ISU FOOTBALL

'That would be naive to think it's just a game': Matt Campbell says about suspensions

The Des Moines Register

AMES, Ia. — Iowa State football coach Matt Campbell defended the school’s controversial view that three players sufficiently served one-game suspensions during the Cyclones' season opener that was canceled last Saturday.

The three three suspended players — defensive tackle Kamilo Tongamoa, defensive back De’Monte Ruth and offensive lineman Julian Good-Jones — are now good to go and expected to play Saturday when Iowa State takes on Iowa at Kinnick Stadium.

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And because they are, it's drawn the ire of fans who don't believe they were punished as promised.

“That would be naive to think it’s just a game,” Campbell said during his weekly press conference Tuesday. “All situations are different.”

Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell talks with his players Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018, before their game against South Dakota State at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames.

Tongamoa, Ruth and Good-Jones were each handed down one-game suspensions for varying reasons. Tongamoa was arrested in January for OWI-first offense, striking an unattended vehicle, failure to have a valid license and not having insurance. Ruth was arrested two days before Iowa State’s scheduled game against South Dakota State for driving with a suspended license after he was stopped for a traffic violation. And Good-Jones was suspended for violation of team policy.

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But the three never sat out an official game. And they won't.

Iowa State came under fire after Cyclones Athletic Director Jamie Pollard announced Saturday that the three had adequately served their one-game suspensions despite the team's season opener lasting just 4 minutes and 55 seconds. That's how much time had passed on the game clock before lightning sent South Dakota State and Iowa State players and coaches back to their locker rooms.

Since the game was canceled, it never happened, according the record books. In fact, the few stats from the game were not officially recorded, including quarterback Kyle Kempt's touchdown pass to wide receiver Deshaunte Jones. But in Iowa State's leaders' eyes, the suspensions did. Pollard even said later that night it wasn’t the players’ faults the game was called.

Iowa State’s decision instantly drew criticism, especially from Iowa fans who barked at the theory that they three can play Saturday against the Hawkeyes despite never missing a game. Making matters more intriguing is the fact that Ruth and Good-Jones are expected starters.

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Good-Jones, who is listed as Iowa State’s starting left tackle, is one of the Cyclones’ most experienced and versatile offensive linemen with 24 straight starts under his belt — the most of any player on the team. That streak will remain intact if Good-Jones starts Saturday. Ruth is also listed as the team’s depth chart as the expected starter at the “star” spot.

While many want to talk about the game suspensions, Campbell said the game is just part of the punishment for the three players.

“There is a lot more that goes into it than just the game aspect,” Campbell said. “I personally think those are so minimal. But it’s when you don’t get to practice with the first team for the last month or you’re on the scout team for the last three weeks — or you had to get up in front of your teammates and apologize and maybe earn your way back onto the team — which some of those guys in those situations had to do. Those are the teachable moments.”

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And even though Iowa State’s game against South Dakota State wasn’t officially played, Campbell said the three players still punished.

“When your team runs out for a game on Saturday and you’re in the stands, that’s pretty tough,” Campbell said. “It was an unfortunate situation Saturday that we didn’t get to play an entire game, but it kicked off — there were meaningful reps played. Some of those guys, the leadup of two or three weeks where they’re not even getting engaged in game-like activities, I think that’s hard. It’d be naive to say it's just an entire game situation that is right or wrong, especially in certain situations.”