Barta on Coker

[ColumbusHawk]

At this point, do we really expect better of Iowa's PR department?

One would think they would learn from past situations, but they never seem to. Which I guess that fits, because it seems like Ferentz never learns from past situations.

What cracks me up is that people do not understand that there is very little Iowa can say or comment about the situation with Coker. Federal privacy laws pretty much put a muzzle on schools.

I admit it is a PR nightmare. Rumors are running rampant. However, Iowa's hands are tied by the privacy laws. About the only thing Iowa can say legally is that Coker was suspended for violation of the student code of conduct. Anything more detailed than that would be a violation of the law.

From a legal standpoint, the less said about the Coker matter, the better. Iowa's PR department isn't stupid. They know it is a public relations debacle. However, there is very little Iowa can do to correct the situation.

 

[CAARHawk]

If you are talking about FERPA, Coker could waive his rights in this situation if he decided it was in his best interest.

And I think we have more than enough data to surmise that Iowa's PR department falls closer to the inept than one would want.

 

[OO44]

I am hearing Ferentz is not happy with Coker's suspension and did not agree with it. President Mason and Barta made the decision to suspend Coker. Ferentz is not real happy with Barta about the decision.

The Shadow has friend in Iowa City that is a $10,000+ a year donor. He won't give another penny until Gary Barta and Sally Mason are gone.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I agree. The fact that he said "the invitation" at all would imply that Coker is no longer a member of the team.

I take it as it's an invitation for him to decide to stay with the team during or after his suspension. Not so much he was dismissed but it's almost like he's in lingo deciding if he wants to continue or go elsewhere. That's the way I take it anyway.

 

[Cydkar]

What OK4P said.

Given that we are a multimillion dollar enterprise, the lack of PR ability is disturbing.

Secondly, I find it hard to believe that Barta could say this, and not one person in the media thought to ask, "we thought Marcus was suspended, having an invitation to come back suggests that he is not currently on the team. Did you misspeak, or is being suspended no longer an accurate characterization of Marcus' situation?"

I'm not surprised.

 

[hogeye]

I'm not surprised.

Exactly...frankly, I would have been surprised if they had caught it.

 

[BSpringsteen]

The Shadow has friend in Iowa City that is a $10,000+ a year donor. He won't give another penny until Gary Barta and Sally Mason are gone.

That gels with what I heard about this last night. If what I heard is true, this thing is ridiculous, and I fully expect that Kirk has told both Coker and Mason exactly what he thinks of it, and I would expect they were very opposite conversations.

 

[DexterMorgan]

semantics dude. wake up and quit trying to read into it more than it is.

that's like, kinda what we do here and stuff.

 

[BQuastU]

It is absolutely astounding to me that the reasons for Coker's and McCall's respective troubles haven't leaked out. With the prominence of socia media and the fact that there are 100 players on the team, each of which has a number of non-football friends at UI and back home with whom they correspond via email, text, FB, etc., this is really impressive.

 

[pmchawk]

I don't get why you would quit...being the #1 RB and all.

If you feel you were wrongly suspended maybe.

 

[silvanthalas]

However, Iowa's hands are tied by the privacy laws.

I think we all realize this.

But it goes well beyond simply saying what Coker did or didn't do. It's about acknowledging situations in the first place and their inability to even make an coherent effort to defuse them.

Even Ferentz is making the university look bad with his comments the other day, which came across as incredibly arrogant. Yes, Ferentz can tell a good joke now and then; this wasn't one of those times, and he only fanned the flames.

 

[GhostofBTT]

It is absolutely astounding to me that the reasons for Coker's and McCall's respective troubles haven't leaked out. With the prominence of socia media and the fact that there are 100 players on the team, each of which has a number of non-football friends at UI and back home with whom they correspond via email, text, FB, etc., this is really impressive.

And yet the guys here think Iowa's PR is failing. Trust me, airing university business in public is a much worse scenario than forcing a couple of hundred message board agitators to speculate rumors.

