Iowa football: Tristan Wirfs could be suspended week one

This weekend Iowa football player Tristan Wirfs was cited for being in a bar underage. This could lead a week one suspension for the offensive tackle.

Before I begin diving into this, I want to be very clear that I don’t think this is a serious offense nor do I necessarily agree with the Iowa City laws, but that’s another story for another time. The fact of the matter is Iowa football player Tristan Wirfs was cited for being in Sports Column after 10 PM according to KCJJ.

I have a couple of thoughts on this before I jump into what I think will happen to Wirfs.

First, he has to be smarter than this. I’ve been to Iowa City after the ordinance passed and before I was 21. Did I stay in bars late and risk it? You bet I did. However, I am 5’9” and not one of the most recognizable football players on the team. Wirfs is 6’5” and 322 pounds. It’s also a well-known fact that he is a true junior, which means he is likely not 21 yet. Although this an incredibly minor offense in the grand scheme of things, the Iowa football team doesn’t like things like this.

Second, at least it wasn’t worse. Being in a bar past 10 PM could theoretically mean Wirfs wasn’t drinking or that the cops were letting him off easy. Either way, the simple act of being in the bar later than you were supposed to isn’t that bad on the surface.

Third and finally, this is Wirfs second run-in with the cops. Again, I don’t feel like being in a bar past 10 PM is a big deal, but after last season’s suspension, it can become an issue.

Just being cited for being in a bar past 10 PM wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows, but with the suspension of last season due to getting an OWI, I believe Kirk Ferentz will hand the potential first-round draft pick a one game or a one-half suspension for the first game against Miami of Ohio.

There isn’t an exact match on precedent for this situation, but I look back to last season when starting corner Matt Hankins was cited for disorderly conduct after a house party got a little out of control. He wasn’t driving a vehicle intoxicated, and he wasn’t arrested. He received a citation related to a drinking event, and he was promptly suspended a game.

I expect a similar reaction to the Tristan Wirfs citation.