Another week, another bout of horrible news from Iowa City. Most of the problems of the recent years--apart from losses to weaker opponents--stemmed from arrests of players and failed drug tests. Now we have 13 players hospitalized as a result of rhabdomyolysis, which is basically working out too much especially when not warmed up to heavy workout loads. The players, who were just back to the school program after three weeks away, definitely did a heavy load (one player said he had to do 100 squats of 240 pounds in a timed fashion followed by 100 bench presses). They then complained of fatigue and "tea-colored" urine and were hospitalized to prevent kidney damage. This same situation happened to high school kids in Washington State last summer.
Now Iowa's program has been able to compete with schools sitting on better recruiting territories because of excellent coaching and a famous strength and conditioning program. Many the little-known, slight high school player has been transformed into a first round draft pick by that staff. Now that does bring its own set of red flags, but a proper plan for adding strength is of course possible if done the right way especially in terms of keeping a guy for a red shirt year and working around the clock combined with a proper plan for nutrition. Iowa claims that this is the same first-day-back set of drills as previous years, but now we have 13 sick kids. Something is wrong. Meanwhile head coach Kirk Ferentz was out recruiting and not only missed seeing the kids hospitalized but the ensuing press conference. That is a mistake he may live to regret, especially for a program that went 3-4 in the second half of the 2010 season.
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