on to the ***Official PC Thread***

Feel the pain in simply1's post;

Nobody else in trouble apparently.

Lot's of outrage from Cyclonestate78:

Well... that is good enough for me. Sounds like a really effective drug testing policy when they know for a fact players have cheated the tests and gotten away with it. Yet... they are satisfied with their program. Priceless.

ISUCyclone06 has a message:

Iowa Athletics= Joke


Man up people, you know its out there and its too big to sweep under the rug. Barta...Ferentz find new jobs cause its only gonna get uglier.

From Dolladollabill:

"Kirk: I like to hear bad news before someone else tells me and have chance to try to fix it which is spirit of code of conduct here"
a.k.a. I like to have a chance to cover it up

Okay, enough for now. I'd rather head back out in the cold and change another tire. Or, in fact, worse, visit (______fill in the blank____) Hawkeye message board.

Hawkeye Rumor Time | Ferentz and Barta Hold a Press Conference

First, a PC recap and nuggets from ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg: Iowa finds issues in drug testing program

As the press released mentioned last night the only newest player suspensions and deflections were Hampton and Robinson. Hampton and the coaching staff came to a "mutual decision" for his leaving the program.

According to Ferentz Robinson will have the option to rejoin the program in January. His suspension is academic related and according to Ferentz "if he doesn't skip all of his finals" he should be okay to rejoin the team.

Hawk Central reports: Ferentz: No more suspensions on the horizon


So, what about those rumors?

We now know that the drug test up 10 players was accurate. Ferentz stated in the PC that the players were tested following the arrest of DJK on Tuesday. But per Ferentz and via Mike Hlas, "police didn't suggest other players involved."

Hlas also has a series of quotes from today's PC up on his blog here.

That leaves one to wonder, who was tested and what were the results. Based on today's PC we'll never know. And should we? The message boards had a long list on players that were to be suspended and rumored to have failed a drug test. That was all proven false, at least the first part.

All in all it wasn't drugageddon or hawkageddon, or the end of anything. Friday coach Ferentz will again meet with the media, this time to discuss the upcoming game with Missouri. While I don't expect rumors to quite down the talk of suspensions should come to a halt.

Here are today's best ot Twitter from Gary Barta and Kirk Ferentz's press conference:

RT @RSuchomel: There's probably a lot of days Kirk Ferentz enjoys being the coach at Iowa. Today was not one of those days.

RT @SeanKeeler: James Ferentz just walked into the restaurant where Logue and I dining. Too bad I'm not allowed to call his parents.

RT @RSuchomel: Can't believe those still sure more suspensions are coming. Do they want more bad news? Or just want their rumors to be true?

RT @marcmorehouse: This is the day of fallout when you have a player arrested for drugs. Testing was flat out beat. Protocol scrutinized.

RT @SeanKeeler: On a scale of 1-10, this AM's newser with Ferentz and Barta was a '8' on posturing and a '2' on real news.

RT @HawkeyeInsider: Ferentz doesn't anticipate any other players outside DJK, Jewel, ARob not making Insight trip.

RT @HawkeyeInsider: Ferentz - suspects other players knew of behavior of which #DJK has been accused. Wishes someone would have come forward if they knew.

RT @marcmorehouse: Reporters can't call parents, KF rule.

RT @SeanKeeler: KF & Barta both gave Ejiasi a vote of confidence. Interesting.

RT @marcmorehouse:(in regards to drug testing) 1) Assessment, 2) suspensions, 3) dismissals.

RT @SeanKeeler: Mostly, this has been about Barta and experts explaining drug testing @ UI. Refused to discuss specific cases.

RT @marcmorehouse: ICPD told KF about DJK at around the moment it went down.

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Ferentz says IC police were telling him about DJK mess at the same time drug testing was going on. Police said no other players involved

RT @SeanKeeler: KF: No more drug issues. Doesn't think there's a rift in locker room.

RT @Hlas: Ferentz: when win 11 games you are fine, when you win 7 you're under scrutiny.

RT @marcmorehouse: Behaviors same as last year, for the most part.

RT @marcmorehouse: Refusal to drug test is a positive.

RT @TravisHines21: "Likely that someone has gotten around this process" Barta on drug testing

RT @thebstiles: KF acknowledges no background checks on roomates, says it will be considered now.

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Barta: "We have to tighten up. It’s pretty likely that someone – I don’t know if it’s 1 or 21 – someone has gotten around this process."

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Ferentz on Robinson: “My anticipation is he’ll be back in January."

RT @Andy_Hamilton: Barta: Additional tests since last week, but not out of ordinary. Ferentz: Ten people were being tested at time of (DJK) arrest.

RT @marcmorehouse: Mutual decision with Jewel.

RT @HawkeyeNation: Iowa not expecting any more names, all players will make the plane trip and be ready to go if healthy, save DJK, Jewel and Adam..

RT @Andy_Hamilton: KF: So much misinformation out there.

RT @Andy_Hamilton: Barta: No more suspensions.

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Barta on other players in trouble: “We don’t have any more nor do we anticipate any more. We don’t have anybody to add.”

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Barta says Iowa found some flaws and inconsistencies in drug testing program. No blatant cheating or cover up, but ways to get around it.

