KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
Former Canyon High School football standout Drew Wolitarsky found himself in the spotlight of a national story this week after his Minnesota football teammates were suspended by the university following a sexual-assault investigation.
Although Wolitarsky is not one of the 10 players suspended or accused of wrongdoing, he acted as spokesman Thursday by reading a prepared statement that was broadcast nationally to support his teammates who’ve been accused as part of a Title IX investigation.
Local prosecutors have declined to press charges in the case. However, the campus isn’t allowing the accused players to return to the team after completing its own investigation.
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As a result, the rest of the team, according to a statement read by Wolitarsky this week, will be boycotting the Holiday Bowl game against Washington State Dec. 27, “The boycott will remain effective until due process is followed and suspensions for all 10 players involved are lifted.”
Drew Wolitarsky and his Minnesota teammates made the decision to step away from all football activities following a “recent and disappointing meeting conducted by Mark Coyle,” Wolitarsky stated, Thursday.
He finished by saying the players “wanted answers, but received misleading statements.” Wolitarsky’s prepared statement was in response to University’s decision to suspend the 10 players without what the rest of the team considered due process.
In a joint statement between University of Minnesota Athletic Director Mark Coyle and President Eric W. Kaler released Thursday, the school is quoted as saying, ”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 … We want to continue an open dialogue with our players and will work to do that over the coming days.”
If in fact the Minnesota players’ boycott is still in effect and carries over into the Holiday Bowl, the Gophers will be replaced by Northern Illinois University.
Drew Wolitarsky starred at Canyon High School before heading to Minnesota. Wolitarsky is California’s all-time record holder in career catches (281) and career receiving yardage (5,148). In his career at Minnesota he is ninth in the program history with 125 career catches and tenth in Gopher history with 1676 receiving yards and was a Third Team All-Big 10 selection in 2016.
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“…that was broadcast*ed…”??
“…that was broadcast*ed…”?? Also, the article states: “Wolitarsky’s prepared statement was in response to (sic) University’s decision to suspend the 10 players without due process.” However, the piece then goes on to say the University of Minnesota is conducting its own investigation into the incident. That *is* due process.
While broadcast is the preferred use for the past participle, broadcasted is an acceptable form.
We reported what we deemed the facts. Which were that the University was conducting its own investigation and what Wolitarsky said in the prepared statement, using the term “due process”.
Only later on Friday was an 82-page report leaked to the media from the University of Minnesota’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action detailing the horrifying events from that night.
Now it is clear the investigation had already been conducted, however the AD and the President weren’t releasing any information.
It is my opinion that the players probably weren’t privy to information about what was known about the school’s investigation into this gang rape by their teammates; hence, the “misleading statements” comment, and they jumped much too quickly to throw their support around them.
Once new information was in the public eye, they immediately ended their “boycott”, if you can call it that, after just two days. And it’s my hope that they were pretty embarrassed to have put their support behind teammates who committed such heinous crimes.
College Football Players only have so many career games. The play to force the School’s hand is commendable and I hope it works….if not, there are a bunch of players at Northern Illinois who will be thankful for their opportunity for a Nationally Televised Game.