Governor says it’s okay for schools to review rules after athlete arrests

Governor Tom Vilsack says it’s appropriate for the state-supported universities to review the rules for athletes after a string of arrests for drug and alcohol violations. Ten University of Iowa athletes have been arrested on alcohol or drug violations since last fall. Early Sunday, Hawkeye defensive back Benny Sapp was arrested and charged with public intoxication, interference with official acts and disorderly conduct after Iowa City cops saw Sapp pushing a woman who had filed a harassment complaint against him this spring. Vilsack says Sapp’s suspension from the football team was the right reaction from Iowa’s athletic department.Vilsack says it’s a tremendous honor to play for one of the state’s universities, and there are a lot of kids out there who would love to participate. The Governor says those who get to play should not take that privilege for granted.Vilsack says there are a lot of young people who look up to the student athletes at Iowa and Iowa State, and they should never forget that. Iowa State defensive back Nick Linder was arrested recently by Ames police for public intoxication after he was allegedly seen urinating behind a building in Ames. Linder is a junior from Iowa City who plays strong safety on the football team. I-S-U forward Omar Bynum was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and possession of marijuana. The 21-year-old, who’ll be a senior, was stopped for a traffic violation and officers say they found he was carrying a small amount of marijuana. Bynum is from Omaha, Nebraska and transferred to ISU from Indian Hills Community College.