04/18/24
April 17, 2014
Minnesota State players refuse to practice as coach Todd Hoffner returns: Football players at Minnesota State Mankato refused to practice for their former head coach Wednesday, greeting his reinstatement by an arbitrator by demanding that the interim coach keep the top job.
This is sad. If these athletes were truly outstanding community members, they would recognize the wrong that was done to him and embrace Hoffner's return. I hope this ends up being a one-time gesture of support for their other coach.
It is amazing that he gets his old life back. People destroyed by false allegations of that kind usually don't.
I'd wager this protest probably happened because of officials inside the school's athletic department who are resentful of the arbitration decision.
posted by rcade at 10:59 AM on April 17, 2014
The players' statement that they have all become outstanding community members since Hoffner was removed also implies some sort of causation. If they want to support the interim coach, they may want to elaborate on how he has helped them become such outstanding human beings; perhaps even explain how Hoffner was inhibiting that development. Or is it as simple as "we are better people because the new coach doesn't think naked babies are adorable"?
posted by tahoemoj at 11:32 AM on April 17, 2014
I'd wager this protest probably happened because of officials inside the school's athletic department who are resentful of the arbitration decision
The deadspin article suggests the administration is happy with the new coach but can't publicly say so without risking a lawsuit. Just to sharpen the knife a bit more, Hoffner brought in the person who was interim head coach.
posted by yerfatma at 01:03 PM on April 17, 2014
In Mankato, most people take the side of Hoffner, calling the kids spoiled brats or entitles or something along those lines. Pretty much everyone likes Hoffner and thinks he deserves to get his life back together.
posted by jmd82 at 05:05 PM on April 17, 2014
Has there been any explanation (aside from the weak "We're better people" stuff) as to why they prefer the interim? Was Hoffner a huge tool or something? Suicides until you puke kinda guy? I'm willing to hear out the players if there was abuse at practices or something, but if not, STFUASU (Shut The Fuck Up And Suit Up).
posted by wfrazerjr at 11:25 AM on April 22, 2014
Wow, some great kids. Guy is cleared after it turns out his child porn is videos of his own kids in the bath and an arbitrator reinstated him but they "want answers". My favorite part:
Are they saying they were all douchebags before or that only some of them were? Either way, how did the firing of someone who didn't do what he was accused of make them better? If they were better students and community members they might have put some thought into this.