Out of all of the pre-bowl suspensions that have been handed out of late -- and there have been many -- this one might be the biggest, at least name-wise.
In a press release, Iowa announced that running back and leading rusher Marcus Coker has been suspended for the Insight Bowl vs. Oklahoma later this month. The school wrote in the press release that "[t]he issue involves University of Iowa policies and has resulted in Coker being in violation of the UI Student-Athlete Code of Conduct.”
Coker will not travel with the team to Tempe for the Dec. 30 game.
“It is unfortunate that Marcus Coker will not be with the team for our bowl game,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a statement. “During the next 10 days, we will focus and continue to prepare the players that are able to participate.”
Suffice to say, Coker’s suspension will have significant ramifications for the Hawkeyes.
Coker led the Hawkeyes in rushing this season with 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns. The second-leading rusher? De’Andre Johnson with 79 yards. The only other player on the team to score a rushing touchdown this season was quarterback James Vandenberg, who had three of them.