Minnesota fires Claeys

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on
Just broke on twitter. 2017 opponent.
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FrankMurphy

January 3rd, 2017 at 5:38 PM ^

Doesn't make much sense from a competitiveness perspective, but a sexual assault investigation, a team boycott in support of the accused players, and a heach coach expressing support of the team boycott aren't typically news stores that athletic directors like to see associated with their football programs. 

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 31947

lhglrkwg

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

You can support your players without supporting the cause and you can also march out there, say next to nothing, and appease people at large

Something like 'waiting to find out details of the investigation', 'hoping to find that my players did nothing wrong but we'll cooperate fully with authorities to get to the truth' etc.

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87917

LSAClassOf2000

January 3rd, 2017 at 5:54 PM ^

From the Star Tribune - LINK

This part was interesting, I thought, not the sole reason Claeys is out obviously:

Another issue Coyle faces is sagging attendance. The Gophers averaged 43,814 over seven dates at TCF Bank Stadium this past season, their smallest average attendance since 2002.

Apparently, in 2015, the average home attendance was north of 50,000.

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130623

AgonyTrain

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:20 PM ^

I am not a Gopher fan per se but do attend the home games because I live in Minneapolis and my 8-year old daughter loves college football.

I can state for the record that I am ecstatic he was fired and was planning to not renew my tickets of 6 years if he wasnt.  Good riddance

Joined: 11/04/2010

MGoPoints: 766

MIMark

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:18 PM ^

I read many tweets from players suggesting the decision is not popular at all. It seems the guys do not quite see the gravity of the situation. On a scale of 0 to Baylor, how toxic is Minnesota right now?

Joined: 05/05/2009

MGoPoints: 3734

Mr. McBlue and…

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^

Living up here people aren't fond of the athletic department and a lot of people didn't understand Claey's decision to openly support the players but understood why he did it. Admittedly that does take some Hudzpah. This late in the cycle I don't know who they could realistically reel in unless it was times for Fleck/Kelly. Big gamble.

Joined: 01/16/2009

MGoPoints: 679

trueblueintexas

January 3rd, 2017 at 11:00 PM ^

I could see Minnesota making a run at Chris Kleiman from North Dakota State. Proven success at a lower division school, but one Minnesota fans are familiar with. That would help ticket sales for the short term until he proves if he can build a strong team.

Joined: 11/10/2008

MGoPoints: 36643

Blueblood2991

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:40 PM ^

Not yet Baylor, but they needed to get out in front of this. Just last year, they fired their AD for groping and sending inappropriate text messages. It could be two isolated incidents, but very well could be a toxic culture in the athletic department over there.

Joined: 06/11/2015

MGoPoints: 14348

UMProud

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:35 PM ^

Was surprised Claeys put in writing his support during that awful situation..his intent was misconstrued.  Honestly the school had no choice but to terminate.  A lawsuit against MN would most certainly include this employee statement as a liability.

Joined: 12/18/2014

MGoPoints: 2705

SalvatoreQuattro

January 3rd, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^

They just fired a coach over a ill-conceived tweet in defense of his players. This is  decision that will make SJW's happy, but long term it could have a debilitating effect on the program.

The division among the players and fans that this will cause is going to strangle this program. If I am a coach I am staying away from this program. It is already hard enough to win at Minnesota. Now you have a program potentially riven with animosity.

Joined: 11/30/2010

MGoPoints: 78698