Iowa athletics dept. to fully cover $4M settlement
Iowa‘s athletics department will pay the entire settlement of more than $4 million to a group of Black former football players who sued the university for alleged racial discrimination.
University president Barbara Wilson on Thursday said the athletic department will reimburse $2 million to the state’s general fund for the settlement. Iowa’s state appeals board on Monday voted 2-1 to approve $2 million of state money to cover about half of the settlement. The university’s athletic department had already been set to cover the other half.
“I appreciate the work and due diligence of the Iowa Attorney General and State Appeal Board,” Wilson’s statement read. “After listening to the concerns of Iowans, and in consultation with Board of Regents leadership, I have determined that the University of Iowa Department of Athletics will reimburse the state general fund for the $2 million due to the recent settlement. I am deeply committed to our students’ success and well-being on and off the field of play.”
State auditor Rob Sand, part of the three-member appeals board, voted against using state money for the settlement. Sand also called for the firing of longtime Iowa athletics director Gary Barta, citing several discrimination lawsuits during his tenure that led to large settlement payouts.
The previous settlements were paid entirely by Iowa athletic department funds. They included a $6.5 million payout in 2017 to settle a lawsuit over the firing of former field hockey coach Tracey Griesbaum.
Wilson did not mention Barta or his job status in her statement Thursday. Barta has led Iowa’s athletic department since 2006.
“It reminds me of that scene in ‘Zoolander’ when Will Ferrell says, ‘I feel like I’m taking crazy pills here,'” Sand told ESPN on Monday after the vote. “I don’t know why taxpayers are paying $2 million for this. Can you imagine someone in the private sector still having their job after four settlements?
“… This doesn’t mean that Gary Barta hasn’t worked hard at his job. At the end of the day, when you’ve had four settlements related to discrimination, you have to say enough is enough.”
Iowa’s athletic department on Monday released a statement saying it remains committed to establishing “an inclusive and welcoming environment” for all athletes and staff members.
Longtime football coach Kirk Ferentz expressed great disappointment in the decision to settle the lawsuit, saying negotiations occurred between the players’ attorney, Damario Solomon-Simmons, and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Ferentz also cited a motion for summary judgment that had been filed outlining why the case should be dismissed.
“These discussions took place entirely without the knowledge or consent of the coaches who were named in the lawsuit,” Ferentz said in a statement. “In fact, the parties originally named disagree with the decision to settle, fully believing that the case would have been dismissed with prejudice before trial. … We have been told the reason for the settlement is financial. As part of the settlement, the coaches named were dismissed from the lawsuit and there is no admission of any wrongdoing.
“For more than two years, our program has been unfairly and negatively impacted by these allegations.”
Barta; Ferentz; his son and offensive coordinator, Brian Ferentz; and former strength coach Chris Doyle were dismissed from the lawsuit last week.
According to the proposed settlement, some $2.85 million would be divided among 12 players and $1.9 million would go to Solomon Simmons Law for fees and expenses. One player was not included in the settlement for reasons not immediately known.
In addition, the university would direct $90,000 to support graduate or professional school tuition for the plaintiffs, with no individual receiving more than $20,000, and provide mental health counseling for the plaintiffs through March 15, 2024. The athletic department also is required to hire University of Texas Black studies professor Leonard Moore to oversee a five-year diversity, equity and inclusion plan.
The lawsuit filed in November 2020 involved 13 Black former players, including former star running back Akrum Wadley and career receptions leader Kevonte Martin-Manley. They alleged they were demeaned with racial slurs, forced to abandon Black hairstyles, fashion and culture to fit the “Iowa Way” promoted by Ferentz, and retaliated against for speaking out.
The players initially sought $20 million in damages plus the firings of Barta and the Ferentzes.
Doyle agreed to leave Iowa five months before the lawsuit was filed after widespread accusations that he used his position as strength coach to bully and disparage former players, particularly those who are Black. Iowa agreed to pay Doyle $1.1 million in a resignation agreement.
EDMONTON, Alberta — Oilers captain Connor McDavid suffered a lower-body injury and did not return in the third period of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Western Conference-leading Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night.
Goalie Stuart Skinner also was hurt when he was involved in a late-game collision and removed due to concussion protocols. Calvin Pickard stopped three shots in Skinner’s place.
Speaking after the game, coach Kris Knoblauch said there was no update on the statuses of either McDavid or Skinner.
McDavid appeared to get hurt while attempting to chase down the puck in the Jets’ zone when he was bumped by Winnipeg defenseman Josh Morrissey.
In the second period, McDavid assisted on Jeff Skinner‘s goal to extend his point streak to 13 games. McDavid has combined for four goals and 15 assists in the span.
McDavid’s injury came at the same time the Oilers held out NHL leading scorer Leon Draisaitl for precautionary reasons after the forward was hurt in a 7-1 win over Utah on Tuesday. Knoblauch said Draisaitl is day-to-day.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin is one step closer to NHL history after the “Great 8” reached a fitting number in his pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s career goals record.
Ovechkin scored his 888th goal Thursday night in a 3-2 victory by the Washington Capitals over Philadelphia that helped them clinch a playoff berth, moving seven back of passing Gretzky’s mark of 894 that long seemed unapproachable.
“Again a big goal at a big time,” goaltender Charlie Lindgren said. “Credit to Ovi: another big goal and another goal off the mark.”
With just over five minutes left in the first period, the puck hit linemate Aliaksei Protas in front and he passed it to Ovechkin. The 39-year-old beat Samuel Ersson for his 35th goal of the season, which is tied for fourth most in the league.
“It was a great play,” Ovechkin said. “Take it and move on.”
Confetti flew and Big Joe Turner’s “Shake, Rattle and Roll” blared from speakers as mascot Slapshot flipped the goal counter in a corner of the arena from 887 to 888. Fans chanted “Ovi! Ovi!” as play resumed.
“Every time he scores, the crowd gets 10 times more involved and it just kind of blows up, and whatever happens after, they’re still always cheering,” winger Andrew Mangiapane said. “It’s a great atmosphere every time he gets a goal for us.”
Mangiapane, who wears jersey No. 88, saw the triple 8s and manifested he might get one, too. Midway through the second period, he scored.
“There was lots of 8s out there,” Ovechkin said.
Ovechkin at his current pace has a chance to to break Gretzky’s record before the end of the regular season.
“It seemed like the last two years no one really expected it to happen this quick,” Flyers captain Sean Couturier said. “It’s definitely special. I’m sure when we’re done playing we can say we played against the greatest goal scorer of all time. … Happy for him. It’s fun to see him get closer.”
The Capitals have 13 games left in the regular season before the playoffs. Ovechkin has one year left on his current contract in case he does not reach the mark this season.
His teammates are hoping he gets to 895 with time to spare.
“We’d love to see him get it done,” Lindgren said. “He’s generating a ton of scoring chances every single game. He could’ve had a couple tonight. Obviously, I don’t know exactly what he’s feeling, I don’t know how much pressure he’s feeling, but, boy, I’ll tell you, seeing him and being with him every day you look at him, you wouldn’t know that he’s feeling any sort of pressure at all.
“He’s still going out and producing and scoring goals for us and being one heck of a captain.”
Coach Spencer Carbery believes there are many positives for the Capitals with Ovechkin on this mission.
“Our guys feed off it on the bench – they’re pulling for him,” Carbery said. “I think it energizes them to play at a higher level. … There’s no question as a coach I feel like this chase and the energy around it hasn’t been a distraction or a hindrance to our group. It’s been a massive benefit.”
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