Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Coach Kirk Ferentz and three of his players say the Iowa football team took a big step toward improving its lines of communication in the week since the program was hit with allegations of systemic racism. Players returned to campus to begin voluntary workouts and spent two days with coaches voicing concerns about the program’s culture. Ferentz says the meetings were raw and emotional and that players did most of the talking. Former players accused strength coach Chris Doyle of bullying and making racist comments. He remains on paid administrative leave.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Last week, members of the Missouri football team marched from The Columns on campus to downtown Columbia in protest of racial injustice. The idea came from sophomore safety Martez Manuel, but it quickly gained the support of new coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff. The march culminated with a moment of silence for George Floyd, the black man killed by a white Minneapolis police officer, and more than 60 people registered to vote. It came five years after protests over racial issues on campus led to the ouster of the system president and the chancellor of the school’s flagship campus.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Royals have long valued high school prospects, but a run of them have failed to pan out. So the past few drafts have been full of college pitchers, and that trend continued with the first-round selection of Texas A&M standout Asa Lacy. Now, the Royals have a farm system stocked with pitchers that could hit the majors in just a couple of years, and could form the backbone for a team trying to return to the World Series after back-to-back appearances in 2014 and ’15.

(Radio Iowa) — Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz says the team has made progress in dealing with issues surrounding the claims of racial disparity in the program. The team has been able to speak face-to-face for the first time as they returned to campus and Ferentz says they had some raw and emotional discussions. Ferentz says they are moving forward to make changes — such as lifting the player ban on Instagram and twitter.

“It was a stupid policy from that standpoint, but it was designed intentionally to help protect our players. That is a parental instinct, coaches instinct. You want to protect your players, but certain things just tell you,
they show you that you embody players to have more freedom, more movement, more expression,” Ferentz says. Ferentz says while the conversations have gone well — they need to continue working.

“The bottom line what are we going to do to move forward. That is our commitment. My commitment has always been what is best for our program, what is best for our players. We want to do it in a respectful and honorable way to all of our former players, ” he says. Running back Ivory Kelly-Martin says black players did feel like they had to walk on eggshells in the football building.

“It was an atmosphere where you did have to look out, kind of watch your back, you always had to kind of be on your toes at times. Throughout this week there have been so many conversations. There have been so many talking about change — and we are all hopeful that this is actually going to happen,” he says. Kelly-Martin says the atmosphere has changed in just the short time they have been able to get together and talk through the issues.

“We are all excited about what we have to come. We are all to really build relationships — not
I am really hopeful that we will be able to create something big. Defensive back Kaevon Merriweather had posted a statement about fans needing to support the team in whatever they decided to do — including if they were to kneel for the National Anthem. He got a lot of feedback and says he expected that.

“We want you all to support any decision that this team has made. On the post, we haven’t decided on kneeling or not that is not what I said that we have decided,” according to Merriweather. “If we do decide, any movement that we do decide to support, any step that we do decide to make as a team. We want you all to support, backing us every step of the way. Not only on the football field, but also when we are off the field, when we are in class when we are walking the streets, when we are in our cars, day in and day out. And that is really what that post meant.” Ferentz says kneeling for the anthem is something the team will eventually address.

“It’s not timely right now — but it’s got to be a topic we discus,” according to Ferentz. “I think we all realize it’s a very polarizing issue right now. And I am very confident that there are ways to do things, ways to recognize individuals, movements, whatever it may be, causes, in a way that hopefully is not polarizing — but yet powerful — that would be my goal.” Ferentz says he cannot address the suspension of strength coach Chris Doyle at this time because the review process is still underway.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Coach Kirk Ferentz and three of his players say the Iowa football team took a big step toward improving its lines of communication in the week since the program was hit with allegations of systemic racism. Players returned to campus to begin voluntary workouts and spent two days with coaches voicing concerns about the program’s culture.

Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz speaks during a news conference, Friday, June 12, 2020, in Iowa City, Iowa. The Iowa football team took a big step toward improving its lines of communication in the week since the program was hit with allegations of systemic racism, Ferentz and three of his players said Friday. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Ferentz says the meetings were raw and emotional and that players did most of the talking. Former players accused strength coach Chris Doyle of bullying and making racist comments. He remains on paid administrative leave.