Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton weighed in on the Gophers football boycott Friday.
Dayton urged University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler to meet with the players to “diffuse” the football situation.
Dayton says he hopes football players reconsider boycotting the Holiday Bowl saying it would be a "black eye" with long-term consequences.
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) December 16, 2016
Football players announced the boycott Thursday evening in response to the suspension of 10 players over an allegation of a September sexual assault at a Dinkytown apartment.
The players say they won’t take part in any football activities until the suspensions are lifted. That raises doubts about whether the Gophers will keep their agreement to play in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego later this month.
Organizers of the Holiday Bowl put out a statement shortly after players announced the boycott.
“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,” said Mark Neville, the executive director of the Holiday Bowl.
On Friday morning, instead of planning for the game, the Star Tribune reports players met with attorney Lee Hutton at his downtown Minneapolis law office – to put together a strategy for the boycott.
While making their statement Thursday, players demanded to meet with regents without Kaler or athletic director Mark Coyle being present. But that stance appears to have softened Friday.
Gophers administration has received compromise offer from boycotting football players, who want to meet with two regents before prez Kaler.
— Charley Walters (@Charley_Walters) December 16, 2016
There was also more information that came to light on the September incident that led to the suspension of those 10 players.
KSTP obtained a copy of the EOAA report and the police report from the incident (both reports are very graphic). Prosecutors did not file charges against any of the players involved in the incident.
We’ll keep you updated if there’s more information to report on the boycott and suspensions.
