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A Rutgers Quarterback Nearly Beat a Man to Death This Weekend

By Kyle Scott

Published: May 12th, 2014 · 1:02 PM EDT

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Man, tough times for those who have anything to do with Rutgers.

First Mike Rice beat his players.

Then the school lied about Eddie Jordan’s resume.

Then they hired a bitch volleyball coach.

Then a paralyzed former player was jerked around about making a commencement speech.

And now this. From the Minnesota Star-Tribune:

Former University of Minnesota quarterback Philip Nelson was arrested early Sunday at the scene of a downtown Mankato assault that left another well-known local football player critically injured.

Nelson, 20, was arrested on probable-cause assault about 2 a.m. after Mankato police patrolling the downtown entertainment district found Isaac ­Kolstad, 24, a former player at Minnesota State University, Mankato, unconscious after being kicked twice in the head.

Police are looking for a second man who they believe was involved but offered no details on what roles Nelson and the other man played. A recording of conversations between police and dispatchers indicates that three people at the scene said Nelson was one of the assailants.

On Sunday evening, Kolstad remained in critical condition at Mayo Clinic Health System-Mankato. A former linebacker, he graduated in December with a major in business management and administration and works as a sales representative for ­Fastenal.

Kolstad’s younger sister Rebekah tweeted, “Please everyone who reads this pray for my big brother Isaac he is in ­critical condition and needs your prayers to help him survive.”

The Kolstad family later issued a statement through Mayo, requesting privacy for his wife, children and family.

Nelson’s family members could not be reached for comment. Nelson, who in January transferred to Rutgers University, was a high-profile recruit who started 16 games for the Gophers in 2012 and 2013. He participated in spring football practice at Rutgers, which is joining the Big Ten this fall, but he would have to sit out a year before he could play.

A Google News search for Rutgers always returns just the saddest grouping of headlines.