Minnesota football players suspended due to sex crime

[Nitwit]

Minnesota football players suspended due to sex crime

Breaking news about 10 Minn football players suspended. I don't have any details other then it sounds very serious.

Edit - Here is an article I just saw:

In two weeks, Minnesota will head to San Diego to take on Washington State in the Holiday Bowl, but they’ll go without 10 of their players, including several starters in their secondary. The Star Tribune reported on the suspensions this evening, which apparently stem from an incident in September. Four players were suspended for three games due to a restraining order by a victim of an alleged sexual assault. They only missed home games, and were reinstated once the restraining order expired.

However, the University of Minnesota’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action office conducted their own investigation and has now decided to indefinitely suspend Ray Buford, Carlton Djam, Seth Green, KiAnte Hardin, Dior Johnson, Tamarion Johnson, Kobe McCrary, Antonio Shenault, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Mark Williams. According to the Star Tribune, Williams, Shenault, Winfield Jr., McCrary, and Green were not involved in the alleged assault, but were in the same apartment at the time.

 

[ChiTownLion]

Sounds like what would have happened at Wisconsin if DeAndre Levy reported admissions of gang rape of a drunk girl by his teammates.

 

[Brad908]

Breaking news about 10 Minn football players suspended. I don't have any details other then it sounds very serious.

?
There are tons of informative articles everywhere and was out last night....

 

[PennStateNate]

stupid kids.. but glass houses

 

[BobPSU92]

?
There are tons of informative articles everywhere and was out last night....

Please take this opportunity to remember that Penn State has a culture problem.

I. AM. OUTRAGED.

 

[BobPSU92]

stupid kids.. but glass houses

Why? Have you done something similar?

 

[NittPicker]

I'm sure the Clery compliance people will be all over it.

 

[DandyDonII]

My understanding is that criminal charges were not filed. Furthermore, I have my doubts about what sort of investigation that the "Minnesota’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action office" is capable of running. While sex abuse is serious and should have extreme consequences for the abuser, its a slippery slope when a prosecuting agency refuses to even file charges

 

[83wuzme]

After everything that has gone down in the past decade, alleged sex crimes on college campuses now have an Inquisitional character.

 

[TenerHallTerror]

I'm sure the Clery compliance people will be all over it.

Barron has already apologized, and will accept a $7 million fine on behalf of Minnesota

 

[bxle]

So who gets their bowl money?

 

[psu00]

Barron has already apologized, and will accept a $7 million fine on behalf of Minnesota

I think, to be more accurate, he said he doesn't agree with the findings but he apologizes anyway and will pay millions of dollars....just because.

I have no idea about what did or didn't happen at Minnesota. I think it's best to just let it work itself out and everyone involved have their say before too much is made of it.

 

[Pocono Lion]

Players saying they will boycott the bowl game unless the suspensions are lifted.

 

[21Guns]

Players saying they will boycott the bowl game unless the suspensions are lifted.

Relax: Tracy Cleys has informed us he will "take care of it".

 

[PSUMINN]

Relax: Tracy Cleys has informed us he will "take care of it".

Hahaha. I heard him 'take care of it'. He moved on...

 

[ILLINOISLION]

And I thought you were talking about their weather!

 

[21Guns]

Hahaha. I heard him 'take care of it'. He moved on...

Hey, he "took care of it" after the PSU game, right? Oh...never mind.

 

[PogeyKahn]

My understanding is that criminal charges were not filed. Furthermore, I have my doubts about what sort of investigation that the "Minnesota’s Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action office" is capable of running. While sex abuse is serious and should have extreme consequences for the abuser, its a slippery slope when a prosecuting agency refuses to even file charges

Well it just got a lot more interesting; the players have stopped all Football related activities and will not partake in the Holiday Bowl if the President and AD do not make things right.

http://kstp.com/news/gopher-footbal...d-10-players-tracy-claeys-team/4346358/?cat=1

The post above addresses the main issue. This suspect EOAA investigation was probably conducted in a non-professional manner and had a biased point of view before it started.

The Prosecuting Attorney and Minneapolis Police investigated this case back in September and decided there was not a case to make. There were no charges, and the political system, that extends to the County Attorney's office is quite "progressive" so you know they would have charged if there was anything there.

This was not just a question of deciding who was telling the truth either, based upon conflicting statements. Apparently one of the players shared a great deal of recorded video with the police, and they decided the alleged victim showed zero signs of being coerced or being highly impaired. Later she decided she did not like the idea of what went down. 5 of the 10 players involved were not even in the same room, and one was not in the apartment at all.



The President and AD rubber stamped the harsh decision of this possibly radical feminist EOAA and now all hell is breaking loose.

 

[michnittlion]

Of note: the Hennepin County (MN) prosecutor's office declined to pursue charges in this case.

I get it, the University is allowed to have their own parallel justice system. But in a number of recent cases: those parallel justice systems have been challenged and lost in court.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news...against-colleges-punished-them-sexual-assault

 

[PSUMINN]

Hey, he "took care of it" after the PSU game, right? Oh...never mind.

