Gopher Football Players Charged with Rape

by **Pinball** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:14 am

http://www.startribune.com/gophers/story/1305344.html

I cannot believe how dumb some people can be (if the allegations are true)

Also some similarities to the Duke case.

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by **dulax19** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:03 pm

unreal...

by **Rob Graff** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:30 pm

Pinball:

RE: your comparison to Duke Lax.

I don't think that there are too many similarities in the way the investigation was performed, the conduct of the D.A or the evidence that exists. As examples, but by no means exhaustive

1. DNA Evidence from the accused found on person of alleged victim - None in Duke/Confirmed in UofM

2. Investigation completed prior to Charges filed in UofM v. Investigation ongoing (i.e. DNA testing) after charges filed.

3. I've seen the DA give one press briefing, not a series of appearances on various talk shows/radio, and in that breifing he was extremely restrained.

4. Actual video evidence that the alleged victim and the accused had sexual relations - completely missing from the Duke case (not surprising as no such relation took place in the Duke case)

NOTE - this does not mean I've pre-judged the outcome. I'm just pointing out that the authorities conduct is not similiar to the Nifong's clearly erroneous (criminal? liability creating?) handling of the Duke allegations. The evidence alleged by the DA in the UofM case looks to be devastatingly effective. Their alleged actions if true are heinous to the extreme. But our Constitution ensures his day in court, as well as the presumption of innocence. Let's be better than those who convicted the Duke 3 and allow the legal process to run its course.

by **Beta** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:46 pm

There is (**allegedly**) a video of the guy sexually assaulting the girl that's passed out. She had a BAC of .3 which is more/less in a coma.

Unless the cell phone video is deemed inadmissible...what goes around is definitely going to come around in prison.

I don't think Squirrel Master will be there to protect him, either.

by **Pinball** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:24 pm

Rob Graff wrote:Pinball:

RE: your comparison to Duke Lax.

College age sexual assault committed by high profile student athletes and intense media coverage (discussed all day on KFAN and WCCO, lead in story on most local stories). I see some similarities.

Without Duke maybe the Minneapolis DA would of handled the situation a little differently.

by **Adam Gamradt** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:03 pm

I hate to nitpick, but it's the Hennepin County DA, not the Minneapolis DA.

These cases are not that similar when you look deeper, this wasn't a team event. These guys just happen to be athletes. Rob does a nice job of pointing out the many dissimilarities. This case has much less in common with the Duke Lacrosse case, outside of the fact that these guys are athletes as well.

Freeman probably wouldn't be inclined to seek the media attention that Nifong did, so I am not sure he learned anything he didn't know already.

by **Rob Graff** on Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:05 pm

Pinball wrote:
Rob Graff wrote:Pinball:

RE: your comparison to Duke Lax.

College age sexual assault committed by high profile student athletes and intense media coverage (discussed all day on KFAN and WCCO, lead in story on most local stories). I see some similarities.

Without Duke maybe the Minneapolis DA would of handled the situation a little differently.

At that surface level, I'll concede the point so long as you put the word "allegedly" in front of "committed". At any other level I'll respectfully disagree.

by **Pinball** on Thu Jul 19, 2007 1:18 pm

Rob Graff wrote:I'll concede the point so long as you put the word "allegedly" in front of "committed". At any other level I'll respectfully disagree.

.....fancy lawyers and their attention to details

by **dubbs11** on Thu Jul 19, 2007 8:17 pm

Beta wrote:There is (**allegedly**) a video of the guy sexually assaulting the girl that's passed out. She had a BAC of .3 which is more/less in a coma.

Unless the cell phone video is deemed inadmissible...what goes around is definitely going to come around in prison.

I don't think Squirrel Master will be there to protect him, either.

I think Nasty Nate may have some plans for them.

regarding his jungle of love...

by **jessexy** on Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:21 am

I can just imgaine these guys having a girl over their house and she gets drunk and passes out. the girl might be a "bopper" "Cleat-chaser", but it doesnt really mean that they can take advantage of her, even if she is loose with the team. They all have their way with her and run a train. then another player comes over and they say "go look in the back room, she's ready for you."

I'm not saying this happened in this case, but I've seen it happen before where girls can put themselves into this situation and guys take advantage. its not right in any circumstance.

by **Adam Gamradt** on Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:28 am

I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but here is an interesting note in Sid Hartman's column today. It's a pretty sad day when players have to be warned to stay out of the city in which they live.

"One reason I have been more tolerant of the success or failure of Gophers coaches in all sports is because I know how little control the coaches have on the athletes outside of practice and games. No matter how coaches try, a small percentage of players get into trouble or are victims themselves.

Freshman Brandon Hall was shot and killed five years ago after I heard Glen Mason repeatedly warn the players after the game to not go downtown during a time when there had been a lot of problems."

I guess this recent incident means I'll have one more thing to remind our players about this fall, when we discuss personal conduct.

by **Beta** on Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:45 pm

Adam Gamradt wrote:Glen Mason repeatedly warn the players after the game to not go downtown during a time when there had been a lot of problems.

Ive never been but is it that unsafe downtown??

by **UofMLaxGoalie11** on Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:57 pm

I was downtown a couple nights ago. Firstly, I felt very comfortable walking the streets with a bit of a buzz. I saw a large police presence, but I was in a very popular nightlife area (warehouse district for those who know). Secondly, I ran into someone who knows the lawyer representing the player. I believe he has not lost a case yet, so he probably wont take one unless he knows he can win it. I think one of the big defenses would be that he was not there while she was drinking, so he "didnt know she was intoxicated". Or something like that. It might be a stretch, but it might be enough for a reasonable doubt. In my opinion, it sounds like OJ might have a caddy now.

by **LaxRef** on Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:44 pm

Adam Gamradt wrote:I'm not trying to hijack this thread, but here is an interesting note in Sid Hartman's column today. It's a pretty sad day when players have to be warned to stay out of the city in which they live.

"One reason I have been more tolerant of the success or failure of Gophers coaches in all sports is because I know how little control the coaches have on the athletes outside of practice and games. No matter how coaches try, a small percentage of players get into trouble or are victims themselves.

Freshman Brandon Hall was shot and killed five years ago after I heard Glen Mason repeatedly warn the players after the game to not go downtown during a time when there had been a lot of problems."

I guess this recent incident means I'll have one more thing to remind our players about this fall, when we discuss personal conduct.

I'm surprised Sid had space in his column to say that. Didn't he use it all up making excuses for local teams performing poorly, denigrating the U of M for daring to have academic standards for athletes, expressing his bias against women's athletics, and telling us news about "close personal friends"?

by **Adam Gamradt** on Fri Jul 20, 2007 1:59 pm

Downtown Minneapolis is spotty, it's easy to find an area that is devoid of people, and get yourself in to trouble.

Generally speaking it's a safe place to be. Especially if you are comfortable surrounded by crowds of drunken louts starting around 10PM.

Of course, we had a player murdered there after a night out in 2003, so I may have a bias. The latest story is that he was robbed and tossed over a bridge while walking home, after being kicked out of the Lone Tree Bar without his keys, cell phone, or wallet. I would avoid The Lone Tree altogether, as their bouncers are known to be heavy handed.

Downtown is usually safe, but I certainly wouldn't wander around there by myself. My observation is that people act more and more like idiots the closer you get to bar closing.