Minnesota A.D. resigns amid sexual harassment claims

MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota’s athletic director resigned on Friday after being accused by two female co-workers of drunkenly groping them and sending them lewd and graphic text messages during a recent gathering.

The university released redacted transcripts of the sexual harassment complaints against Norwood Teague, which included texts to one woman in which he asked her to skinny dip and to let him perform oral sex on her.

The woman told school administrators that what started out as her texting with Teague about setting him up with one of her friends quickly devolved into Teague pinching her butt repeatedly and asking if she was open to cheating on her husband.

“Then his texting started to cross the line as he suggested skinny dipping, another drink with no touching, his attraction to me, etc.,” the woman wrote to school administrators. “At this point I responded, ‘No’ and ‘Stop.’ He continued to text.”

The other woman said Teague seemed intent on being next to her at the event and that she felt cornered by him at times. She said he kept asking when she was going to marry her boyfriend, and that he made unwelcome physical advances such as rubbing her back and poking her side.

Both women, whose names were blacked out in the report, said they left the event with others because they felt that Teague might otherwise try to follow them.

Teague apologized for having sent “inappropriate texts” in a statement issued through television station KARE 11. He said he drank too much that night and that he will be seeking help for an alcohol problem.

“I behaved badly towards nice people and sent truly inappropriate texts,” Teague said. “I’m embarrassed and I apologize to everyone involved. This neither reflects my true character or the true character of this great, great university.”