I may be butchering this a bit, but I believe a woman claimed she was raped by several Minnesota football players following their opening game. She reported it to the police who investigated and quickly dropped the charges after video evidence was presented supporting the football players claims that there was no rape.
I believe she then filed a restraining order through the University that prevented the accused players from playing in home games to avoid violating the order. At some point, the restraining order was dropped and the players were able to return for home games. Recently the school expelled five of the players in question and removed another 5-7 from the team. The players are responding to these actions by the administration, especially since the police dropped the claim almost immediately and restraining orde was also dropped.
My apologies if I misrepresented any of this. Maybe some Gopher supporters could give a clearer summary of the events.
To my understanding thats an excellent summary of what happened.
Seems that a good number of UMinn Football players were at a House Party and a girl later said she was raped. Law Enforcement dropped the case a few weeks ago but then 2 days ago UMinn Prez said that 10 players would be suspended from Holiday Bowl and it is being suggested that also 5 guys are getting kicked out of school altogether.
Players involved are: Hardin and Winfield, starters in the defensive backfield, Buford and Shenault are backup defensive backs. Running backs McCrary and Djam and safety Dior Johnson have played sparingly, while Tamarion Johnson, Green and Williams are redshirting this season.
Weird thing right now is that initially AD Mark Coyle had stated explicitly that the decision to Suspend and Expel had been not just CLEARED through (Football Head) Coach Claeys but that he supported the action but people are completely screaming as we speak that AD Coyle is a lying fucking SNAKE and that he totally lied about The HC supporting the decision and that, in fact, HC Claeys is actually supporting the players that are standing up for those getting disciplined.
Interestingly, The AD so many people are so mad at right now released this statement tonight wherein he no longer is on about Coach Claeys being a part of the decision to suspend and expel the kids.
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office ultimately decided not to press charges with regards to the incident that happened at a Dinkytown apartment complex last September.
According to a Minneapolis Police report, the woman claims a night of partying included sexual contact with football player Carlton Djam, and it "may have been consensual".
Police say, "Djam provided investigators with three recordings, one that shows the woman engaged in what could only be considered consensual sexual interaction".
That report also shows that Djam said the "woman sounds as though she is somewhat intoxicated, but is not slurring her words and is certainly conscious and aware of what is going on. She does not appear to be upset by the sexual activity and does not indicate that she wants it to stop."
However in that same report, the woman said she, "believes that the sexual contact with "Tamarion, Ray, and Dior, was not consensual".
The woman said she had been drinking that night and "her description of the event is admittedly lacking due to her loss of memory."
A source with direct knowledge of the investigation, says that three of the suspended players, Seth Green, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Antonio Shenault did not have sexual contact with the woman.
Specifically investigators said in the report, "Green was not believed to have been in (the) room".
At this moment UMinn Football Players have suspended all Football related activities and are refusing to take part in The Holiday Bowl.
From GopherHole:
"From someone close to the team:
Players put themselves in a bad situation. But those players paid for that mistake by being suspended while the police and county investigated the incident. When charges were not filed, due to insufficient evidence, the issue should have been completely settled. Certainly settled after the announcement of a agreement between all parties to end the restraining order.
The team feels that people within the University administration did not approve of the conclusion drawn by the police investigation and decided to take action on their own, with out any of the due process that was afforded the players during the police investigation. Then the statement, about not being able to provide details due to privacy concerns, really set them off as the team feels rather strongly that players privacy rights were violated several times during this entire saga.
That, more than anything, is what has unified the team - the lack of transparency and due process.
You may agree/disagree with their logic and their decision. But I find myself rather impressed that these young man came together to form a reasonable decision on such a volatile topic."
http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/bo...en-boycott-of-bowl-game&p=1296416#post1296416
"From someone close to the team:
Players put themselves in a bad situation. But those players paid for that mistake by being suspended while the police and county investigated the incident. When charges were not filed, due to insufficient evidence, the issue should have been completely settled. Certainly settled after the announcement of a agreement between all parties to end the restraining order.
