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MPR News Staff

U of M administrators and players at loggerheads over suspensions of players

Minnesota AD Coyle
Mark Coyle, shown with president Eric Kaler, left, in this May 11, 2016 file photo, in Minneapolis.
Jeff Wheeler | Star Tribune via AP File

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University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler and Athletic Director Mark Coyle say they're willing to meet with Gopher football players.

The players are demanding the U reverse the suspensions of 10 players, saying they'll boycott all football activities until that demand is met.

The U issued the suspensions earlier this week after completing its investigation of an alleged sexual assault.

For more on the situation, MPR's Cathy Wurzer spoke with Howard Sinker, a digital sports editor at the Star Tribune.

"There have been situations where seasons have been ended for one reason or another," Sinker said when asked if he'd seen anything like this before. Sinker pointed to the Fall athletic season this year in which three Ivy League schools — Princeton, Harvard and Colombia — suspended seasons in different sports because of incidents of harassment and misconduct.

"I think there is a serious conflict within the University of Minnesota athletic department," Sinker said in reference to a recent tweet by head coach Tracy Claeys supporting the boycotting players.

"It's not just a matter over whether a football team plays a game, it's a cultural issue," Sinker said. "Remember, that Coyle's predecessor, Norwood Teague, resigned from his job in August of last year over sexual harassment issues."