The Iowa Hawkeyes Are Already In Midseason Form

One should never go into spring break cold. It's important to ease into it with a few warmup public intoxication arrests, as these three Iowa football players can tell you.

On the left there is James Ferentz, redshirt freshman center and son of Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz, who in February signed a contract extension through the 2015 season. But it was Ferentz's buddies, freshman tight end Zach Derby and freshman fullback Tyler Christiansen, who did the most impressive work here.

According to criminal complaints and University of Iowa Department of Public Safety Associate Director Bill Searls, Zachary Merlin Derby, 19, and Tyler Allen Christiansen, 19, approached an off-duty UI police officer and attempted to pick a fight with him. The incident happened around 2 a.m. in the Old Capitol Parking Ramp, which is also home to UI Public Safety headquarters.

Police said Derby smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Derby had several Bud Light caps and a martini shaker in his pocket. Police gave Derby two breath tests, one of which showed a blood-alcohol content of .207 and another showing .211 percent. After being read his Miranda rights, police said Christensen admitted breaking off the arm of a parking ramp gate at the Old Capitol parking ramp.

According to the report, Ferentz then showed up, screaming at no one in particular, and "smelling of alcohol." He was also arrested.

Isn't it time we fought the real problem: Protruding parking ramp gate arms?

Ferentz, Two Others Cited For Pub Intox [Iowa City Press-Citizen]