Exactly. Had no feeling one way or the other about the guy, but after hearing his BS on the radio out here, I have no respect for him. I am sure that will keep him up at night!

 

[PSUMINN]

Of note: the Hennepin County (MN) prosecutor's office declined to pursue charges in this case.

I get it, the University is allowed to have their own parallel justice system. But in a number of recent cases: those parallel justice systems have been challenged and lost in court.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news...against-colleges-punished-them-sexual-assault

Because the University took action and there are privacy issues, they will not release information. One of the assistant coaches interviewed claims that one of the players was not there at all.

 

[psuro]

Wouldn't that be interesting if they decided not to show up.

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

Shouldn't Stuart Smalley be mediating in this misunderstanding?

 

[psuro]

So who gets their bowl money?

Jay?

 

[NitNE73]

Mr. Vicky Triponi, had she lasted long enough, would have been a trend-setter in stomping on students' constitutional rights.

 

[Nitt1300]

ND can fill in

 

[Peetz Pool Boy]

Let's just call this the "Vicky Triponey" aftereffect..... I predict that these anti-Athletic "oversight" departments will quietly and gradually be marginalized at most universities, except at Penn State.

Post Emmert and Triponey, many schools overreacted and ceded "logical oversight" to a bunch of agenda-driver nut jobs. PSU is drowning in these types.

 

[DandyDonII]

Make no mistake about it, this is exactly the type of department that tripony believes should rule the students

 

[marshall23]

I don't revel in this sort of thing. First of all, I don't trust that what is reported is anything close to the truth. After seeing what happened to PSU, I simply can't wish scandal on some other group of kids.

 

[marshall23]

Mr. Vicky Triponi, had she lasted long enough, would have been a trend-setter in stomping on students' constitutional rights.

Vickie Triponhertongue, gets up each day....looks in the mirror and goes to work pissed off.

 

[83wuzme]

Well it just got a lot more interesting; the players have stopped all Football related activities and will not partake in the Holiday Bowl if the President and AD do not make things right.

http://kstp.com/news/gopher-footbal...d-10-players-tracy-claeys-team/4346358/?cat=1

The post above addresses the main issue. This suspect EOAA investigation was probably conducted in a non-professional manner and had a biased point of view before it started.

The Prosecuting Attorney and Minneapolis Police investigated this case back in September and decided there was not a case to make. There were no charges, and the political system, that extends to the County Attorney's office is quite "progressive" so you know they would have charged if there was anything there.

This was not just a question of deciding who was telling the truth either, based upon conflicting statements. Apparently one of the players shared a great deal of recorded video with the police, and they decided the alleged victim showed zero signs of being coerced or being highly impaired. Later she decided she did not like the idea of what went down. 5 of the 10 players involved were not even in the same room, and one was not in the apartment at all.



The President and AD rubber stamped the harsh decision of this possibly radical feminist EOAA and now all hell is breaking loose.

Duke lacrosse redux ?

 

[Nitt1300]

It's absurd to assume guilt- or innocence- based on the available info

 

[Cpeplion]

It's absurd to assume guilt- or innocence- based on the available info

I agree. There is basically no facts out there. None of the articles I read even state why the players are boycotting.

 

[mn78psu83]

Statement from Minnesota president Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle in response to the players' announcement of a possible boycott.

"We understand that a lot of confusion and frustration exists as a result of this week's suspension of 10 Gopher Football players from all team activities. The reality is that not everyone can have all of the facts, and unfortunately the University cannot share more information due to federal laws regarding student privacy. We fully support our Gopher football players and all of our student-athletes. Situations like this are always difficult and the decision was made in consultation with and has the full support of President Eric Kaler. The decision was based on facts and is reflective of the University's values."

 

[psu00]

Each side has painted the other into a corner now. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

 

[bjf1991]

Players saying they will boycott the bowl game unless the suspensions are lifted.

Aside from the fact that if they boycotted the ........... Uh, what Bowl are they in?...........There would probably be very few people who would notice........

______________________

Anyway, if they do boycott the bowl (which probably has less than a 1 in a 1,000,000 chance of happening), I'm all for it

Not just because it would be a nice opportunity to spotlight the hypocrisy of "big-time" ICA and the relationship with the Univeristy at large......which is plenty enough good reason as it is.


But also because, these stupid freaking 3rd tier, who cares, bowl games shouldn't be played anyhow (provides a little extra cash to the coaching staffs and what not, but other than that the only folks who gain anything at all are the folks at ESPiN)
Let the kids go home and enjoy the Holidays with their families - rather than spend 2 weeks alone on campus doing "football", and another week in some half-assed hotel 1,000 miles from their families......all to play in a game that no one - even the players - cares about

 

[GOLDBANGER]

Aside from the fact that if they boycotted the ........... Uh, what Bowl are they in?...........There would probably be very few people who would notice........

______________________

Anyway, if they do boycott the bowl (which probably has less than a 1 in a 1,000,000 chance of happening), I'm all for it

Not just because it would be a nice opportunity to spotlight the hypocrisy of "big-time" ICA and the relationship with the Univeristy at large......which is plenty enough good reason as it is.


