Gophers Dismiss Four Players

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster made the decision to release four players Wednesday who have been facing legal issues the last few months.

The University of Minnesota football team dismissed four players, head football coach Tim Brewster announced Wednesday, for “violations of both team and University of Minnesota student-athlete code of conduct regulations.”

Gone from the team are junior cornerback Dominic Jones, who was arrested over the weekend for his alleged involvement in criminal sexual conduct, along with junior defensive end Alex Daniels, sophomore defensive back Keith Massey and sophomore running back E.J. Jones – who were implicated in the case earlier in the year.

“It is an honor and a privilege to wear the uniform of the University of Minnesota and we have exceedingly high expectations for each of our student-athletes,” Brewster said in a release. “We spend a considerable amount of time addressing our players regarding their personal conduct and we will not compromise our values. We are establishing a culture of integrity and we will demand that our players are held accountable for their actions.”

The players’ dismissal from the team doesn’t affect their student or scholarship status, according to the release. Those issues are subject to review under applicable university and NCAA policies.

“I am in full support of the decision of Coach Brewster and I appreciate how he has handled this very difficult situation,” athletics director Joel Maturi said. “While this issue is deeply disappointing, the Athletics Department is sending a clear and unmistakable message that it will never compromise its code of conduct.

“We have a level of expectation that we communicate to our student-athletes regarding their conduct both on and off the field. In the end, individuals decide right and wrong for themselves and then live with the consequences. Unfortunately, these consequences also touch the lives of many other people.”