 Marc MorehouseHi, I'm Marc Morehouse. I've covered sports for more than 15 years, mostly in Eastern Iowa. I've had Hayden Fry [...] |
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Could be something, could be nothing
This from Iowa RB Jewel Hampton’s Facebook page:
“Former Hawkeye!!! wats next???”
So, Hampton appears to be gone, which puts the toll at two running backs this weekend. UI associate AD Fred Mims said Friday night that sophomore running back Brandon Wegher asked for and received his release to transfer. The only stipulation is that he can’t transfer to Big Ten schools. It’s unclear if that includes Big Ten newbie Nebraska.
This might not mean anything. He might be foolin’ on the Facebook, but there it is.
As a true freshman, Hampton rushed for 463 yards and a then-freshman record seven TDs, which was broken by Wegher in ’09 with eight TDs. In July ’09, Hampton suffered a torn ACL and missed the season. Hampton was suspended for Iowa’s opener for a public intoxication arrest. He played in two games before tearing the ACL in his other knee and missing the rest of the season.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said he was progressing toward a return next fall.
And then, there’s Sunday night’s Facebook update, which was the night after Iowa’s football banquet. The first “comment” on Hampton’s status update was from Iowa running back Adam Robinson. He wrote, “hmm…. first and for most… LIVE IT UP!” Robinson missed Iowa’s season finale after suffering his second concussion of the season.
Tune in for more tomorrow. Or not. Who knows. Wild weekend. Should’ve gone ice fishing.
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Word has it Hampton failed a random drug test, and evidently he wasn’t the only one.
We’ll see.
Is that picture Prince or the short guy from Hall and Oates?
John Oates has more of a horizontal chest hair alignment – it’s totally Prince. And yes, I hope my source is wrong but I’m bracing for bad news.
It’s going to be tough to verify anything that’s out there without Ferentz speaking on it.
Very true. I shouldn’t have been so quick to throw out speculation.
kinnicknorth,
Love the moniker. Then there’s the pic. LOL
I just lost my breakfast. Please change that pic so I don’t have a brain anyuerism in the future when reading your posts.
Ummm….more like he failed one in the past and refused one this time. Refusal = vaya con dios my son…….
I love “vaya con dios,” but I always misspell it.
Looks like Geico Caveman to me.
On a serious note, maybe it’s good for a Season to go into Fall with 2-3 RB’s. This year it was what, Nine (9) and one limped to the finish.
Again, we seem to make more with less than more with, well, you get the picture.
On Iowa
Go Hawks
Ya know, I hate to bring more negative to the conversation but how much could the team count on Hampton next year anyway? His knees have proven, without a doubt, to be a liability. Yes, a knee is often much, much stronger after an ACL surgery but, really, how much time and effort should Ferentz invest in it if he returns next year? Coker has proven to be very tough and A-Rob ran until his head got knocked off his shoulders, proving that he is pretty d*mn tough, too. Throw Brad Rogers in there, too, and you have three young backs who run very tough. If I’m a coach with a RB with two ACL surgeries, I’m not sure how much faith I have, honestly.
No question, Murph. It’s been done, but it’s no something you can count on.
Iowa needs five RBs to get through. Might only take one, but past performance shows you want at least five.
Well, I would imagine that Ferentz and co. are calling all available RB’s and giving one last sales pitch before the signing period.
Hello Marc,
I’ve heard numerous rumors that other players (Robinson, Bernstein) might also be in jeopardy ask part of the DJK fallout. Any merit to that or just silly internet gossip?
Other media reporting that there will be a press release of some sort today. So maybe we’ll know more, or maybe we’ll find out some cross-country runner made Academic All-American.
Making me laugh on that one Garth. Keep the levity coming as I am sure we are all going to need it by tomorrow.
Panther,
Apparently you’re not familiar with NCAA drug testing policy…If a player FAILS a first test, its an immediate ONE year suspension from the date of the failed test PLUS the player loses a year of eligibility.
A 2nd failure or test refusal, would result in immediate revocation of a player’s remaining eligibility to play.
If Jewel had previously failed a drug test, he would have lost a year of eligibility. He used a redshirt in 2009 after his 1st knee injury, so he didn’t lose any eligibility.
I’m so freakin tired of people coming up with these absolutely RIDICULOUS crap all over these boards today. Don’t you folks think that the Iowa FB department would be the FIRST ones to come out and say hey, Jewel has left the team?
Get some common sense here people…
Not advocating internet rumors by any means, but from what Scott Doc posted last week, I think there is a difference between Performance-enhancing and recreational drugs as far as the NCAA is concerned. I believe Scott even said the NCAA doesn’t test for recreational.
Let’s hope the internet rumors are not true. The new division names are bad enough, I don’t need any other crappy news today.
Actually your commons sense response should be for yourself, that drug testing statement is for steroids, performance enhancers, and masking drugs.
Jewel Hampton was positive for a street drug test last year. Iowa spens over $70,000 a year not only to test for the ncaa requirements but also 4 common street drugs, THC, cocaine (out of system within 24 hours), meth, and Ecstasy (which is only in blood for 48 hours after use)
We’re close on a few things.
Don’t want to be wrong. That’s a big deal. We’re not a messageboard.
When is the press release to be released or is just whenever the Sports Office decides to release it?
If we’re waiting for Klatt and Miller to fix their hair, we could never see the press release.
Garth,
The UI has its OWN drug testing program separate from what is required by the NCAA or the Big 10.
The program is administered by the UI Hospitals and Clinics and tests for ALL illegal substances–recreational and performance enhancing. Plus ALL athletes are tested and a coach can request that a team be tested at any time, for any reason.
Tests are done typically in-season, but can be done year-round as well.
Totally agree with you Todd. But from what I read of Scott, its the NCAA policy to suspend for one year for testing positive for PEDs. However we don’t really know what UI’s / Ferentz’s punishment is for testing positive for recreational. From what I read, the NCAA isn’t testing for these violations, so I can only assume they cannot punish for them.
So its possible that players have already tested positive for recreational through the UI’s testing, but not missed any games. That’s all I was trying to say.
Marc, I am not about the press the panic button over this, true or not. Remember, people, this is the head coach who recruits skinny tight ends and turns them into pro linemen (Nelson, Steinbach, Gallery), recruits fullbacks that become defensive linemen (Babineaux)or tight ends (Erik Jensen),linebackers that become rush ends (Roth) and even linebackers that make All Pro at tight end (Dallas Clark)and so on and so on and scoo bee doo bee doo! If KF runs low on RB’s, there are defensive backs and linebackers who can take off a redshirt and start working with the offense. Plus, we have D’eandre Jhnson and Marcus Coker already at work. Just give hem something to do that is not so “plain vanilla”.
Let it play out and we will see. Ferentz reads a guy’s frame like the blueprint of a ship and turns him over to Chris Doyle for final assembly. I am not worried.
I think that’s a fair reaction. Rare but fair. Lots of ledge-hanging today.