A few weeks ago, when it was announced that star players Derrell Johnson-Koulianos and Adam Robinson would not be playing for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Insight Bowl, it seemed a certainty that the team was doomed against the No. 12 Missouri Tigers. Well drug charges and academic violations be damned, because the Hawkeyes won and captured the hearts of millions of people. Or not. Just thought it might make the story better.

Led by backup running back Marcus Coker’s 33 carries for a school bowl record 219 yards, the Hawkeyes got ahead early and had Mizzou flustered most of the game, ultimately costing me my 35-point Bowl Mania pick. Missouri took a 24-20 lead in the 4th and seemed to have the Iowa defense on the ropes as the Tigers marched, but then QB Blaine Gabbert threw an interception that can only be described as Chad Henne-esque to Micah Hyde, who returned it 72 yards for the go-ahead TD, and the rest was history. Mainly because I switched to liquor.

Koulianos, of course, was arrested on four misdemeanor drug charges and he admitted to smoking marijuana and using cocaine after he tested positive for both, and it was a given that Iowa’s all-time leading receiver was never going to play for the Hawkeyes again. Robinson, on the other hand, was suspended for academic reasons and was expected to return to the team next season. But the team’s leading rusher this season apparently decided to go a different direction on Monday night. Robinson was arrested in Des Moines for possession of Marijuana. Mary Jane. Reefer. I blame Ashton Kutcher for everything.

Whoa! Look how high I am!

Already suspended for the team’s appearance against Missouri in tonight’s Insight Bowl (heh, bowl) for failing to follow team policies, Iowa Hawkeyes running back Adam Robinson has found himself in hot bong water after being picked up by Iowa State Patrol on Monday night on suspicion of possession of marijuana.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Robinson was a passenger in a vehicle pulled over for not having front license plates. Police say a trooper detected a marijuana odor from the vehicle, then found marijuana after a search.

Robinson was released with a promise to appear in court Jan. 5. The driver was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana.[Via]

That’s a new one: “released with a promise to appear in court.” While they were at it, did the fuzz give him back his weed as well? You know, for all the trouble they caused and stuff?

In any event, this is yet another messy resin stain on the Hawkeyes football program. You may recall Iowa wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Kouliano’s arrest earlier this month on a heaping bowl-load of drug-related charges. I guess boredom can cause some people to do some crazy things. I mean, what in the heck has been going on in Iowa City lately? Wait, better question: what in the heck hasn’t been going on in Iowa City lately? Or ever, for that matter.

Iowa’s all-time leading receiver, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, was arrested last week on four drug-related misdemeanor charges (three serious and one aggravated, according to Iowa drug laws) and since then the Iowa Hawkeyes football program has been crumbling like an eight ball at an ’86 Mets reunion. Almost immediately following DJK’s arrest for possession of marijuana and cocaine, keeping a drug house and unlawful possession of prescription drugs, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz announced that the receiver would never play for Iowa again. Since then, two more players have added themselves to that list, while another key player was suspended.

With Iowa’s matchup against Missouri in the Insight Bowl fast approaching, the Hawkeyes are now without the team’s leading rusher, Adam Robinson. Initially, the team claimed that he violated unspecified rules but it has since been determined that Robinson’s suspension was due to academic violations. Also, RBs Jewel Hampton and Brandon Wegher will transfer. But according to school officials, this is all just one big coincidence. Even though they admitted there may be a teeny tiny problem with players cheating their drug tests.

“We did find pretty strong evidence that there are a couple of ways that our student-athletes have and probably have at some point gotten around the test in some way,” [Iowa athletic director Gary] Barta said. “That’s something that every drug testing situation, it’s almost become a cottage industry around the country, how do you beat a test.” (Via The Sports Bank)

You know how you don’t beat a drug test? By taking more drugs. And don’t ever let your dealer convince you otherwise. But Ferentz and Barta insist that there’s no scandal brewing, despite the admittance that players might be cheating on drug tests, and no additional players will be suspended for the bowl game. And that’s great news, says everyone in America as they slide Missouri to the top of their confidence rankings.