Having been a U of I student in the 60′s, I saw drug use all too frequently. I chose not to participate out of fear of the consequences of arrest. I wish DJK felt the same, but he did not. I am disturbed that others, especially other athletes may have known and failed to help him (some may have tried) or worse participated in the drug use.

Marc, I think you made the point – and have said many times throughout the years – that the relationship ‘never was’? This just sealed the deal, tightly. And as I’ve said a couple times over the past few hours in posts here and on Mike’s blog, Kirk won this PR battle, and now we perhaps know why, or how.

A couple thoughts.

First off, this situation amply illustrates the talents and strengths of the Gazette reporters assigned to cover Iowa football. Marc was right on top of this; he likely had a very late night, (early morning), filing his initial report and he’s kept it updated all day. On a day when all of us would understand Mike’s absence from the sports page, he wrote a column that gave the situation great perspective and provided wonderful insight. Scott got up to date information about the university’s drug testing policy for student athletes and specifically the football team. Well done gentlemen…my sympathies to you and your family Mike during this difficult time.

Secondly, it has been illuminating to see the posts of others. Putting aside the lecture on what a hero is and the attempt to connect this situation to the under 21 debate in Iowa City, (where there is a forum there will always be zealots), lots of points of views and perspectives have come into play.

Finally, for me, this has given me insight into Coach Ferentz and the program. I sense that much of what goes on involving the players and discipline stays within the team. I had actually sensed that a long time ago; remember Maurice Brown? He was a great receiver, but never started a game. I’d always figured something had happened that he was being disciplined for for a long time, but I never every found out why. That’s not a bad philosophy. A coach who keeps things within a team shows respect for the individuals that make up that team. It isn’t really asking a lot for them to do the same.

Ultimately, this is a blip on the radar. If division exists within the team, now is an opportunity to try and heal it. The game itself already tests the teams bowl preparation. Missouri’s spread offense will be a challenge to our defense as will the defense they put on the field, but it remains a winnable game, regardless of whether DJK plays.

I like how this article sort of sums up the situation; the last three sentences were brilliant.

I think what has been missing in DJK’s fall from grace and the messageboard lynch mob that followed is that I have heard or read few people that have shown any sympathy or understanding.

I think that he may have been negatively swayed by the wrong crowd and/or cultural influences even before he arrived on the Iowa campus.

I certainly don’t think that DJ’s a bad kid. Misdirected to be sure, but not hopeless. Quite the contrary. The young man I’ve seen has shown many character traits that I associate with leaders. He failed here. I just don’t want Iowa fans to fail him by things they say or do in the immediate aftermath.

He can’t undo anything he’s already done, but he can face up to it. He can tell the truth. He can seek forgiveness.
And we can and should forgive.

He will always be a Hawkeye and I hope that 15 years from now after a successful life (both on & off the field) we welcome him back with open arms as an honarary captain.

Lets not forget. The crime he is accused of had nothing to do with harming anyone else but himself. No violence.
No theft. His only crime may simply be addiction. For that there is help.

Forgive? Forgive what? Its a case of mind over matter. I don’t mind because he don’t matter. You can’t fix STUPID!

Trapper, he broke the LAW! No sympathy deserved.

Everyone deserves their day in court. I for one would not want to be facing these charges – because we all know the police are not always 100% spot-on. Just sayin…

Since no one on this board has ever used drugs, messed-up, made wrong or bad decisions, disappointed anyone, let others down (including him/herself) allow me to be the first to admit that I have done almost all of the above.

I am no huge fan of DJK – never really did care for his attitude. But having played college sports (D3), I know somethings can go to your head. In this case, let’s let all the facts come out – and judge him, or not, the way you would want others to judge you, or not, in the same situation.

Similiar to Rucker (MSU) being reinstated, I also was upset at first, then realized Dantonio probably knew the situation better than anyone other than Rucker and the Judge.