The team feels that people within the University administration did not approve of the conclusion drawn by the police investigation and decided to take action on their own, with out any of the due process that was afforded the players during the police investigation. Then the statement, about not being able to provide details due to privacy concerns, really set them off as the team feels rather strongly that players privacy rights were violated several times during this entire saga.
That, more than anything, is what has unified the team - the lack of transparency and due process.
You may agree/disagree with their logic and their decision. But I find myself rather impressed that these young man came together to form a reasonable decision on such a volatile topic."
http://www.forums.gopherhole.com/bo...en-boycott-of-bowl-game&p=1296416#post1296416
From thedailygopher:
Senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky
is a Leader of the boycott and has stated that he does not believe Head Coach Claeys was involved in the decision to suspend the players. He believes that Athletic Director Coyle alone made that call and that he along with other players asked Coyle for an explanation of why he would say that HC Claeys "approved of the suspensions" when HC Claeys was not even INVOLVED in the decision. Wolitarsky said the players received “no answers” when they asked Coyle for that explanation.
It is interesting to note that Wide Receiver Drew Wolitarsky would have been heading back to conclude his College Football career in his hometown of San Diego for the Holiday Bowl and that Wolitarsky is The Gopher's Team Leader in receptions with 61 catches for 787 yards and five touchdowns.
Wolitarsky and the team have further said that the boycott will remain in place until all ten suspensions have been lifted and have asked that the university not “retaliate” against the players, coaches, and fans in response to the boycott.
Senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky
is a Leader of the boycott and has stated that he does not believe Head Coach Claeys was involved in the decision to suspend the players. He believes that Athletic Director Coyle alone made that call and that he along with other players asked Coyle for an explanation of why he would say that HC Claeys "approved of the suspensions" when HC Claeys was not even INVOLVED in the decision. Wolitarsky said the players received “no answers” when they asked Coyle for that explanation.
It is interesting to note that Wide Receiver Drew Wolitarsky would have been heading back to conclude his College Football career in his hometown of San Diego for the Holiday Bowl and that Wolitarsky is The Gopher's Team Leader in receptions with 61 catches for 787 yards and five touchdowns.
Wolitarsky and the team have further said that the boycott will remain in place until all ten suspensions have been lifted and have asked that the university not “retaliate” against the players, coaches, and fans in response to the boycott.
<header class="article-header"> Antoine Winfield: My Son Antoine Winfield Jr. will leave Minnesota if AD Coyle and UMINN president keep their jobs.
by Dane Belbeck 1h ago
Rob Grabowski / Reuters
</header> <article class="ember-view article-content font-body copy-text" data-no-turbolink=""> One of the suspended players is Antoine Winfield Jr., the son of former Minnesota Vikings standout Antoine Winfield Sr.
The ex-NFL'er took things one step further, telling Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune that his son will leave Minnesota if university president Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle remain in their jobs.
The players are demanding a reversal of the suspensions, a meeting with university officials, and that Kaler and Coyle both provide an explanation for their actions
.
The suspended players include Winfield, Ray Buford, Carlton Djam, Seth Green, KiAnte Hardin, Dior Johnson, Tamarion Johnson, Kobe McCrary, Mark Williams, and Antonio Shenault.
The Holiday Bowl is set to be played on Dec. 27, so a decision regarding the contest will have to be made soon if that matchup is to take place as scheduled.
</article>
by Dane Belbeck 1h ago
</header> <article class="ember-view article-content font-body copy-text" data-no-turbolink=""> One of the suspended players is Antoine Winfield Jr., the son of former Minnesota Vikings standout Antoine Winfield Sr.
The ex-NFL'er took things one step further, telling Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune that his son will leave Minnesota if university president Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle remain in their jobs.
The players are demanding a reversal of the suspensions, a meeting with university officials, and that Kaler and Coyle both provide an explanation for their actions
.
The suspended players include Winfield, Ray Buford, Carlton Djam, Seth Green, KiAnte Hardin, Dior Johnson, Tamarion Johnson, Kobe McCrary, Mark Williams, and Antonio Shenault.
The Holiday Bowl is set to be played on Dec. 27, so a decision regarding the contest will have to be made soon if that matchup is to take place as scheduled.
</article>
Speak for yourself
