3 And Out

1. How is Marshaun Coprich playing this game?

- Quick history: Illinois State running back Marshaun Coprich was arrested and pleaded guilty to a felony count of selling nine grams of marijuana to an undercover police informant in April in Bloomington, Ill. He accepted a plea deal in May and was given two years of probation, community service and a fine.

Other punishments came down from head coach Brock Spack. Coprich was stripped of his captainship and had his scholarship reduced.

Still, Coprich, who rushed for 2,214 yards last season and finished fifth in the Walter Payton Award voting (FCS Heisman), doesn't face suspension from any game action.

On one hand, what?

We're talking selling drugs, we're talking felony. For what it's worth, from 2007 through early 2008, five different Iowa football players were charged with felonies. All immediately were suspended and never played another down of football at Iowa. None of the five were convicted of felonies.

Reeling in a second chance after a felony, it doesn't feel collegial. That, however, doesn't matter.

Here's the 'on the other hand:” Coprich is a first-time offender and was given a plea deal in line with that status. If he completes his probation, the conviction will be stricken from his record.

In an Aug. 5 news conference, Spack said the case was 'handled no differently than any other student-athlete in our football program. That would not happen. There isn't a coach I know who would handle this any differently than I did with the information I had.”

Spack said Coprich's clean slate before the arrest played in his favor. He added that Coprich has taken and passed drug tests from both ISU and the NCAA.

Spack and Coprich spoke on the matter during this news conference and ended it with 'that'll be all the questions on this matter moving forward.”

That's their story and they're sticking to it. It's totally legal and bureaucratically sound. Coprich is really good at football and not so great moving product and he's paying his legal debt. A convicted drug dealer, a great second-chance story that's just waiting to happen, you'll see what you want to see Saturday in Kinnick.

2. Honorary captain is . . .

- I will write about the honorary captain when I have something archival available that you might find interesting. Now, keep in mind, I started covering Iowa football for The Gazette in 1999, so I don't go back to the ‘80s glory years.

But I do go back to 2002 and offensive tackle David Porter, a total gent who was granted a sixth year of eligibility (which was at least his second year of marriage) and what a year it was.

Here's an excerpt from a David Porter story I wrote in 2001:

One David Porter plays five musical instruments. Studies for his MCATs. Wants someday to be a doctor.

The other David Porter emulsifies linebackers.

The duality of student and athlete remains. In David Porter, they are at least on speaking terms.

'My father always says you have to be like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” said Iowa's 6-foot-7, 312-pound offensive tackle. 'You have to be one way off the field and another way on it. Completely different on it, really.

'It's not that big of an adjustment. That's what all football players have been doing for I don't know how many years.”

A peaceful aura surrounds Porter. His quiet voice barely drifts through the din of press day. But then he talks about the task at hand, Penn State and its behemoth defensive line.

And there is Mr. Hyde, eyes ablaze.

3. Most intriguing Big Ten game for Big Ten nerds (like me)

- Good crop this week, but I'm going Purdue at Marshall.

I'm still mystified Big Ten teams travel like this. The Boilers and coach Darrell Hazell kind of need wins. Hazell is 4-20 entering his third year. Huntington, WVa., wouldn't be my first pick for a vacation spot and it wouldn't be my first pick for a road game especially if my program hasn't won a non-conference road game since 2007.

On the #oniowapod podcast, I went with Marshall. I applaud Purdue for putting itself out there like this. I applauded Iowa for the same when it traveled to Miami (Ohio) in 2002 (and sneaked past a Ben Roethlisberger-led team). Wrong place, wrong time for the Boilers, who might get a chance to pick up some souvenirs.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com