Hunter
09/15/22
Members of the Iowa Hawkeye football staff and athletic department have filed requests that the federal discrimination lawsuit filed by former players be dismissed, while the players accuse the University of Iowa of delaying a court-ordered request to produce records they wish to review.
The Gazette reports that the players’ attorneys have asked the court to delay any decision on a summary judgement, specifically citing the delay in getting documents from defendant Brian Ferentz. Ferentz has yet to give a deposition in the case.
The attorneys also claim that the Hawkeye program continues to refuse to turn over all court-ordered documents, including personnel reports on coaches UI Athletics commissioned from the Husch Blackwell firm in early 2020. The University has cited privacy laws, but a judge ordered the reports turned over to the plaintiffs for review.
The Gazette’s report also says that in addition to Brian Ferentz’s August motion for a summary judgment in his favor, he — along with Head Coach Kirk Ferentz, Seth Wallace, Gary Barta, the University of Iowa, and the Board of Regents — this month filed motions asking the judge to dismiss certain counts against them. The motions to dismiss also say the players have failed to provide specific allegations with evidence supporting them.
Former Hawkeye strength coach Chris Doyle filed a separate request Monday for summary judgement, claiming that the players’ suit came too late to make sufficient arguments.
The players, in their response, say the defendants can’t refuse requests for depositions and then ask that the suit simply be dropped. The players submitted to their depositions this past spring.