Kolstad In Coma, Nelson And Shelley Out On Bond

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

The news on Isaac Kolstad isn't good from his family and, sadly, it might be worse for Philip Nelson and Trevor Shelley before it's done.

Kolstad's family has confirmed that he is in a medically-induced coma and has had part of his brain removed because it ceased to function. He also has had a tracheotomy to help with breathing.

Here's the latest from Mankato
KMSP-TV

Part of the statement from the family had these paragraphs about Kolstad's condition:

Due to the injuries Isaac sustained early last Sunday morning, his brain had severe bruising and swelling, increasing the pressure within his skull to life-threatening levels. In order to relieve the swelling, he required emergency surgery on his brain early Tuesday morning. Isaac had a significant amount of his brain tissue that was no longer viable removed during that procedure.

Even though the surgery was successful, the swelling in Isaac's brain remains significant; leaving him at high risk for further injury and potentially additional surgical procedures. Isaac's lungs also sustained severe injury, resulting in the inability to breathe on his own. He also sustained a lack of oxygen to his brain.

The HQ's thoughts and prayers are with the Kolstad's- if this is your kind of thing, a website has been set up to help pay for the family's medical expenses

BREAKING: 2nd Suspect Arrested In Kolstad Beating

((HT: KSTP-TV))

Here's the surveillance video from the Isaac Kolstad beating that had Mankato, Minnesota police chasing after a second suspect...


The suspect in question was arrested Tuesday.

21-year-old Trevor Shelley is now thought to be that suspect, but it's not known if Shelley was the one who punched Kolstad before Philip Nelson allegedly kicked him while he was on the ground. Nelson's attorney maintains his client was not the aggressor in the assault.

Nelson is facing two felony assault charges and is out on $20,000 bail.

Rutgers University head football coach Kyle Flood announced Tuesday Nelson has been dismissed from the team and that the university's thoughts and prayers are with the Kolstad family.

The most recent post on the Kolstad-created CaringBridge page came early Tuesday afternoon:

Isaac had surgery early this morning. It went well. Isaac remains in critical condition.
Please keep Isaac and all involved in your prayers.

Here's the afternoon returns from MyFoxTwinCities
KMSP-TV

Mankato Update: Philip Nelson Posts Bond, Police Looking For Additional Suspect

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

The larger news involving the assault of former Minnesota-Mankato LB Isaac Kolstad is that former Minnesota-now Rutgers QB Philip Nelson has made bond and can return to Rutgers University if the school wants him.

(Insert Rutgers joke here)

Paul Blume is in Mankato and details what Mankato police are looking for and looking at in this fight that lasted five or ten seconds, but will impact a few families for a lot longer
KMSP-TV

Rutgers QB Arrested In Minnesota Assault, Victim Has Brain Damage (TUESDAY UPDATE: Rutgers Dismisses Nelson)

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

Former Minnesota-Mankato LB Isaac Kolstad is "fighting for his life" after a weekend assault that led to the arrest of former Minnesota-now-Rutgers QB Phillip Nelson.

Kolstad was on a sidewalk in the town of Mankato when someone punched him, he hit the ground, and then he was kicked in the head by a second person. Nelson was identified by three people who witnessed the assault as one of the two who were involved and police are looking for a second person who they feel was involved in the crime as well.

Kolstad's father says his son has permanent brain damage. Kolstad has already had one surgery and will likely have more this week. Police are asking for third-degree assault charges.

Here's the latest from the Kolstad vigil Sunday night
KMSP-TV

Kolstad's father has posted an update on Kolstad's CaringBridge website:

"Isaac suffered a severe head injury early this morning. He is currently in Critical condition and fighting for his life. He is young and strong, but the battle he has in front of him is enormous. He had one surgery today to put a pressure gauge in his skull. He may need additional surgeries in the coming days. We do know that his brain did sustain permanent damage. We do not yet know to what extent and won't for many days. He is very sick. Please pray for Isaac and all of those involved."

The family also issued a statement on Sunday.

We are extremely grateful for the outpouring of support we have received during this difficult time. Isaac is a very strong and determined young man, who is dearly loved by his family and friends. We would respectfully ask for your continued prayers.

We would also ask members of the news media and others to respect our request and need for privacy at this time. We have requested that no further information (beyond his medical condition) be released. Thank you for your understanding and continued thoughts and prayers for Isaac, his wife and children, and all others who are involved in this situation. - The Family of Isaac Kolstad

Here's the live report from the spot of the fight from our friends at KSTP-TV


1545 UPDATE: Nelson will be charged with 1 count of first-degree assault and 1 count of third-degree assault later today. Police looking for 2nd suspect.

TUESDAY UPDATE: Rutgers has dismissed Nelson as a result of the incident...

"The Rutgers football family's thoughts and prayers are with Isaac Kolstad and his family," Head Football coach Kyle Flood said in a statement.

Dan Duggan over at NJ.com has the details of the incident- from Mankato police reports:

Kolstad punched Nelson in the back, causing him to fall to the ground, according to a criminal complaint.