Hawkeye Rumor Time | Update Three: Iowa's Press Release

After hours of anticipation Iowa finally issued a press release and have scheduled a press conference with head coach Kirk Ferentz tomorrow morning at 10 am.

Here is the press release via the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

The release states that Jewel Hampton "has decided to leave the team and plans to transfer to another school." About Adam Robinson, "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."

Adam can rejoin the team in January.

I am hearing that his grades may be an issue and he will need to improve. Take that for what it's worth. Do recall he did have that bout of "academic indigestion" just prior to the Ohio State game.

Is this all? The press conference tomorrow is to address this release and take questions. There are still numerous rumors about suspensions and dismissals. Stay tuned...

Hawkeye Rumor Time | Update: Press Release Coming

Once again I'll preface with this: I know nothing about any of the rumors. I am simply trying to compile what is being written on the Internet.

There will be a press release from the UofI regarding football news this afternoon. What exact time and what it's about is unclear (hopefully within an hour). This is not a press conference, just a release.

Per VoiceoftheHawkeyes,

"Unless something changes a press release is expected in about an hour confirming one player - Hampton - is leaving football program."

There are rumors on Hawkeye Report that state the PR will include suspended players for the Insight Bowl against Missouri (I highly doubt this is true).

(click to enlarge)

Twitterer Hawkluver says Hampton and ARob are gone, cites the Rivals message board post as his source for the 11 players being suspended.


Hawkeye Soph wide receiver Keenan Davis has used Facebook to respond to all of this. Blisser Tweets:

A message from Keenan Davis' #FB: "Message boards lie........STOP READING THEM!!!" (12 mins. Ago).

Also according to Blisser, AJ Derby says:

AJ Derby's comment on Keenan Davis' #FB post "Aj Derby Yeah those people have no idea what they are talking about!"

And finally, Scott Dochterman writes UI football players drug tested several times each year.
 
More to come...
 
 

Hawkeye Rumor Time | ARob, Hampton, Wegher, Bernstine?

Let me be clear. I have no information about the rumors circulating nor will I pretend to. The object of this post is to attempt to gather what is being said around the message boards. Sort of a cliff notes, if you will.

Hopefully these "sources" and "insiders" have false information and we all carry-on about our merry way. But, over the years, these often have some truth buried within the scuttlebutt. So, here we go.

Here is what we know. According to his Facebook page, and per Black Heart Gold Pants, Jewel Hampton is leaving Iowa. Here is the Facebook post:

(click to enlarge)

Why? The exact reason isn't clear. Could it be a failed drug test? People on message boards think so.

According to FlickShagwell, on Hawkeye report:

"10 random players tested prior to practice today" (this was on 12/10)

A few days have passed since this test but over the weekend the rumor mill started churning. Twitter has been buzzing about possible player suspensions and dismissals. Some Hawkeye websites have been deleting posts about the topic.

Last evening the flames grew larger and more and more people started discussing what they know or have heard. Perhaps the rumors took off because the players being mentioned are not visible in the small sample of practice photos released by the UofI. It's not uncommon that younger players get a lot of reps in the first week of Bowl practice. Is this a catalyst? I don't know.

Last night, Tallgrass (on hawkeyelounge.com) states:

"Heard a rumor ARob, Hampton, and Bernstine all tested positive for drugs and are done."

Also, on Hawkeyelounge.com, HiawathaHawk writes:

"When he (Jewel Hampton) had basically a random stranger drive him to buy weed during the bowl trip last year and didn't hide it, I started to doubt that he was bright enough to avoid trouble for 5 years. Being injured and away for the second straight year probably didn't help matters. "

Over at Hawkeye Report, Hawk's Nest reports:

"Just got off the phone with one of ARob and Jewel's roommates. Jewel is kicked off and ARob has a meeting in the morning."

(click to enlarge)

"Add to my previous post, it is the result of a failed drug test"

(click to enlarge)

At BHGP, Bryce Carlson says:

"Jewel failed his 3rd drug test and has been kicked off the team. A-Rob, Ballard, Binns and others have all failed a drug test as well. Kirk will announce what players are suspended for the Bowl Game at the end of the week.

They have a 3 strike policy, so as long as the other guys clean up before the next test, they should be fine."

Also in the BHGP thread following the Hampton post, Hawkeye Boiler says:

"Ok, this is what I got so far. Djk busted, and we all know he got his stuff seized and the like.

Heard they found a list of names on his computer that supposedly owed him money for “things”.

heard that this list was the list that got tested and none of the list passed and all of these names we are hearing on that list.

Anyone else kinda hearing the same things?"

Derrell Johnson-Koulianous was arrested last week for numerous drug charges and failed a drug test. Amongst the arrest report was "electronic media" that has been rumored to include photos, or details about other members of the football team. Since the release of this information rumors have swirled about if and who are on those photos or lists.

Along with all of this, Brandon Wegher officially asked for his release of scholarship to pursue a transfer. Not a big surprise since he hasn't been part of the team since day two of fall camp but last night he did change his Facebook profile pic to this:

That's it, well, not completely it. I think that's the gist though. Lot's of names being thrown about. Let's hope it isn't true and Stanzi, Clayborn. Binns, Ballard, McNutt, Davis, ARob, and Bernstine will have their names cleared.