Aide: UI president Mason backs Coker suspension

IOWA CITY - A spokesman for University of Iowa President Sally Mason says she supported the decision to suspend star running back Marcus Coker for the Dec. 30 Insight Bowl against Oklahoma.

Spokesman Tom Moore said Wednesday Mason has been kept apprised of the situation involving Coker, whose suspension was announced Tuesday by the athletic department as a result of violating the student-athlete code of conduct for unspecified behavior.

Ellie Herman, one of two faculty representatives to athletics, said she was briefed on the details but could not release them for privacy reasons.

Herman says that, based on what she was told, she supported the suspension and the move wasn't taken lightly.

UI Police Chief Chuck Green says his department isn't investigating Coker, who will not travel with the team to Tempe, Ariz.