Minnesota Football Team Ends Boycott Over Suspensions, Will Play Bowl Game

Two days after Minnesota football players announced they would boycott all football activities—including their upcoming bowl game— to protest the school’s suspension of 10 players, they have declared their boycott over.

The decision to backtrack comes hours after the release of an 80-page university report detailing the investigation that led to the player suspensions. The report includes a graphic description of an alleged sexual assault involving a female student and multiple football players, as well as one underage football recruit. According to the report, there are multiple videos of the sexual activity.

Hennepin County prosecutors declined to press charges (a police report is available here), saying there was insufficient admissible evidence. In a separate investigation by the university, however, 10 players received some form of suspension and five of those suspended were recommended for expulsion.

This morning, wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky delivered a statement on behalf of the team, saying they would not be boycotting to protest the suspensions and would play in the Holiday Bowl as scheduled. After a meeting on Friday night with university president Eric Kaler and athletic director Mark Coyle, the team has instead agreed to a separate set of requests, including that the suspended players be given fair hearings in their appeals.

The players suspended indefinitely and recommended for expulsion are defensive backs Ray Buford, KiAnte Hardin and Dior Johnston; running back Carlton Djam; and defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson. The players suspended for one year are defensive back Antoine Winfield, Jr., running back Kobe McCrary, and quarterbacks Mark Williams and Seth Green. One player, defensive back Antonio Shenault, is being considered for probation.