Eight Black former University of Iowa football players are seeking $20 million in compensation and for athletics director Gary Barta, head coach Kirk Ferentz and assistant coach Brian Ferentz to be fired over what they contend was intentional racial discrimination during their Hawkeye careers.
The group, which includes two of the football program’s most prolific producers in Akrum Wadley and Kevonte Martin-Manley, made the demands in a certified, 21-page letter sent to the UI. A copy of the letter, dated Oct. 5, has been obtained by the Des Moines Register.
The group is represented by Tulsa civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons and has additional demands, including attorney’s fees; the creation of a permanent Black male senior administrator position in Iowa athletics; mandatory anti-racist training for athletics staff; the establishment of a board of advisers including Black players and anti-racist professionals to oversee the football program; and tuition waivers for any Black athlete who did not graduate with a degree during Kirk Ferentz’s 22-year tenure.
According to the letter, if the demands are not met to the former athletes’ satisfaction by Monday, Oct. 19, the athletes were prepared to pursue a lawsuit “to ensure they are rightfully compensated for their emotional, mental and bodily damages and that Iowa is appropriately held accountable for its unlawful, discriminatory conduct.”
On Sunday, UI general counsel Carroll Reasoner formally replied to Solomon-Simmons to say the football program had previously taken steps to implement some of the demands but unequivocally added, “We respectfully decline your monetary and personnel demands.”
In other words: No $20 million settlement and no further firings.
To date, 21-year strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle is the only person to lose his job over racial-bias allegations that shook the program in early June.
UI president Bruce Harreld, who on Oct. 1 (four days before this letter was submitted) announced his plans for retirement, shared this statement Sunday: "We appreciate some former athletes sharing insights on their experience while at the University of Iowa. Many of their concerns have been reviewed and addressed. And to be clear, any student-athlete that has left the university and did not obtain their degree is welcome to return, and we are here to support them.
"There are several demands outlined in the letter, and we are proud of the efforts made to date. We have a path forward that includes ideas and recommendations from many current and former students aimed at making the University of Iowa a more inclusive and better place to learn, grow and compete as an athlete. However, the university rejects the demands for money and personnel changes."
The 21-page letter lays the groundwork for litigation and was led by Solomon-Simmons, whose website touts his national TV presence and role in high-profile cases, including efforts to obtain reparations for the survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot. Des Moines attorneys Alfredo Parrish and Brandon Brown are listed as local counsel.
Accounts of negative Iowa football experiences under the direction of Ferentz, college football's longest-tenured active coach, are outlined on behalf of these eight former players:
Maurice Fleming, a defensive back at Iowa from 2012 through 2015 who transferred to West Virginia. Fleming states that Doyle would use the n-word in his presence. Doyle said on June 7 that he has never made racist comments, and current Iowa strength coach Raimond Braithwaite (who is Black and has known Doyle since 2002) recently said he had “never witnessed or heard (Doyle) make a racial comment.” On June 15, it was announced that Doyle would be paid $1.1 million by the UI as part of a separation agreement.
Andre Harris, a wide receiver who never saw game action in his three years at Iowa (2013-15) and transferred to Eastern Illinois. He says coaches gave him harsher punishments than white teammates for similar rules violations.
Marcel Joly, a running back who had two career carries in four years at Iowa (2014-17). He says coaches once questioned whether a BMW he drove to the football facility was legitimately purchased.
Martin-Manley, a five-year wide receiver (2010-14) whose 174 career receptions remain a school record. Martin-Manley says complaints he brought to Kirk Ferentz’s attention about racist practices in the program were ignored.
