The Minnesota Golden Gophers have suspended 10 players ahead of their upcoming Holiday Bowl game against Washington State.
Well this isn’t good in any light. The Minnesota Golden Gophers have suspended ten players, just two weeks before their Holiday Bowl game against Washington State. The players have been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.
The school declined comment on exactly what the reasoning was behind the suspensions, stating that “privacy restrictions relating to student educational data” prevented them from going into detail. Below are the players that received the suspensions, as listed via the Minneapolis Star Tribune:
- Ray Buford, defensive back (redshirt freshman)
- Carlton Djam, running back (sophomore)
- Seth Green, quarterback (freshman)
- KiAnte Hardin, defensive back (sophomore)
- Dior Johnson, defensive back (reshirt freshman)
- Tamarion Johnson, defensive lineman (freshman)
- Kobe McCrary, running back (junior)
- Antonio Shenault, defensive back (sophomore)
- Mark Williams, quarterback (freshman)
- Antoine Winfield Jr., defensive back (freshman)
The newspaper also noted that there was an incident back on September 2 that was being investigated, and restraining orders were filed against several of the names on that list. The restraining orders were dismissed in a settlement a month later.
Winfield is the son of former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield. He is also fourth on the team in tackles, and returned his only interception of the year for an 82-yard touchdown. The younger was a starter on the defense. Hardin leads the Gophers (8-4) with two interceptions.
Next: 2016 College Football bowl game TV schedule
While many of the players don’t play much of a factor in the team’s depth chart, this is definitely not the news they need heading into a big bowl game on December 27. Washington State could have a huge game in San Diego. Luke Falk, their quarterback, is fourth in the nation with 4,204 passing yards and tied for fifth with 37 touchdowns. The Holiday Bowl will be played at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.