Eight former University of Iowa football players demanded a $20 million refund and the dismissal of sports director Gary Barta, head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Brian Ferentz.
In a letter sent to the university on October 5, former Hawkeyes players claim that Barta and the Ferentz were guilty of “intentional racial discrimination” during their tenure, according to Chad Leistikow of des Moines Registry.
The players, who worked with civil rights lawyer Damario Solomon-Simmons to send the letter, are the offensive part Akrum Wadley, open receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley, defensive back Maurice Fleming, open receiver Andre Harris, offensive lineman Marcel Joly, linebacker Aaron Mends, ball carrier Jonathan Parker and supporter Reggie Spearman.
All the first ones who sent the letter are black.
Other requests described through the ex-players on the chart come with the addition of a “black senior male administrator position” as a component of Iowa Athletics, anti-racism education for track and box staff, a board of advisers that comes with black players and tuition waivers for any black athlete who graduated in Ferentz’s time as head coach.
In response to the letter, University of Iowa Attorney General Carroll Reasoner said that while the school has already made attempts to satisfy some of the applications, “we respectfully reject your monetary and non-public requests. “
The Iowa football program included tactics with strength coach Chris Doyle in June after 21 years in office, a resolution taken after dozens of former players said he was a component of the show that had mistreated black players.
The 8 former players who sent the letter made express accusations about how black players were unfairly treated at the University of Iowa.
Wadley said he was once revoked by the privileges of the food card, and Martin-Manley tweeted about what he believed was the unfair forging of former open receiver coach Erik Campbell in 2012:
Erik “Soup” Campbell trained/recruited the 3 most sensitive open receivers (statistically) in iowa football show HISTORY (in four seasons) and was forced to leave based on invalid, biased and racial criticism of HC and CO. leadership is needed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Kirk Ferentz, 65, is about to start his 22nd season as head coach of the Hawkeyes and has a career record of 162-104.
Ferentz led Iowa to the ten major titles in 2002 and 2004, and the Hawkeyes played 17 bowling games during his tenure.
In June, Ferentz admitted he had a “blind spot” when he saw the mistreatment of black players on the Iowa football program.
As a component of the letter, he indicated that the 8 ex-players are ready to take legal action against the school if their claims are not met until October 19.
Former Iowa HC players Kirk Ferentz fired for “intentional racial discrimination” (Des Moines Register)