The University of Iowa saw its football stadium defaced during a protest that took place in Iowa City on Saturday night.
Numerous photos and videos on social media showed spray paint in several areas on the outside of Kinnick Stadium, where the Hawkeyes play. The statue of Nile Kinnick that stands outside the stadium was also defaced, with some negative messages toward Iowa strength coach Chris Doyle being displayed. You can see a video and photos below, but beware that many of the messages contain profanity.
The scene at Kinnick Stadium as the protest has moved along
Tagging all along the outside brick wall as well as on the Nile Kinnick statue pic.twitter.com/Hkwttw3oTq
— Mike OBrien (@mobrientv) June 7, 2020
Addition photos of the Nile Kinnick statue pic.twitter.com/SsYtlrdZYi
— Mike OBrien (@mobrientv) June 7, 2020
Doyle was placed on administrative leave on Saturday after several former Iowa players detailed how he behaved in a racist manner toward them. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz reached out to players following the allegations, but Ferentz was also accused of being racist during the protest on Saturday.
According to Caleb McCullough of The Daily Iowan, one protestor stood on the Nile Kinnick statue and called for Ferentz to be fired.
“You know what he does to the people who make his team, who pay his salary?” the woman said. “He’s a racist piece of s— . We need to fire his a–.”
Kinnick won the Heisman Trophy in 1939 and was a consensus All-American. The former halfback touched on politics and World War II during his Heisman speech, which was something players rarely ever did at the time. He died during a training flight while serving in the United States Navy when he was 24.
