The Ferentzes case began when Kirk Ferentz and Brian Ferentz were accused of racial biases against their players. They are said to maintain something along the lines of the "Iowa Way". Their "traditional" views on the way football players should act and dress was found to be racially motivated by the players, so they brought them to court.
The black members of the team had many complaints about the ways they were treated in comparison to their white peers. They said they were being discriminated against, held to a higher standard than their caucasion teammatesz. They mentioned that the Ferentzes forced them to abandon things that are a part of their culture.
For example, they were unable to wear the protective hairstyles of their culture and were not allowed to partake in the clothing style they wished either. If they were doing such things they were said to be demeaned via racial slurs and forced out of those habits. If they spoke out about it they would be retaliated against by their coaches.
Those teammembers have chosen to take their case to the courts and demand action on the coaches that berated them. They want justice for the awful time that they had to endure during their time on the team and they haven't recently been getting many positive updates.
Recently, there has been an update in the case. A judge has delayed the dispositions of the Ferentzes due to a variety of factors. Originally, it was meant to be held on October 19 and 20 but it was pushed back on behalf of the bye week that team was going through.
The judge accounted for all of the activities that they would be doing during the bye week and decided that having the deposition was inconvenient. Kirk Ferentzes argued that he would not have the time to properly put together a case with his lawyers in that time.
He also expressed the issues with putting such an important date during a bye week because of how much preparation they put in for the upcoming games. These reasons, thusfar, have been valid enough for judges to give them leway.
Many are upset at the fact that the Ferentzes are still alloted to be coaching during the trial of these accusations. The plaintiffs are especially against this leiniency toward the defendeds because of the favoritism they believe is taking place.
They argue that many people had to put their lives on hold to deal with this trial and that their occupation should not be favored over any others. They refuse to accept the excuse that a football coach during football season would be subject to less harsh punishment.
While these cases against them rage on, the Ferentzes simply continue to coach the team and prepare for their next match. Regardless of the 10 others that are pushing to convict them on racial bias charges, they are continuing their season.
The judges seem to remain on the side of the Ferentzes as the case progesses. There will be likely no further progress until those months pass and new deposition dates are assigned.
