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Minnesota coach Claeys says he risked job by backing players

Lauren Wetzsteon, a journalism student at the University of Minnesota, participates in a rally to support the victim of an alleged sexual assault that led to the suspension of 10 football players, outside TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. The team had threatened a boycott of the upcoming Holiday Bowl to protest the suspension of their teammates who were allegedly involved in the September encounter with the woman. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP)
Lauren Wetzsteon, a journalism student at the University of Minnesota, participates in a rally to support the victim of an alleged sexual assault that led to the suspension of 10 football players, outside TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. The team had threatened a boycott of the upcoming Holiday Bowl to protest the suspension of their teammates who were allegedly involved in the September encounter with the woman. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP) Lauren Wetzsteon, a journalism student at the University of Minnesota, participates in a rally to support the victim of an alleged sexual assault that led to the suspension of 10 football players, outside TCF Bank Stadium at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2016. The team had threatened a boycott of the upcoming Holiday Bowl to protest the suspension of their teammates who were allegedly involved in the September encounter with the woman. (Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP)

By Associated Press 3 min read

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota head coach Tracy Claeys said Sunday that he knew he was risking his job last week when he expressed support for players who boycotted practices and threatened to skip a bowl game if 10 teammates who were suspended after a sexual assault investigation weren’t reinstated.

Claeys also said in an interview on WCCO Radio that he plans to donate $50,000 to support victims of sexual assault.

The standoff with university administrators ended Saturday when the team backed down and said they would play in the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl against Washington State in San Diego, even though officials declined to reinstate their suspended teammates. The players agreed after getting assurances that those accused will get a fair hearing next month.

After the entire team announced the boycott on Thursday, Claeys publicly backed his players.

“Have never been more proud of our kids,” Claeys tweeted at the time. “I respect their rights (and) support their effort to make a better world!”