MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota football team has returned to spring practice for the first time since former teammate Gary Tinsley was found dead in his campus apartment.

Tinsley died Friday of a yet-to-be-determined cause. The senior linebacker had completed his playing eligibility with the Gophers and was weeks away from his degree.

Quarterback MarQueis Gray said Tuesday on a conference call with Big Ten reporters that the team's leaders pushed for practice Saturday as scheduled. But the coaches decided the players wouldn't be at full speed or focus and took them to an area restaurant and arcade for some bonding instead.

Gophers coach Jerry Kill says "there's no protocol" for how to handle such a tragedy but that the players are "doing the best they can."

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