The Minnesota Golden Gophers will play in the Holiday Bowl after all.
After overnight negotiations, players announced Saturday morning that their boycott of the game, originally over the suspensions of ten players and the process involved, would end immediately.
In a statement issued by the players, they cited “the apparent lack of due process in a university system” as a reason for the boycott.
“As football players, we know that we represent this University and this state and that we are held to a higher standard,” the statement read, via Joe Christensen of the Star Tribune. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to our coaching staff and so many others for their support during this difficult time, and we hope that our fans and community understand why we took the actions that we did.
“Our thoughts and prayers are for the well-being of the woman involved in the original incident, and for our 10 teammates to ensure that they are treated fairly. We look forward to representing the University of Minnesota and the state of Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl in a way that makes all of you proud.”
University president Eric Kaler sounded relieved that the boycott was over.
“We will judge [the suspended players] very fairly,” Kaler said. “I’m grateful the student athletes ended the boycott.”
The news will also come as a relief to those who organized the Holiday Bowl, given the enormous difficulties they’d have faced otherwise.
