By Luke Plansky

Daily Staff Writer

The Iowa State athletics department issued a statement Monday from cornerback Leonard Johnson, who drew two personal foul penalties in the first quarter of Saturday’s overtime loss to UNLV.

In the release, Johnson said:

“I want to apologize to the UNLV coaches, players and fans for my conduct during our game Saturday. I take full responsibility for my actions. I take full responsibility for the consequences of my actions.

“I don’t want people to think less of my school, my coaches and my teammates because I did not represent Iowa State in a positive way.

“I also want to apologize to the Iowa State fans, our coaching staff and my teammates. This is embarrassing for me, personally.

“I will work hard in the future to represent Iowa State University and Cyclone football in a positive way.”

In Monday’s Big 12 Teleconference, coach Gene Chizik said Johnson was “disciplined,” but did not specify how.

“We handled that within our own team. That’s already been taken care of, and he’s doing what we need him to do,” Chizik said.

Johnson is an 18-year-old true freshman. Chizik said some of the team’s five personal foul penalties came from the aggressiveness of young players.

“We’ve got to temper those guys down,” Chizik said. “It looks bad. I’m not proud of it.”

Contrary to several reports, NCAA rules do not automatically suspend Johnson from Iowa State’s next game said associate athletic director of athletic communications Tom Kroeschell said.

Knapp undergoes appendectomy

Iowa State starting center Mike Knapp underwent an appendectomy last week and did not make the trip to Las Vegas.

It is still unknown how many games the junior may miss while he recovers.