Minnesota Players Boycotting All Football Activities After 10 Players Suspended...

[Tidewater]

At the same time, the players looking at it from a criminal justice perspective seem to have a justification in feeling that their university is crucifying them for show.

I could see this perspective. I mean, law enforcement has declined to pursue charges. Why is that not good enough for the University?

I think this is a very legitimate form of protest. As always with protest, you kinda have to own whatever negatives come your way by doing so but I don't fault the protest whatsoever.

I agree with this as well. No problem with the boycott, but there will be consequences.

When I was a young lad, I went to the US Army's Airborne School. I found it challenging at the time. There was a squad of aspiring Navy SEALs (having just finished BUDs) in the class. They found it less challenging. After training each day, they would go to the gym for a real workout, then shine their boots until they looked like black glass, then go downtown to party like vikings until the wee hours. In the morning (we would get up at 3:30 am), they would write "Gig Me" on the toes of their boots, just to tick off the Army instructors (getting "gigged" at morning inspection meant getting the "special" physical training session.)
Anyway, the instructors had had enough of the SEALs' flippant attitude, so they went to the chain of command to get them to reel the SEALs back in a bit. All the SEALs were called to the Commanding Officer's office and told that if they did not knock off the nonsense, they'd be kicked out of Airborne School (which they had to complete to continue in the SEAL training pipeline). The CO singled out one ringleader and said, "You. You're gone now. Pack your stuff. We're sending you back to Coronado." All ten SEALs rose to their feet. The CO asked, "Where do you all think you're going?" The SEALs said, "If he's gone, we're gone, too."
The CO probably thought of the scrutiny he'd get if all the Navy SEAL trainees dropped out of Army's Airborne School, so he told them all to sit down and they talked it out some more. In the end, all the SEALs (including the temporarily expelled ringleader) stayed and finished the course.
The UM coach and team are probably playing the solidarity card in a similar fashion.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Pinkel actually has a real health issue and had expressed wanting to retire before the Hunger strike.

I know that's what he said, but there are those who cover the program that still believe the incident helped him make his decision.

 

[crimsonaudio]

http://collegefootballnews.com/2016...ing-football-activities-possibly-holiday-bowl

A University of Minnesota female student accused several Golden Gopher players of an alleged sexual assault back in early September. None of the players were arrested or charged following a police investigation, but following an internal school investigation, ten players, including starting CB KiAnte Hardin, starting S Antoine Winfield Jr., backup CB Antonio Shenault and backup RB Kobe McCrary were suspended this week. Now the rest of the team wants to know why.

Here's the problem I have with the whole thing - whether the school tells there players what they want to know or not, it's not the players' call. In fact, under various laws, the school might not be able to discuss it with any of the players not directly involved. The players appear to be acting like petulant children from what I can tell.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

The school is in quick sand. It releases the names of the players who were suspended, but cites privacy rules for withholding the reasons behind its decision.

http://collegefootballnews.com/2016...ing-football-activities-possibly-holiday-bowl



Here's the problem I have with the whole thing - whether the school tells there players what they want to know or not, it's not the players' call. In fact, under various laws, the school might not be able to discuss it with any of the players not directly involved. The players appear to be acting like petulant children from what I can tell.

 

[NBF_Bama_Cavalry]

I could see this perspective. I mean, law enforcement has declined to pursue charges. Why is that not good enough for the University?

Jameis Winston played and won the Heisman Trophy. Law enforcement declined to pursue charges and that was good enough for the university. The entire world, outside of the FSU nation, believed he was guilty. I have no idea which side is right in this issue, but I wouldn't automatically assume the players are not guilty because they were not charged with a crime.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

Good post.

The reverse is also true. Durham law enforcement, including the top prosecutor in Durham County, assumed from the start that a rape had occurred in the lacrosse case. There was some intemperate comments made by Duke University figures, particularly some faculty. But it was a university investigation that early on restored some sanity to the situation, and the player's defense attorneys credit that university action with counteracting the rogue prosecutor, who was eventually jailed and disbarred.

I like how Coach Saban handles it. Regardless of the criminal situation, he always says the athletic department/school will do its own investigation to figure out what's what. Then he decides how he'll act.

Jameis Winston played and won the Heisman Trophy. Law enforcement declined to pursue charges and that was good enough for the university. The entire world, outside of the FSU nation, believed he was guilty. I have no idea which side is right in this issue, but I wouldn't automatically assume the players are not guilty because they were not charged with a crime.

 

[RollinTider1335]

Strange. But if the police did not press charges, why suspend them?


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Jameis Winston says hi


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[Wilson Monroe]

This is a political quagmire. Many universities are trying to redefine "consent" and blather on and on about "rape culture" trying to vilify every man on the planet. There is surely fear that they will run afoul of the current climate and appear indifferent to the very concepts that they are teaching students. On the other hand, if the results of an investigation are not complete how can you punish someone that is yet to be found guilty?

You have the Baylor situation vs. the Duke situation. There isn't enough money in the world to make me want to be the face of a university right now.

 

[drwho]

Here's the problem I have with the whole thing - whether the school tells there players what they want to know or not, it's not the players' call.

^ This ^

 

[drwho]

On the other hand, if the results of an investigation are not complete how can you punish someone that is yet to be found guilty?

University discipline is a completely different animal than criminal sanctions.

 

[B1GTide]

This is one of the few times that I'll disagree with B1GTide. At this point, I trust more in the university's actions, rather than the friends of the accused and their tantrum to try and get their way.

