Gopher Players threaten to Boycott Bowl Game.

College athletes (well, really just men's FB and BB) are starting to realize that they have power, as displayed by the Missouri B team boycott last year. But of all of things for a team to decide to "take a stand" against, they are going to do so in support of teammates accused of sexual assault? It is possible that these players were falsely accused, but to my understanding, false accusations of sexual assault are very rare (Duke lacrosse case not withstanding). But even IF they are wrongly accused (an enormous IF), they have to realize that within the current culture there is NO WAY The University can back down in this case. Imagine the fallout if The U says, "These FB players were suspended for accusations of sexual assault, but we really want to go to a bowl game, so I guess we will just let it go."

There are only 2 possible outcomes: Minnesota forfeits a bowl appearance (after a really good season by their standards, by the way), or the team has to backpedal on their boycott. In all ways, shapes, and forms, this was a monumentally stupid decision by "the team."
 
Did you really just blame a gang rape on millennial mentality? I am pretty sure there have been discipline issues with past generations. But congrats on passing the buck

That is a pretty enormous leap, I am not sure how you came to that conclusion based upon what he posted.
 
In a sense, BOTH sides are wrong. Or maybe, all FOUR sides.

Initial suspendees: Gang-bang-on-video is NOT part of the "Courtly Love Code"
Prosecutors: There IS a way to give reasons for not prosecuting without violating privacy and ethics concerns. And just because sexual assault is a sensitive subject, if a woman or group of women file false or lie-based complaints, THAT is wrong, too.
University: The suspensions wre completed. The NEW suspensions need (IMO) a HELL of a lot more substantiation than "new info", especially when CYA-ed with "privacy concerns".
Players/Boycotters: Give a little bit of a cogent and/or logical reason for the boycott. Boycotting, in and of itself, looks plain idiotic in this particular case. If a real injustice is being perceived here, state it, for God's sake. Right now it just looks like a "We-won't play-if-we-don't-get-our-way" boycott versus a "These-guys-are-being-railroaded" boycott.

That said, it would appear there is a need for some firefighting in a Twin Cities-area dumpster...
 
Did you really just blame a gang rape on millennial mentality? I am pretty sure there have been discipline issues with past generations. But congrats on passing the buck
Whoa whoa whoa. Hold your horses, Rachel Maddow. Don't put words in people's mouths. First of all I don't think anyone's ever proven nor even implied that there was a "gang rape" in this situation. A prosecutor declined to press charges, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that (especially in today's day and age) if there were any inkling that part of it might have been forced, you'd see that prosecutor err on the side of caution and file charges. I'm not defending the players by any stretch, but if the legal system isn't a good enough "standard" for you then I don't think there's anything you and I can talk about.

Second, there's nothing in @hawkdrummer1 's post that suggests he's doing that. Triggered, victim-seekers like yourself are free to have any opinion you want about any situation, but you don't have the right to project your cockamamie bullshit on others and start throwing blame around like it's hot. Especially when you accuse someone of being ok with "gang rape" (your term, not mine).
 
In a statement the players said they have had enough and will boycott the bowl game. They ask that the bowl game be patient and give them time to work out the situation.
Oh, I bet the Holiday Bowl folks are just thrilled about this. The players telling them to be patient is a real gem, because, you know, there's no planning or promotion necessary for a bowl game.

I have an idea. Any objection to Iowa playing in 2 bowl games this year? It's the almost the same as playing Illinois on Saturday and Nebraska on Friday this year, minus the travel.
 
Oh, I bet the Holiday Bowl folks are just thrilled about this. The players telling them to be patient is a real gem, because, you know, there's no planning or promotion necessary for a bowl game.

I have an idea. Any objection to Iowa playing in 2 bowl games this year? It's the almost the same as playing Illinois on Saturday and Nebraska on Friday this year, minus the travel.

Win!
 
Whoa whoa whoa. Hold your horses, Rachel Maddow. Don't put words in people's mouths. First of all I don't think anyone's ever proven nor even implied that there was a "gang rape" in this situation. A prosecutor declined to press charges, and I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that (especially in today's day and age) if there were any inkling that part of it might have been forced, you'd see that prosecutor err on the side of caution and file charges. I'm not defending the players by any stretch, but if the legal system isn't a good enough "standard" for you then I don't think there's anything you and I can talk about.

Second, there's nothing in @hawkdrummer1 's post that suggests he's doing that. Triggered, victim-seekers like yourself are free to have any opinion you want about any situation, but you don't have the right to project your cockamamie bullshit on others and start throwing blame around like it's hot. Especially when you accuse someone of being ok with "gang rape" (your term, not mine).


I put no blame on anyone, nor assumed anyone was okay with gang rape (because we aren't monsters). What I meant was, how does millennial "special snowflake" mentality have any applicability here?


Maybe I misunderstood the situation.These guys were kicked off the team for an alleged sexual assault. The law cleared them (rightfully or not) and now the player thinks they should be back on the team.

Where is this special snow flake?
 
Don't think these players have thought this through. I can't imagine these players threatening to boycott will change anything. What kind of precedent would it set to give into a players' boycott request? How could the University do that and not look completely foolish? "Well we were going to hold these players responsible for the code of conduct, buuut we really want to collect the bowl game money...sooooo they're not suspended anymore." That'll go over real well in the public eye. Just the bad publicity and likely protestors alone wouldn't be worth the Holiday bowl game check. Not to mention the message that would send to any parent planning on sending their daughter there. This decision by the players is only going to CRUSH that program for the foreseeable future. Not to mention their own football careers.

If I was a Holiday bowl rep I'd already be making arrangements with the B1G to replace Minnesota in that game. Too much money on the line and too many people's jobs and travel plans depend on that game to just sit around waiting for a group of student athletes to dictate the outcome.
 
I will not pass judgement until I watch the whole video. And you know I'm good at breaking down video. And I have to agree with ShockHawk for about the first time. Gang bangs and gang rapes are nothing new...everyone video taping EVERYTHING is though. I find it disgusting and deplorable.
 
Even if the team has to backpedal regarding the bowl, they've made a statement.

And that's never a bad thing IMO.
 
What a sad state of affairs for Goof football. That program, which was already barely treading water, appears to be going straight down the tubes. Gonna lose recruit s over this big time.
 
I don't know what did or did not happen with these players and this woman (I wouldn't be surprised by anything), but if I was a football player at Minnesota and I put myself behind this boycott, I better know for sure 1000% that my teammates are absolutely innocent of what they were accused of. If I was somehow for some reason 1000% percent sure my teammates were innocent, then I would absolutely stand by them.
 
Divine retribution for Minnesota voting the wrong way in November!!??!!! (hehehehe I just triggered all the snowflakes)
 
I will not pass judgement until I watch the whole video. And you know I'm good at breaking down video. And I have to agree with ShockHawk for about the first time. Gang bangs and gang rapes are nothing new...everyone video taping EVERYTHING is though. I find it disgusting and deplorable.

You and gamefilm can do it together. Come back and tell us if there was any illegal targeting.
 
So lemme get this straight: the tire fire that is Minnesota athletics is going to get into a street fight with the dumpster fire that is Title IX "enforcement" on college campuses, and I have to take sides? Oh no I don't. Deace can pass me the tub o' corn, because I'm just going to sit here and enjoy the show.
 
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