Minnesota Will Play in Holiday Bowl After Boycott: Latest Comments, Reaction

The Minnesota Golden Gophers football team ended its boycott of football activities on Saturday and will face Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 as scheduled.

Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune was the first to report the conclusion of the boycott. On Sunday, Christensen provided additional insight:

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The Gophers' resolve to boycott the Holiday Bowl crumbled in the early hours of Saturday morning as University of Minnesota football players for the first time absorbed the painful details of a lengthy report on the sexual assault investigation that led to 10 player suspensions.

The team had left a meeting with University President Eric Kaler about 9 p.m. Friday set on carrying through on their protest of the player discipline.

Yet by 1:30 a.m., the Gophers seniors were ready to end their boycott. That's when a group text went out: "Players-only meeting 6 a.m." Many of them didn't sleep. ...

Sources said the release of the report and the players getting a chance to read the results of the investigation were the biggest factors in the decision to end the boycott. "Once they read the report," one source said, the "narrative" of the boycott changed.

Facing heavy national criticism, the Gophers players knew they were losing negotiating leverage.

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Minnesota's players announced their decision to boycott football activities on Dec. 15, after 10 members of the team were suspended by the university.

According to ESPN.com, Ray Buford Sr., the father of suspended defensive back Ray Buford Jr., said the suspensions were a result of a Title IX investigation with regard to an alleged sexual assault that occurred Sept. 2.

Along with Buford, Carlton Djam, Seth Green, KiAnte Hardin, Dior Johnson, Tamarion Johnson, Kobe McCrary, Antonio Shenault, Mark Williams and Antoine Winfield Jr. were also suspended.

The suspensions were handed down even though Hennepin County prosecutors did not press charges, per Dave Orrick of the Pioneer Press.

In the wake of the suspensions, senior wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky said the following in a statement on behalf of the team: "The boycott will remain effective until due process is followed and suspensions for all 10 players involved are lifted."

According to Marcus R. Fuller of the Star Tribune, the suspensions will not be lifted:

Minnesota athletic director Mark Coyle and university president Eric W. Kaler released a joint statement after the boycott was announced, per ESPN.com:

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We understand that a lot of confusion and frustration exists as a result of this week's suspension of 10 Gopher Football players from all team activities. The reality is that not everyone can have all of the facts, and unfortunately the University cannot share more information due to federal laws regarding student privacy.

We fully support our Gopher football players and all of our student-athletes. Situations like this are always difficult, and the decision was made in consultation with and has the full support of President Eric Kaler. The decision was based on facts and is reflective of the University's values. We want to continue an open dialogue with our players and will work to do that over the coming days. It's important that we continue to work together as we move through this difficult time.

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Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys backed his players on social media:

As the possibility of the Golden Gophers' boycott seemed to increase, ESPN.com's Brett McMurphy reported Northern Illinois was in line to replace them in the Holiday Bowl.

With Minnesota's boycott resolved, however, the Golden Gophers will travel to San Diego to take on the Cougars.

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