I think that it is fair to choose a side. I don't really think that I have chosen one right now. I am just not ready to judge the players because I have not taken a side. I guess that I am hoping, for their sake, that they know more than we do. If they don't and the university is taking the appropriate action here, then these players are going to have to accept the consequences of their choice.

We don't need another FSU or Baylor out there. We have too many of them already. But we don't need universities assuming that the players are guilty without due process, either.

 

[TampaTide813]

http://collegefootballnews.com/2016...ing-football-activities-possibly-holiday-bowl



Here's the problem I have with the whole thing - whether the school tells there players what they want to know or not, it's not the players' call. In fact, under various laws, the school might not be able to discuss it with any of the players not directly involved. The players appear to be acting like petulant children from what I can tell.

As a student, they should have the right to know why the 10 are being suspended. If the 10 haven't committed a crime, the rest of the student body should know what transgressions they committed so that they don't run afoul of those rules in the future. Also, a few of them were suspended earlier in the season so it would seem that they are being punished again. They can cite the rules that have been broken (curfew, underage drinking, drug use, providing alcohol to a minor, etc...) without delving into details. If it is for sexual assault, then they have some explaining to do since the police aren't pursuing charges. It makes no sense that the police department can complete their investigation and declare that no charges will be filed and the school can't hold a hearing in the same time frame.

BTW, this country started because of protest and protests have shaped every generation of Americans. One's belief in the validity of the issue being protested has no bearing on ones rights as guaranteed under the Constitution. Yes, the protester has to accept whatever consequences may come from said protest, but Minnesota would be crazy to pull their scholarships for exercising their rights.

 

[drwho]

As a student, they should have the right to know why the 10 are being suspended.

No they shouldn't. Plain and simple. They have NO right to know why any disciplinary measures are taken against another student.

 

[TampaTide813]

No they shouldn't. Plain and simple. They have NO right to know why any disciplinary measures are taken against another student.

Under ordinary circumstances I would completely agree. However, they released the names and reasons for the initial suspension when they were being investigated for sexual assault and when the alleged victim got a restraining order. Now there is another round of suspensions and they are mum on it. That is precisely why the players are protesting. They aren't receiving clear info from the PTB.

 

[B1GTide]

No they shouldn't. Plain and simple. They have NO right to know why any disciplinary measures are taken against another student.

I agree that they don't have a right to know anything here, but a wise head coach would have called a team meeting before announcing this kind of thing and tried to explain things to the best of his ability.

Did he have to do that? No? Heck, for all I know he might have done that. But something just doesn't smell right here. These players didn't just decide that they don't want to play football. They are not stupid. They know that they are risking a lot by taking this stand.

You have to believe that the university and coaching staff handled this very poorly for it to end up here. And what happened before they decided to boycott the game? There were almost certainly events that came between the suspensions and the decision to boycott. How does something that seems so right on the surface (suspended players suspected of sexual assault) turn the whole team against the school?

There just has to be more to this than we have heard.

 

[cuda.1973]

THIS will be something they will be so embarrassed to have been a part of in 10-15 years.

By what? By going to Minnesota, or pretending they went to Missouri?


(That one was too tempting to pass by...................)

 

[dvldog]

I'm fine with them taking a stand, but don't complain if you lose your scholarship. Doing what you think is right sometimes has consequences.

Especially if it turns out you were wrong. That's life. It teaches lessons and is not always fair.

 

[cuda.1973]

http://collegefootballnews.com/2016...ing-football-activities-possibly-holiday-bowl



Here's the problem I have with the whole thing - whether the school tells there players what they want to know or not, it's not the players' call. In fact, under various laws, the school might not be able to discuss it with any of the players not directly involved. The players appear to be acting like petulant children from what I can tell.

How many times have we seen "suspended for violation of team rules"? With no explanation of what any of the team rules are, that might even apply?

Can't remember any of our players challenging any of those suspensions. No, the guilty are just suspended, and everyone else is expected to do their job. The only people who question any of it are on some forum, asking "Wonder what he did that got him in the CNS dog house?"

 

[drwho]

Under ordinary circumstances I would completely agree. However, they released the names and reasons for the initial suspension when they were being investigated for sexual assault and when the alleged victim got a restraining order. Now there is another round of suspensions and they are mum on it. That is precisely why the players are protesting. They aren't receiving clear info from the PTB.

Being mum now doesn't change the fact that they have NO RIGHT to know.

 

[mdb-tpet]

Well, you have so many things that are unknown here, as well as a large number of folks willing to jump to conclusions with draconian punishments.

1. We don't know how the administration handled the suspensions, so none of us can say whether the players have a real complaint on how the admin. suspended the players. Maybe they threatened the players, or maybe the told them to shut their traps. Who knows?
2. Many of the suspended players may be somewhat innocent from one of the posts above. They may be guilty too. I can't say.
3. Clearly the coaches didn't handle or are unable to handle this situation before it became a "we're not going to play" issue. Should they fire the coaches as they yank the scholarships of the players who threatened boycotting? Or maybe there's a better way to handle this whole issue by getting everyone involved together and work the the real issues.
4. There are other ways to punish players that threaten not-playing rather than just yanking their scholarships and sending them on their way. Seriously, the school didn't even yank the 10 players' scholarships. Why do some posters jump right onto the throw them under the bus and then backup over them approach to discipline?
5. Let's find a bit more information before jumping on discipline approach.