Let’s look at all DJK brought to IOWA and wait to read/hear all the facts about this arrest and hope we’ve all got it wrong. I wish the best for DJK and all his Family and the Hawkeye Family as well…!…

ON IOWA
GO HAWKS

Marc: Never having coached or played at this level but doing both at the High school level. What type of relationship do players expect from coaches? I always felt that if I treated my players fairly and given them the respect they earned, and did my job coaching that that was enough. But if any of my players came to me with a problem I would try to help. I believe that KF did this and I understand that with 90+ players you can’t give your undivided attention to each and everyone, and someone’s feelings my get hurt but get over it. At some point the individual has to take charge of their own actions.
Also your comment about “Brother’s keeper is great in theory. It doesn’t seem to be taken to heart; however Brother’s keeper is great in theory. It doesn’t seemed to be taken to heart, however” I agree, if any of his team mates knew what was going on they should have pulled him aside and told him to straighten out his act, and if he refused they should have talked to KF and then let him get involved. After all KF experienced in college and the pro’s he might have been able to convince him that what he was doing was “WRONG”, and if he continued the coaching staff, team and the Univ. would have nothing else to do with him for his own good. I feel that what happens no is all on DJK, and he can decide what to do with his life. I still want to thank him for all the excitement he brought while playing, and hope he gets his life back together.

DJK should of never went to Iowa to begin with. There are far better programs that would of appreciated his great work on the field, which might of helped him off the field.
Here is hoping he gets over the hurdle and proceeds to a great professional career, where his talent will be appreciated.

My God is a God of 2nd chances and I think Michael Vick and I believe the same.

SO let’s hope DJK pulls “a Michael Vick 180″ and gets his act together. Any wide receiver who can run two kickoff returns back for touchdowns in the big tem and can bench 400 lbs has a future in the NFL if he gets his act together. He is not just another receiver…

I don’t know DJK, so I’m not qualified to make any sort of statement on who he is. It isn’t my place to forgive him or to hold him to accounts. I’ve heard lots of labels attached; addict, misdirected, bum, irresponsible. I’m not ready to attach a label to him yet either.
It will be awhile before the charges against him are adjudicated. It is likely that a plea agree will be arranged, given that he admitted to lots of things and given that he may be in a position to cooperate with those prosecuting his roommate.
There are a number of things I wonder about. Why he had such a large collection of prescription drugs, why he’d post pictures of himself on social media using or around illicit drugs, how it came to pass that he had a roommate who was a dealer? Ultimately, though, things like this happen everyday. Instead of lots of coverage and feedback, it ends up in the agate type of an arrest log of some paper.
With any celebrity, athlete, politician, or public person, our perception of that person is shaped in part by people seeking to create a certain image. We don’t really know that person and the image created doesn’t always match who that person really is. It is telling that Ferentz discouraged reporters from dealing with DJK and DJK from dealing with reporters. My guess is that a large part of it was DJK’s tendency to be highly outspoken and public about things that sometimes the coaching staff felt should stay within the team. I don’t really know, though; it is merely my perception.
The backstory that Hlas told yesterday about Johnson-Koulianos is a public relations goldmine. A young boy drifting from home to home until a more fortunate family made them part of their clan. Seems like a movie about someone like that was made recently. It is harder to know what, if any, scars his early childhood left on him and whether or not he was able to easily handle the changes in culture he experienced at a young age. Then again, this might not have anything to do with it either.
People are already making projections about how this might affect a possible NFL career. It may a great deal or it might not. Teams do take chances on players at times. Athletes have made horrendous decisions and found their way back.
In this time and era, we get news instantly and we react to it instantly. Often, we don’t reflect on things before we say them and often we lean on the relative annoymity of a forum on the internet to be as colorful and outrageous as possible in our comments.
Most of us don’t have enough information to make a full judgement, good or bad, about Derrell Johnson-Koulianos. None of us knows how this will play out. Yesterday was a day for reactions; over time our vantage points may change.

Some great thoughtful comments and how refreshing to generally not have to read those typical angry, paranoid comments about the Gazette, the government, poor coaching, etc… Adams is the exception but he is just being who he is…simple black and white thinking with the usual result of blaming someone for something.