Tuesday March 7th Local Sports

DES MOINES (AP) — Iowa taxpayers are on the hook for half of a $4 million settlement in the lawsuit brought by former Iowa football players who alleged racial discrimination in coach Kirk Ferentz’s program.

The State Appeal Board voted 2-1 on Monday to approve the use of $2 million for the $4.175 million settlement over the objection of State Auditor Rob Sand, a board member who said athletic director Gary Barta should be fired for a series of lawsuits ending in settlements under his watch.

The school’s athletic department released a statement attributed to Barta that said it “remains committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for every student-athlete and staff member involved in our program.”

 

 

IOWA CITY — Hawkeye football coach Kirk Ferentz says he is greatly disappointed the state’s attorney general negotiated a more than four million dollar settlement with a dozen former players.

The players accused Ferentz and other coaches of creating a racially hostile culture for black players. In a written statement released, Ferentz said for more than two years the Hawkeye football program had been unfairly maligned by the allegations and the settlement was offered without consulting him or other coaches named in the lawsuit. Ferentz indicated he’s been told the reason for the settlement was financial, to avoid the possibility of a large jury verdict.

Ferentz, in his statement, said the settlement clears the coaches of any wrongdoing — but had hoped a judge would have been given a chance to rule on their motion for a dismissal of the case. According to Ferentz, many former members of the team said things that they later recanted when questioned under oath.

 

 

DES MOINES — The boys state basketball tournament is underway in Des Moines:

== Class 1A quarterfinals Monday
Grand View Christian 61, New London 51
West Harrison 87, Dunkerton 61
North Linn 72, Madrid 63
Remsen St. Mary’s 57, Gladbrook-Reinbeck 47

 

== Class 2A quarterfinals Monday and Tuesday
Central Lyon 74, Des Moines Christian 41
Pella Christian 61, MFL MarMac 54
10:30—#2 Roland-Story vs. #7 Carroll Kuemper
12:15—#3 Western Christian of Hull vs. #6 Monticello

 

== Class 3A quarterfinals today
2:00—#1 Bondurant-Farrar vs. #8 Algona
3:45—#4 Newton vs. #5 North Polk
5:30—#3 Marion vs. #6 Bishop Heelan of Sioux City
7:15—#2 Xavier of Cedar Rapids vs. #7 Des Moines Hoover

 

 

CEDAR FALLS — The UNI and Drake women get ready for this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in the Quad Cities. The Panthers are the three seed and will play the late game on Friday against the winner of Thursday’s game between Illinois-Chicago and Valparaiso. UNI is 21-8 overall and finished the Valley race 16-4.

That’s UNI coach Tanya Warren who says either team will provide a challenge

The Panthers swept both teams during the regular season.

Drake is the four seed. The Bulldogs open Friday afternoon against the winner of Thursday’s game between Missouri State and Bradley.

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings started their salary cap purge by terminating the contract of veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks to end his eight-year run with the team. The 2019 All-Pro started 113 regular-season games, plus six in the playoffs, after the Vikings drafted him in the second round in 2015 out of UCLA. Kendricks totaled 857 tackles, 51 passes defensed and nine interceptions. He was voted a captain by his teammates and one of the club’s most active players in community service. The move saves $9.5 million against Minnesota’s cap. Cutting him costs the Vikings $1.93 million in dead money.

 

 

CEDAR FALLS — The high school track season started on Monday with some area girls teams competing in the Dickinson Relays at the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Looking at area top ten finishes:

Reese Brownlee, Clear Lake — 1st in 200, 26.57
Jacy Johnston, Osage — 4th in 400, 1:01.20
Addison Doughan, Clear Lake — 7th in 1500, 4:59.44
Bethany Warren, Forest City — 9th in 800, 2:29.45

Boys teams will compete at the Dickinson Relays later this afternoon. For full results, click here