The saga of Iowa running back Brandon Wegher took yet another strange twist Friday, head coach Kirk Ferentz revealed on a national radio show.
Speaking to FOX Sports Radio, Ferentz said that Wegher, who left the team on Aug. 8 due to personal reasons, had actually returned to summer camp earlier in the week. However, as had been the impetus for his first departure, personal issues again forced Wegher to take leave of the Hawkeyes after participating in practice for a couple of days.
“We have nothing but strong feelings about Brandon,” Ferentz said, “he’s a very valued team member and we’re certainly hopeful he’ll choose, at some point, to rejoin the team and get back to football. But that being said, too, I’m totally respectful of his intentions and desires, and I think he just needs a little time right now, a little space to sort a few things out.”
The coach said he’s visited with the sophomore on a couple of occasions since he left a second time, and has encourage him to “get back in class and stay in good standing academically and continue to pursue his degree and take whatever time he needs to work through whatever it is he’s working through.”
Wegher, whose 641 yards were second on the team in 2009, had entered camp as the No. 2 back on the Hawkeyes’ depth chart.
