Iowa Suspends Hill Entire Year
Kahlil Hill, Iowa's leading receiver and kickoff return specialist, has been suspended for the 1999-2000 season for violating team rules, first-year coach Kirk Ferentz said Thursday.
Ferentz and university officials refused to say what Hill had done wrong.
Steve Roe, associate director of men's sports information, said Hill had violated a team policy, but had not done anything that would involve court charges.
"It's a team thing and it's a privacy thing," Roe said. "It's a team rule as opposed to a criminal offense."
Ferentz said in a statement that "Kahlil will remain on the team in an active role."
"He will be permitted to practice and will be expected to conduct himself as a team member in every way, other than participating in game competition this fall," Ferentz said.
Roe said Hill will forfeit this year of eligibility even though he won't play, leaving him with two years of eligibility.
Ferentz said when the suspension is over "we will move on and we fully anticipate Kahlil being a key contributor in future seasons."
Hill, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound return specialist, redshirted the 1997 season but started all 11 games in 1998. He had 35 receptions for 432 yards and two touchdowns and tied for the team scoring lead with 30 points.
Hill's 35 receptions are a record for an Iowa freshman, and Hill also became the first freshman to lead Iowa in receiving for a season.
Hill, a sophomore from Iowa City, averaged 17.7 yards on 10 punt returns, and his 25.8-yard average on 18 kickoff returns ranked him 18th nationally in that category.
Hill's suspension leaves the Hawkeyes without two of their top players for their season opener Sept. 4 against Nebraska at Kinnick Stadium.
Quarterback Randy Reiners, arrested in June on an alcohol charge for the second time in 18 months, has been suspended for the Nebraska game.
Reiners, a senior, also is allowed to practice with the team but will not play against the Cornhuskers.
Hill was the only member of the Iowa team to be mentioned on preseason all-Big Ten Conference teams.
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