What a mess…
Players on the Minnesota State-Mankato football team came out onto the field yesterday but they weren’t wearing their pads or helmets.
They unanimously decided that they would not be practicing and instead read a statement to a group of reporters saying that they refused to play under their head coach, Todd Hoffner!
Coach Hoffner was making his return to campus yesterday for the first time since being fired by the university last year after he was accused of possessing pornographic images of children!
It launched an investigation that eventually found that Hoffner did nothing wrong. A judge in the case ruled that the pictures found on Hoffner’s phone were of his own children playing after a bath. An arbitrator then reinstated his position at the school.
But now, his former players are saying they’d rather Hoffner’s replacement, interim coach Aaron Keen, keep his job!
Junior safety Sam Thompson addressed the crowd gathered at the university, saying:
“We’ve all become outstanding community members, students and athletes in the last year and a half since the removal of Todd Hoffner. Throughout this process, we have been silent. It is time our voice is heard. As a unit we have decided not to practice because of the change-up in the coaching situation.├óΓé¼┬¥
Keen led the Mavericks to a 11-1 record last season. This year, the team finished 13-1 and wound up in the national semifinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
The team was also successful under Hoffner, who was 34-13 in four seasons before he was wrongfully fired.
After having his name cleared, he received a head-coaching job offer from Minot State in January but chose instead to take back his job at Mankato, thinking that would, “help heal the injury.├óΓé¼┬¥
Many say school officials overreacted in the wake of Penn State’s football sex abuse scandal and think Hoffner should be reinstated.
But for those who will have to play for him, they’re not willing to suit up.
A meeting was scheduled for today between Hoffner, Keen and members of the team. We can only imagine how awkward those proceedings must have been.
Hopefully these guys can come to a fair solution soon!
[Image via AP Images.]