The rumors surrounding the Iowa Hawkeyes football program were running hot and heavy that the team could lose up to 10 players for the Insight Bowl. That would have been 10 players in addition to wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and running back Adam Robinson who were already suspended for the game.
Today's press conference by Head Coach Kirk Ferentz and Athletic Director Gary Barta instead talked about the previously announced dismissals and the Universities drug testing policies. An concerning part of this scandal was Johnson-Koulianos' ability to somehow cheat the drug test system.
According to AD Barta, the school performs 800-900 tests each year on all of its student athletes and that they will try and find ways to improve the testing process. He reported that there were no other athletes expected to have failed drug tests.
In addition to the Robinson and Johnson-Koulianos suspensions, the team also lost sophomore running back Jewel Hampton this week. Hamptom suffered a season-ending injury while playing the Arizona Wildcats earlier in the season so his loss won't impact the Hawkeyes as much as Robinson. Freshman Marcus Coker will likely be asked carry the ball for Iowa.
"Jewel Hampton has decided to leave the team and plans to transfer to another school to complete his degree and finish his career. We wish him the best of success in the future," said Ferentz in a press release. "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 will have the option to rejoin the team when classes resume in January."
The Iowa Hawkeyes are a 1.5 point underdog against the Missouri Tigers at the Insight Bowl which will held at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, AZ on December 28.