 

[TritonHawkeye]

I am hearing Ferentz is not happy with Coker's suspension and did not agree with it. President Mason and Barta made the decision to suspend Coker. Ferentz is not real happy with Barta about the decision.

The Shadow has friend in Iowa City that is a $10,000 a year donor. He won't give another penny until Gary Barta and Sally Mason are gone.

Probably need another 1 or 2 zero's to be of any real concern to Barta.

 

[cjhawks]

LOL at this "We deserve to know!!!" stuff.

This is the way that I see it.
1. ICPD, UIPD, DA have all said there is no investigation involving Coker.
2. It's becoming more clear it may have something to do on the academic side of things.
3. Wasn't KF's decision to suspend, but rather Barta and Mason. The fact people are becoming so outraged! at KF is laughable.
4. It's apparent KF didn't agree w/ the decision to suspend, which is fine with me.

I'm not one to sit around and drum up conspiracy theories as to why a STUDENT athlete has been suspended. We as fans have evolved into a society where most feel they are owed and explanation for every little thing in the program. The reality is we are not owed anything. For those of you who use the "but I'm a big donor" card, it doesn't change things IMO. It's a donation, not a pre-payment for insider access to the program. Few of you have any idea the pressures a college athlete is under in today's environment. Between academics, social pressures, and the ever ridiculous fan expectations, it is not an easy transition to make.

When it comes to academic improprieties, grades, etc. - I don't believe the program or university should come under fire for not telling their fans exactly what is going one with one or two student athletes.

It's the world we live in today, I get that. I just don't agree with it. I do, however, get a good chuckle out of some of you all up in arms over not knowing and throwing conspiracy theories out there. Keep it up, need more, as it is a slow day at work.

 

[DuffMan]

It is absolutely astounding to me that the reasons for Coker's and McCall's respective troubles haven't leaked out. With the prominence of socia media and the fact that there are 100 players on the team, each of which has a number of non-football friends at UI and back home with whom they correspond via email, text, FB, etc., this is really impressive.

Just because teh Diesel won't allow us to discuss it on here doesn't mean it hasn't leaked out. If you don't know what happened you aren't trying very hard.

 

[DexterMorgan]

LOL at this "We deserve to know!!!" stuff.

This is the way that I see it.
1. ICPD, UIPD, DA have all said there is no investigation involving Coker.
2. It's becoming more clear it may have something to do on the academic side of things.
3. Wasn't KF's decision to suspend, but rather Barta and Mason. The fact people are becoming so outraged! at KF is laughable.
4. It's apparent KF didn't agree w/ the decision to suspend, which is fine with me.

What makes you think it's academic? I don't think there's anything that supports this.

 

[DuffMan]

If you are talking about FERPA, Coker could waive his rights in this situation if he decided it was in his best interest.And I think we have more than enough data to surmise that Iowa's PR department falls closer to the inept than one would want.

And yet Coker has given no indication that he's interested in waiving his rights.

 

[herbyhawk]

you forget
Coker is big piece of the Offense and to suspend him before a bowl game and it is not a criminal offense
people want to know
it may not be much of a big deal to the University
but lets face it there is a lot of money being bet on the outcomes of these games
the loss of Coker does affect point spreads
i will leave you to your own thoughts on that as i have my own opinion

 

[imported_ankle23]

you forget
Coker is big piece of the Offense and to suspend him before a bowl game and it is not a criminal offense
people want to know
it may not be much of a big deal to the University
but lets face it there is a lot of money being bet on the outcomes of these games
the loss of Coker does affect point spreads
i will leave you to your own thoughts on that as i have my own opinion

that is exactly one of the reasons why KF wouldn't release and/or doesn't like to release information on players - and he has stated such in the past - because he does not want to aid and/or abet gamblers.

and, last i knew, this game was off of the vegas books because of all of the players who are not going to be in the game.

 

[9YRPLAN]

The Shadow has friend in Iowa City that is a $10,000+ a year donor. He won't give another penny until Gary Barta and Sally Mason are gone.

oh yes, this guy. i love this guy.

we had such long, distinguished list of candidates for those positions when David and Bob left, right? thats why they were filled so quickly?