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Iowa President Satisfied with Response to Athlete Problems

By Becky Ogann

JOHNSTON (AP) - University of Iowa President Sally Mason says she's satisfied with steps taken by athletic officials to deal with a rash of discipline and legal problems by athletes.

Mason, hired as president last year, said she's watching the situation closely. But Mason thinks athletic director Gary Barta and football coach Kirk Ferentz have handled recent problems well.

Mason says that if she had to intervene, she'd need a new athletic director. Mason added she feels strongly that she has a very good person in Barta and a very good coach in Ferentz.

Mason said she approves of the discipline meted out by Barta and Ferentz, saying its in their good hands for now.

Most of the conduct issues surrounding the athletic department involve the football team.

Former Iowa wide receiver James Cleveland and backup quarterback Arvell Nelson were dismissed from the team in March after being arrested on drug charges. Wide receivers Anthony Bowman and Dominque Douglas are no longer on the team after both pleaded guilty to credit card fraud earlier this year.

A number of players have been arrested on alcohol-related charges as well.

1:29 PM Kathy B wrote ...

When I look around and see how few Eastern Iowa female and male high school athletes have been recruited on scholarships to our main 3 universities;not only am I unhappy my tax dollars support so many out of state atheletes---I can not beleive we Iowans except the loss of OUR student atheltics,artists and med students to other states. I'm told somes years we have more talented students than other years--I believe their character and morales should be considered. It's Iowa's future!!

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Thursday, May 8 at 9:06 PM Hardy har har wrote ...

We leave the prison recruiting to top tier schools like Miami, Fla, etc... If indeed these players showed signs they were not exactly upstanding citizens of their respective communities then maybe "concerned" should get on his local sports guy as well for not following up on what types of community members our coaches are bringing to Eastern Iowa. The coaches certainly aren't going to admit it.

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Thursday, May 8 at 10:16 AM 2 headlines... one story wrote ...

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/18759894.html

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Thursday, May 8 at 7:48 AM concerned wrote ...

Why doesn't the football team recruit somewhere other than prisons?

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