Kolstad began to move away and an unknown assailant, described as a white male in his early 20s wearing a red t-shirt and jeans, ran after him. The unknown male delivered a punch to Kolstad's head/face. Kolstad immediately went limp and collapsed to the pavement.

Nelson then pushed past others and delivered a kick to the head of a defenseless Kolstad, according to the complaint.

Mankato Players Meant No Disrespect To Old Coach, Paragraph Taken Out Of Context (UPDATED: They'll Play For Hoffner))

((HT: KEYC-TV))

When you say something publicly, you can't take it back...

That's what the Minnesota-Mankato football team is facing right now after they went public with their desire that their old football coach who was their new head coach return to being their football coach after their old-old football coach who had his contract not renewed and came back after an arbitor's ruling took over as their new head coach...

They want Aaron Keen back as head coach and not the recently-reinstated Todd Hoffner...

Claiming their paragraph was "taken out of context" both sides met this morning on campus...

Here's the morning gathering after yesterday's statement
KEYC - Mankato News, Weather, Sports -

Short of not allowing for any kind of depth in their sentences or discussions between parties when the cameras were off yesterday, the HQ is unsure how that could be taken out of context...

As a collective unit, we’ve all agreed that we will stick together and show our support in having Aaron Keen as the head football coach at Minnesota State University, Mankato,” junior safety Samuel Thompson read from the statement. “We’ve all become outstanding community members, students and athletes, in the last year and a half since the removal of Todd Hoffner. Throughout this process, our voice has been silent. It is time our voice is heard. We want information, we want answers, because this is our team.”

What's the out of context part...???

Jus' axin...

PM UPDATE: The players met for two hours with the Athletic Director and Hoffner and they're now united in their support of Hoffner and will play for him and Keen...

MSU-Mankato State Football Players Don't Want Their Old Coach Back

((ht: startribune.com))

Just yesterday (Tuesday), we told you the story of former Minnesota State-Mankato coach Todd Hoffner, who was fired back in May of 2013 after school officials found videos of naked children, which turned out to be his own kids, on his school issued cellphone.

Hoffner took a job at nearby Minot State, but filed suit asking for his old job back. An arbitor awarded him that opportunity.

However, it appears Hoffner's old players at Mankato don't want him to return. Spring Practice was scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon, but according to the St.Paul Star-Tribune, the players did not dress out and chose to read a statement.

The statement essentially said they want interim coach Aaron Keen back as their head coach.

Here's the statement in full:

"We want information. We want answers. We've decided not to practice because of a change-up in the coaching situation."

Read more from the Star Tribune RIGHT HERE

Needless to say this has already gotten messy. Hoffner, for all essential purposes was proven innocent and lost his job. But in Sports, it's not always so easy to come back after a year and pick up right where you left off.

And that's the problem facing Mankato's administrators face. It's not clear why the players don't want anything to do with Hoffner. That being said, the team has gone 24-2 since Hoffner was dismissed.

The question while really legal is this: How do you get rid of a coach who's gone 24-2 and replace him with the guy who was the coach before he was? Sure, there may be a beef of some sorts between the players and Hoffner, but ultimately, it's not their decision.

Or at least they need a compelling reason for rebelling.

We will follow this story and see how it plays out. More and more, college players are demanding a voice at the table when it comes to their coach. The question on the floor is this: Should they have the ability to do that or is it none of their business?

Here's the latest from our friends at KSTP-TV

Hoffner Wrongfully Terminated, Will Return To MN-Mankato

((HT: MyFoxTwinCities))

In August of 2012, Todd Hoffner was escorted off the practice field at Minnesota-Mankato and placed under arrest for having child pornography images on his school-issued cell phone.

Three months later, a judge dismissed the charges saying the videos were nothing more than images of his children playing in their house after a bath.

That didn't change Mankato's mind. The school suspended Hoffner for 20 days and then reassigned him to a desk job before firing him in May of 2013. He had been hired as the coach at Minot State, but after an arbitration, he will return to Mankato to coach his old school and old team.

Minot understands Hoffner's decision:

Here's the latest on Hoffner returning to Mankato
KMSP-TV

Mankato, obviously, didn't say a lot with the arbitor's decision, but they did put out a statement:

"We extend our apologies to Mr. Hoffner and deeply regret the difficulties he and his family have experienced.
"It is our sincere hope that all concerned can now find ways to move forward."

Moving forward may include a civil response by Hoffner, but that isn't know at present...

Mankato FB Coach Not Happy With 20-Day Suspension

((HT: KEYC-TV Mankato))

The head football coach of Minnesota-Mankato, Todd Hoffner, was cleared on child porn charges back on December 1st and is now having to fight a 20-day suspension delivered despite the decision.

The initial charges came from two videos that Hoffner recorded on his university cell phone of what he called "family moments" that were considered, by prosecutors, to be sexual in nature...

Here's the story at the time of the dimissal...
((HT: KARE-TV))

Hoffner has not been reinstated by the school as they maintain that there is an investigation still pending on another complaint. The 20-day suspension comes from what the school considers "improper use of a university cell phone."