Minnesota Gophers Suspend 10 Football Players Indefinitely For Unspecified Violation

The University of Minnesota suspended 10 football players on Tuesday night, the latest fallout from an incident that occurred just a few hours after the season began.

Minnesota Gophers Suspend 10 Football Players Indefinitely For Unspecified Violation

The suspended Golden Gophers are defensive backs KiAnte Hardin, Antoine Winfield Jr., Ray Buford Jr., Dior Johnson and Antonio Shenault; running backs Carlton Djam and Kobe McCrary; quarterbacks Seth Green and Mark Williams; and defensive lineman Tamarion Johnson.

Minnesota declined to explain the reasons for the suspensions, citing “privacy restrictions.”

Lee Hutton, an attorney representing several of the players, told the Star Tribune that the suspensions are related to a sexual-assault investigation into a Sept. 2 incident in a Dinkytown apartment that occurred in the early morning hours following the team’s season-opening victor over Oregon State. Ray Buford Sr., father of one of the suspended players, said the same thing to the Pioneer Press.  Buford Sr. works in law enforcement in Detroit.

“I’m (angered) by the decision,” Hutton told KMSP-TV on Tuesday. “Tomorrow, I will be filing an appeal on behalf of all the Gophers players involved, including the five new ones. In addition, we may also seek judicial intervention to stay the University’s punishment until a judicial decision is made on the merits.”

Buford, Hardin, Dior Johnson and Tamarion Johnson were suspended for three games following that incident while police investigated a sex assault complaint by a female student, and were reinstated after prosecutors declined to press charges.

The woman, who works for the Gophers’ game-day operations, filed restraining orders against those four players plus Djam, and all five Gophers missed the Oct. 29 Rutgers game as well.

The restraining orders were dismissed in a Nov. 2 settlement, which still required the players to remain 20 feet away from the alleged victim.

The five other Gophers were suspended because they were in the apartment where the alleged assault happened, according to the Star Tribune.

Hutton was still gathering details Tuesday night, but said some of his clients could face expulsion, while others may face a one-year team suspension or probation.

The university did not make athletic director Mark Coyle available for comment late Tuesday.

Minnesota plays Washington State on Dec. 27 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Coach Tracy Claeys will be in San Diego on Wednesday for a pre-bowl news conference.

Last month, Coyle said that Claeys had his “full support,” following an 8-4 regular season.

LINCOLN, NE – NOVEMBER 12: The Minnesota Golden Gophers offense led by offensive lineman Donnell Greene #73 and offensive lineman Jared Weyler #62 and offensive lineman Garrison Wright #78 and tight end Nate Wozniak #80 take the field against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Minnesota 24-17. (Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images)