Kirk Ferentz statement on Iowa players

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz released a statement on Friday afternoon that announced that five of the 13 football players hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis will be released by the end of the night.

Here's the full text of Ferentz's statement, his first public comments since 12 of the 13 players were admitted to the hospital Monday night.

“I am pleased to learn that five of the 13 members of the UI football team are being discharged from UI Hospitals and Clinics throughout this afternoon and evening. I am very happy for these student-athletes and their families, and look forward to the release of the remaining student-athletes in the days ahead. Our entire staff shares the concern expressed by University of Iowa President Sally Mason and president David Miles of the Iowa Board of Regents and the State of Iowa, for the well-being and continued recovery of every student-athlete treated at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

“I have been communicating with each student-athlete and their parents, or guardians, since learning they were admitted into the hospital. Members of the football staff have also been communicating daily with this group. This communication will continue until each student-athlete is able to resume their academic and athletic commitments.

"As the parent of both a current and former member of the team, the health and well-being of each student-athlete in our football program is paramount. I will work with all of the individuals and groups that contribute to the welfare of our student-athletes to understand what led to this occurrence in order to make certain it does not happen again."

So there you have it.

Ferentz points out he and his assistants have been in constant communication with the parents of the hospitalized players since Monday, although some clearly wanted him to be physical present earlier than he was. He also echoes the sentiments of Mason and Miles to get to the bottom of what happened.

It's very good news to hear about the five players being released. Hopefully, the eight others will be discharged soon.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/38753/kirk-ferentz-statement-on-iowa-players

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