Missouri's discipline problem in the rearview

PHOENIX -- Iowa's big, public discipline problem happened earlier this month.

You know all about wide receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos' arrest for drug-related charges and the subsequent departure of running back Jewel Hampton and suspension of running back Adam Robinson.

This is why Iowa (7-5) will face No. 12 Missouri (10-2) without its career receiving leader and leading rusher for the last two seasons.

Missouri wasn't immune. The Tigers big disciplinary challenge happened in August, when senior tailback and team captain Derrick Washington was accused of sexual assault. His case is still going through the Columbia (Mo.) courts system.

This is why the Tigers have been in a "running back by committee" mode the entire 2010 season.

"We were forced into that [a running back trio]," MU coach Gary Pinkel said Saturday. "We had an all-conference running back we had to suspend for disciplinary reasons and he was also a good leader, too. The leadership had to come from other spots on the team."

Discipline issues are abound this bowl season.

In Iowa City, it was the Johnson-Koulianos drug arrest. The tattoo-gate at Ohio State broke earlier this week and has been in heavy rotation in ESPN's coverage of bowl games. Five Buckeyes, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, were suspended Thursday by the NCAA for the first five games of next season for selling championship rings, jerseys and awards. They also received improper benefits -- from up to two years ago -- from the tattoo parlor and its owner.

They will, however, play in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas.

"When you run a first-class, disciplined program, you have 125 players, you're going to have problems," Pinkel said. "Nobody wants to have them. It's not the issue that you have them, it's how you deal with it. I thought they [Iowa and coach Kirk Ferentz] dealt with it in a professional way.

"It's gut-wrenching to watch anyone go through it. It's one of those things where you wake up one morning and all of the sudden, you've got these problems. It just happened at Ohio State."

Missouri pressed on. It didn't have a choice, of course, but the results turned out to be a 10-2 record.

Running backs De'Vion Moore (485 yards), Henry Josey (425) and Kendial Lawrence (382) combined for 1,292 yards and made the Tigers a balanced and dangerous offense. In Missouri's season finale, a 35-7 victory over Kansas, seven different players ran the ball, including four running backs, two receivers and quarterback Blaine Gabbert.

"You're going to have things and you're going to learn from them," Pinkel said. "We all take responsibility. I think that's what you do, the bottomline. The problems we had, I'm in charge of it. How can you prevent it? Well, it doesn't matter.

"It's like my kids. I'm responsible for my kids. You saw Kirk and [Ohio State coach] Jim Tressel do the same thing. They took responsibility."

This sunny day in Arizona, Missouri's problems seemed a million miles away.

The Tigers held their "Futures Bowl" at Chapparral High School in Scottsdale on Saturday morning, finishing off their last padded practice of the year with a spirited scrimmage of walk-ons and redshirt freshman.

Lots of big hits. Total hooting and hollering. Unbridled fun.

The troubled times from August are the last thing this team is thinking about going into Tuesday.

"People ask me, have you lost any respect?" Pinkel said. "We probably have a little bit, that's part of the deal. But there's one way you get it back, you earn it back. That's what I presented to my team and staff."