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Kirk Ferentz responds to accusations made by former Iowa RB Akrum Wadley
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Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said he was “surprised” to learn of the allegations made by former Hawkeyes running back Akrum Wadley, who was one of many former players to speak out about racial disparities within the football program over the last two months.
Back in June, a Facebook post shared by Robert T. Green, CEO of Pre-PostGame, had Wadley detail what he called a “nightmare” experience while playing for the Hawkeyes. The former running back accused Ferentz of threatening to cancel his meal card at one time.
“I was threatened by (Iowa head coach) Kirk Ferentz that my meal card would be taken away and I will not eat nor be able to sit with my teammates during eating sessions,” Wadley said. “He did follow through on his threat. I went to use my meal card and it was declined.”
“I had to call my mother from New Jersey at 10 or 11 pm at night because I was hungry to order Dominos Pizza for me. Or I would have to go to a fan’s house earlier at night to eat because there was no way I was going to be able to make it through the next day vomiting, being weak, and be able to make it through school and practice that day.”
On Thursday, while meeting with the media following the Husch Blackwell investigative report into the Iowa football program, Ferentz was asked directly about Wadley’s comments. He said that some of the allegations made by the ex-Hawkeye were false.
“Some of the things were just flat-out not true,” Ferentz said when asked about Wadley’s allegations. “We have never held back a [meal] card.”
Ferentz also said that, even as late as May, he and Wadley’s mother had been in good conversation and that he helped the running back in his pursuit of landing an opportunity in the XFL, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Below is a clip from Ferentz’s presser discussing Wadley’s accusations:
https://twitter.com/SchutteCFB/status/1288920923450605568?s=20
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB