September 22, 1916 the Gophers were coming off a National Championship 1915 season. Expectations were high as the team hadn’t lost a game since Halloween of 1914. Until the Minneapolis Tribune uncovered a major story that threatened that success.
Just a few days before Minnesota kicked off its 1916 season against the mighty Jackrabbits of South Dakota State five players faced being kicked off the team for their academic failings. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the players that were suspended had not taken the first few weeks of class very seriously and needed to make up course work, pass tests or argue results.