In January 2019, former Iowa defensive lineman Jack Kallenberger elected to retire from the Iowa football program.
The Bettendorf native joined Iowa in 2017 after playing two seasons of JUCO ball at Iowa Central Community College. Kallenberger didn't record any stats during his time in Iowa City, and his departure was a bit of a surprise due to the opportunity he would've had to compete for snaps during spring ball.
On Sunday, Kallenberger came forward and published the story of why he ultimately left the program.
"I post this not to take away from the issues my ex African American teammates have brought to light, but to shed more light on what really goes inside that football building. I also share this not out of a place of hate whatsoever. The University of Iowa and Iowa Football programs mean A LOT to me. I'm very proud to be a former Hawkeye. I believe it is necessary to create a better environment and culture for every player that will go through that program from today on. I've been debating sharing my story of how my time at Iowa played out since I left the program last January. Right now is a time where I felt uncomfortable sharing as the stories being shared by former players are all involving race. I did not want to take that spotlight away because the racial disparities need to be solved in that building. However, after speaking to a former teammate and close friend of mine who has shared his story, he encouraged me to all open up because now is a time of change for Iowa football. This is not easy for me, but it is necessary to share."
He continued:
"I've struggled with ADHD all my life and have been on medication for as long as I can remember. People in the Iowa football program were aware of my learning disability. I enrolled at Iowa in June of 2017, and wasn't tested in the hospital for a learning disability until spring of 2018 (I also need to be tested to have access to medication). During that semester and a half period, I nearly failed out of Iowa because I struggled to pay attention in class, focus on my assigned readings, and not day dream during exams. All of these struggles were due to the chemical imbalance that hindered my ability to focus as the human brain should."
"The issues at Iowa began when a coach nicknamed me Simple Jack. For those unaware, Simple Jack is a mentally challenged character from the movie Tropic Thunder. I had never seen that move before but my coaches and teammates were quick to tell me exactly who Simple Jack was. One coach was great at jumping on opportunities to bring me down and make me feel dumb. Matt Nelson and I had a tradition of giving each other belly bumps before every game and practice. This coach made comments about my so-called 'lack of intelligence' most mornings on the practice field. This coach constantly told me how dumb I am. This same coach also constantly told my little brother [Iowa OL Mark Kallenberger] how dumb I am. This same coach also suggested we create a new sign for a defensive call because I was too stupid for the old one apparently. One coach wrote my semester GPA on his position room whiteboard (my parents didn't even know my GPA as consent laws protect it). I often struggled o hold conversations with Chris Doyle because he was another coach that enjoyed to remind me that I'm dumb. One Sunday after a lift, some guys and I were talking about movies that just came out. Doyle overheard this conversation and said 'Kallenberger, how about you open a (expletive) book instead of watching movies."
"We have to read a book as a team every January, assigned by the strength staff. We are quizzed over it once a week. I remember already being overwhelmed with school (learning curves are bigger for me due to my inability to focus so school took more time for me) and then had the anxiety of getting my pages read for this book quiz from the strength staff. I failed out first quiz over the put and Doyle said to me in the weight room, "is the book too hard, or are you too stupid?"
"I remember lying to Coach [Reese] Morgan's face on multiple occasions when he would see something was upsetting me. Before I quit football, Coach Morgan told me he was already planning on having me take reps to spare Chauncey Golston and AJ Epenesa at first string at defensive end in spring ball. That opportunity is the reason I came to Iowa. Being from Iowa, that was such a real dream of mine. Knowing that was a reality going into my final season made no difference. I again lied to Coach Morgan and told him I need to step away to focus on school. I quit football not because of school, but because I was broken, beat down, bullied, unwanted, and unloved. I was stripped of every ounce of self-confidence I had. I wouldn't speak in classes out of fear that I was going to be called dumb because that was my reality for two years in the Iowa football building. I was forced to forget about my learning disability (much like the coaches ignored it) and forced to believe that I was a stupid individual."
He concluded.
"At Iowa, if you don't fit the mold, you're an outcast and will be treated accordingly by many of the coaches on the staff. It is an environment where mistakes can be made, but you better not make any. IT's an environment that causes crippling anxiety, something that [former Iowa DB] Manny Rugamaba mentioned in his own personal stories as well. CHANGE NEEDS TO HAPPEN AT IOWA."
Former Iowa defensive back DJ Johnson quote tweeted Kallenberger saying he knew that it was Iowa linebacker coach Seth Wallace who was the unnamed coach in the story.
Kallenberger replied with 'bingo.'
I know for a fact he’s talking about coach Seth Wallace. Like i said it’s not just KF OR DOYLE. https://t.co/XG01J3I4lk
— DJ JOHNSON (@DjJohnson1127) June 7, 2020
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz met with the media on Sunday afternoon to address the recent accusations from former Iowa players for racial disparities and bullying.
One reporter cited Kallenberger's situation and asked Ferentz directly if its a culture of bullying.
"If it is (a culture of bullying), it will be addressed," Ferentz said. "That’s my point earlier, there’s a fine line between being demanding and demeaning. It’s very subjective, but I want to take time to make sure that I develop a feel for it.”
"football" - Google News
June 08, 2020 at 07:03AM
https://ift.tt/2Yd08jN
'Bullying' a reason why Kallenberger left Iowa football program - 247Sports
"football" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2ST7s35
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "'Bullying' a reason why Kallenberger left Iowa football program - 247Sports"
Posting Komentar