The University of Iowa football program issued a statement Tuesday in response to comments made by ex-ESPN analyst Ed Cunningham, who criticized how the Hawkeyes handled former quarterback C.J. Beathard’s health in the Outback Bowl against Florida.
“As a seasoned head football coach and the father of three sons who have played collegiate football, the health and safety of our student-athletes is a top priority of the Hawkeye Football program,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said in a release. “We have a strong relationship with the medical staff and medical experts at the University of Iowa. Each player is fully evaluated and all established protocols are followed prior to the decision to play and during the game.”
In a New York Times article, Cunningham cited the reason for his departure from sports broadcasting was due to his displeasure in watching athletes suffer from injuries and keep playing.
According to the article, Cunningham’s “last straw” came when Beathard continued to play in the Outback Bowl, despite appearing to be injured.
“I know some of the coaches from that team, known them for years,” Cunningham said in the article. “And it was hard for me not to walk down after the game and just say: ‘Dudes, what are you doing? Really? What are you doing?’ These are just kids.”
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In Florida’s 30-3 win against Iowa, Beathard completed 7 of his 23 passes for only 55 yards and also threw 3 interceptions, registering an 8.8 quarterback rating.
Ferentz added another note in the release:
“Comments made by a retiring sports broadcaster about the coaching staff subjecting a player to possible long-term health related issues because we allowed him to play in the Outback Bowl were surprising and offensive to our coaching staff, the player and his parents. We do not allow a student-athlete to play unless he is medically cleared – that is my commitment to our players and their parents.”
C.J. Beathard’s father, Casey Beathard, issued a statement of his own, defending the Iowa program and how it handled his son’s health throughout his time as a Hawkeye, not just the in the bowl game.
“The coaching and medical staff at Iowa were always very thorough and diligent in addressing any injury situations, and shared all medical information with C.J. and us, as parents,” Casey Beathard said in a release. “We had absolute confidence in Coach Ferentz, his coaching staff and the medical team to make player safety an uncompromising priority on game day, on the practice field and in the weight room.”
Beathard, currently the no. 2 quarterback on the San Francisco 49ers’ roster, was at full-strength during the preseason. completing 26 of his 45 passes for 401 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception (he also scored on a 62-yard touchdown run). His 107.7 passer rating ranks third among quarterbacks with at least 45 attempts in the preseason.
– Adam Hensley