Claeys, fired Minnesota coach, defends leadership

Former Minnesota coach Tracy Claeys is defending himself after an outside review blamed “weak leadership” by the coaching staff for a threat by players to boycott the Holiday Bowl.

Claeys wrote a commentary that appeared online Wednesday. The review released last week found the university followed law and policy properly when it suspended 10 players last year following an accusation of sexual assault.

Claeys backed the boycott, but players ultimately decided to play and beat Washington State 17-12. Claeys was fired a week later.

Claeys says as a coach, he respected his team’s decision, “responsibly addressed the situation and quickly defused the boycott.”

■ Nebraska: Coaches no longer are putting players through rugbystyle tackling drills, and the athletic department ended its $100,000 contract with Atavus, the Seattle company that was helping the Cornhuskers transition to the technique.

■ Southern California: Former kicker Matt Boermeester filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court in an effort to overturn his expulsion following a school investigation of allegations that he abused his girlfriend.

■ Alabama: The top-ranked Crimson Tide placed a league-high 15 players on the coaches preseason All-southeastern Conference teams.