Iowa says it is investigating allegations of "inappropriate actions" made toward student members and staff of the Hawkeye Marching Band during Saturday's game at rival Iowa State, according to a statement released by the school on Monday.

"We have contacted Iowa State Athletics administration and are working to gather additional information," athletic director Gary Barta said in the statement. "Our main priority is the safety of all Iowa students, staff, and coaches when attending events away from Iowa City."

Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard addressed the topic at a news conference Tuesday, saying it pained him that "a pretty vague release [from Iowa] is going to damage" the national exposure that the Iowa-Iowa State rivalry received from Saturday's game.

"I couldn't tell you what happened, when it happened or where it happened," he said. "No one's been able to ascertain that information or provide it to us. We do know that their band traveled here with four police officers: One from the University of Iowa and three deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's office. Our police chief ... has spoken with the police chief at the University of Iowa and not one of those four officers saw anything, reported anything or most importantly had anybody in the band or band directors share anything with them about anything that happened during the day they were here. And those four officers were with them the entire day.

"I'm not here to say something didn't happen because I don't know, but all we know is a press release was issued that alleges something happened ... We're waiting to hear what, where, when and we'll gladly jump in and try to help, but until then it's pretty hard because we don't know what we're looking for."

Eric Bush, director of the Hawkeye Marching Band, said the athletic department is taking the lead on the investigation, but declined to say what happened.

"The Hawkeye Marching Band is a family," he said. "We take care of one another. While we might be saddened and shook up by the stuff that happened, we're going to continue to be a great band and provide excellent entertainment to everyone who watches.

"I don't want to give the details yet because we're still trying to figure out what happened. That's the bottom line. We're collecting information from the students and trying to figure out what events took place."