News » Ive been able to set weekly goals because Ive really excelled

MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota football coach Tracy Claeys doubled down Sunday on his support for players who boycotted practices and threatened to skip a bowl game if 10 teammates suspended after a sexual assault investigation werent reinstated.Speaking publicly for the first time since a standoff between 110 Golden Gophers football players and the administration, Claeys said he understands the players frustration with a Title IX investigation that they felt was inherently unfair to teammates who were accused of assaulting a woman at an off-campus dorm in September.As kids, they have no problems being held to a higher standard than the university requires and should require, Claeys said after Minnesotas practice. This is all about the due process.Claeys also clarified a comment he made on WCCO radio on Sunday morning when he said he was risking his job by supporting the players. The coach said he was just advising his players of possible ramifications during a team meeting on Thursday, before the team made the announcement to boycott.I was a sounding board for them and it was their decision, Claeys said. I made sure to make sure that they knew what the possible fallouts could be and we went through all those things. ... I was there to make sure that they were doing it for the right reasons and they knew what the consequences could be.The boycott ended Saturday when the team backed down and said they would play in the Dec. 27 Holiday Bowl against Washington State in San Diego, even though officials declined to reinstate their suspended teammates. The players agreed after getting assurances that those accused will get a fair hearing next month.After the entire team announced the boycott Thursday, Claeys publicly backed his players.Have never been more proud of our kids, Claeys tweeted at the time. I respect their rights (and) support their effort to make a better world!Claeys said Sunday he wished he would have chosen his words more carefully in the tweet, but said he did not regret sending it.If you just show support for the players behind closed doors, youre going to have a group of them that dont believe you, he said. I needed to do that in a public way and I tried to do it as short as possible. ... It was all about me supporting their actions to try to improve the due process. Not just on this campus but other campuses.Claeys said his players were not condoning sexual assault or harassment in any way. But they believed their suspended teammates were denied due process.Officials announced the suspensions Tuesday after an internal investigation determined the 10 players violated school conduct codes in an encounter involving a woman and several players on Sept. 2.According to the police report, the woman told police she had consensual sex with two men that night, but that she did not consent to sexual contact with other men who were present, including players. According to universitys more detailed internal report, she told university investigators that she believed 10 to 20 men had sex with her that night, though she wasnt sure because she had memory gaps from drinking. Prosecutors declined to press charges, saying there was insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but the university uses a lower bar in student discipline cases.Linebacker Nick Rallis told WCCO the players believe the boycott succeeded, even though nobody was reinstated, because they believe it will ensure that athletes at Minnesota and other colleges who are accused of misconduct in the future get fair hearings.The Title IX investigative process has become a hotly-debated topic on campuses around the country. Opponents argue that school investigators are often not professionals and do not have subpoena power or the ability to put a witness under oath.Proponents say the problem of sexual assault on college campuses is too important, especially after the Department of Education threatened to pull federal aid for public schools if they did not increase their efforts to address the problem.Minnesota President Eric Kaler said Saturday that he understood that Claeys position.Coaches are in a challenging position, Kaler said. They need to support their players. They need to motivate their players. At the same time, they need to be responsible for their actions, and there are times in which those two demands put coaches in very difficult positions.And I think some of our coaches around this issue were in that very difficult position and well talk about that with them and try to improve both their understanding and our understanding.Claeys said he has spoken with athletic director Mark Coyle several times since Thursday and is not concerned about his job at the moment.I understand why (the suspensions) were made, Claeys said. But as for the players, the due process part was the part I did agree with on the players.---Associated Press Writer Steve Karnowski contributed to this report. Grant Long Jersey . The Clippers were angry about blowing a big lead; the Kings didnt like being in that kind of hole and nearly digging themselves out only to lose. Bob McAdoo Jersey . 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Few would dare split up Canberras lethal right-edge combination.But if Jordan Rapana could separate himself from Joseph Leilua for one game, it would be against Melbourne in Saturday nights NRL grand-final qualifier.And for one reason only: Storm back-rower Kevin Proctor.The pair grew up on the Gold Coast, playing much of their junior football together, and have remained close mates ever since.I sent him a message the other day and told him I might try to ask (coach) Ricky (Stuart) if I can play left side so I can take your head off - just to get that one shot on him, Rapana laughed.Nah, hes definitely one of my best mates. No doubt, Ill go see him when we get down there and go catch up for coffees.They almost became teammates again last year, but Proctor turned down an offer from the Raiders to stay with the Storm - where he has been since 2008.Everything happens for a reason, Rapana told AAP.Hes doing well down there so hes enjoying himself.Rapana, too, is enjoying himself more than he thought he could in the NRL.Just two years ago, he struggled to find the fun in playing rugby league as he fought for a spot in the Raiders side folllowing six years away from the game.ddddddddddddIt was all about setting a goal to try and just make the team, he said.But this year, Ive been able to set weekly goals because Ive really excelled - on a personal level - playing outside of Joey (Leilua).Its really taken my football to another level. Its an exciting style of footy we get to play here, and Ricky allows that.It makes me enjoy my football a lot more.Rapana, who jointly won the coachs award at the Raiders presentation night with Leilua on Monday, leads the competition for linebreaks and is the second-highest tryscorer with 22.One more four-pointer and he will break the clubs record for most tries in a season.Its a cool achievement but, to be honest, I really couldnt care less - as long as I try to do my job for the team each week, he said.Rapana is off contract at the end of the 2017, but wants to remain a Raider for the long term.Id love to stay here - its where Ive really enjoyed my football and weve got a great bunch of blokes here, he said. ' ' '