Last year at the 2010 Insight Bowl, Iowa Hawkeyes running back Adam Robinson was suspended. In stepped Marcus Coker, who had one of the best possible games a Hawkeye running back has ever had, setting records for rushing yards and attempts.
Apparently, Coker has decided he's milked Arizona for all it's worth. The Hawkeyes running back will not be returning with his team to the Insight Bowl this season, following in the footsteps of Robinson this time around.
Hawkeyes sophomore star Marcus Coker has been suspended from the Dec. 30 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma after violating the university’s student-athlete code of conduct.
The university announced the suspension Tuesday without providing further details.
Coker, a sophomore from Beltsville, Md., will not travel with the team to Tempe, Ariz., for the game between the Hawkeyes (7-5) and the 19th-ranked Sooners (9-3).
"It is unfortunate that Marcus Coker will not be with the team for our bowl game. During the next 10 days, we will focus and continue to prepare the players that are able to participate," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement.
Coker's absence takes a load off of the Oklahoma defense, which struggled mightily near the end of 2011. Iowa needs a heavy running attack to keep the ball away from Landry Jones and the explosive Oklahoma offense. The Hawkeyes will now have to rely on a more balanced attack with both the passing game and the rushing game equally involved.
For more on the Insight Bowl from either team, head to Black Heart Gold Pants (Iowa) or Crimson and Cream Machine (Oklahoma).