But also because, these stupid freaking 3rd tier, who cares, bowl games shouldn't be played anyhow (provides a little extra cash to the coaching staffs and what not, but other than that the only folks who gain anything at all are the folks at ESPiN)
Let the kids go home and enjoy the Holidays with their families - rather than spend 2 weeks alone on campus doing "football", and another week in some half-assed hotel 1,000 miles from their families......all to play in a game that no one - even the players - cares about

I'm pretty sure we were happy to be in the Pinstripe Bowl.

 

[bjf1991]

Statement from Minnesota president Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle in response to the players' announcement of a possible boycott.

"We understand that a lot of confusion and frustration exists as a result of this week's suspension of 10 Gopher Football players from all team activities. The reality is that not everyone can have all of the facts, and unfortunately the University cannot share more information due to federal laws regarding student privacy. We fully support our Gopher football players and all of our student-athletes. Situations like this are always difficult and the decision was made in consultation with and has the full support of President Eric Kaler. The decision was based on facts and is reflective of the University's values."

I don't know Kaler and Coyle - but just from reading that "statement", I'd bet the mortgage money that they are both complete empty-suit douchebags


BTW - this would be an opportune time to recommend to anyone who has never seen it:

Cue up "Thin Blue Line" on your NETFLIX, RedBox, whatever


If you do, and that doesn't open your eyes (especially for anyone who has been following our various "PSU Sagas") - check your pulse

 

[psu00]

Well, they are in the Holiday Bowl against Washington State IIRC. Traditionally it's been a pretty good bowl game over the years. That bowl committee has to be panicking right now.

Latest from ESPN-

Minnesota players' boycott could affect lead-up to Holiday Bowl
9:58 PM ET

Minnesota football players announced Thursday night that they were boycotting all football activities in the wake of the suspensions this week of 10 teammates.

While the school did not specify the reasons for the suspensions in Tuesday's announcement, Ray Buford Sr., the father of defensive back Ray Buford Jr., one of the suspended players, said Wednesday the suspensions resulted from an investigation conducted by the university's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action into an alleged sexual assault, which was separate from earlier investigations into the alleged assault in the early hours of Sept. 2.

The other suspended players are sophomore running back Carlton Djam; freshman quarterback Seth Green; sophomore defensive back KiAnte Hardin; redshirt freshman defensive back Dior Johnson; freshman defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson; junior running back Kobe McCrary; sophomore defensive back Antonio Shenault; freshman quarterback Mark Williams; and freshman defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr.

In a statement read by senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky, the players said: "The boycott will remain effective until due process is followed and suspensions for all 10 players involved are lifted."

The statement said the players were forced to take action after an unsatisfactory meeting with athletic director Mark Coyle in which they "wanted answers but received misleading statements."

Coyle and university president Eric W. Kaler released a joint statement after the players' announcement that read: "We understand that a lot of confusion and frustration exists as a result of this week's suspension of 10 Gopher Football players from all team activities. The reality is that not everyone can have all of the facts, and unfortunately the University cannot share more information due to federal laws regarding student privacy.

"We fully support our Gopher football players and all of our student-athletes. Situations like this are always difficult and the decision was made in consultation with and has the full support of President Eric Kaler. The decision was based on facts and is reflective of the University's values. We want to continue an open dialogue with our players and will work to do that over the coming days. It's important that we continue to work together as we move through this difficult time."

The players are demanding a closed-door meeting with members of the board of regents without the presence of Coyle or Kaler.

"We got no answers to our questions about why these kids are suspended, when they were just found not guilty by the law," Wolitarsky told reporters following the players' statement. "He [Coyle] basically told us that he didn't have answers, and that led us to believe that this is kind of unjust."

Minnesota faces Washington State on Dec. 27 in the National Funding Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

Holiday Bowl executive director Mark Neville said: "We are continuing to prepare for the National Funding Holiday Bowl on December 27, however, we are aware of the situation at the University of Minnesota and are monitoring it closely."

Wolitarsky also asked that the Holiday Bowl committee "be patient" while the team waited for a resolution to the suspensions. The coaching staff is planning to come in tomorrow, a source tells Adam Rittenberg, but there isn't expected to be another team practice until players get their meeting.

Buford Jr., Hardin, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson were suspended for three games earlier this season when their names came up in the police investigation of the alleged sexual assault. A restraining order filed by the woman who made the allegations prevented the players from being at TCF Bank Stadium on game days because she was involved in game-day operations. But the players were not arrested, prosecutors decided not to press charges and the players returned to the team. The restraining order was lifted after a settlement on Nov. 2.

"We are concerned that our brothers have been named publicly with reckless disregard in violation of their constitutional rights," Wolitarsky said. "We are now compelled to speak for our team and take back our program."


http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...-football-activities-suspensions-10-teammates

 

[cavic]

Players saying they will boycott the bowl game unless the suspensions are lifted.

The Rod instinctively apologizes