Ex-Gophers lineman Luke McAvoy recounts coming out as gay

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Former Minnesota Gophers offensive lineman Luke McAvoy is recounting how he came out as gay in 2014 when he was on the team.

McAvoy tells his story in Outsports.com. The Bloomington, Illinois, native says he knew he was gay in high school but followed his mother's advice and kept it quiet.

McAvoy says he decided he would tell his teammates Feb. 9, 2014, the day that former Missouri linebacker Michael Sam came out publicly. Two days later, McAvoy told two teammates and says the relief was ''incredible.''

McAvoy played for the Gophers from 2011-14. He says he wishes he had come out sooner.

Former Gophers coach Jerry Kill tells the Star Tribune (http://strib.mn/1Lhrp5X ) he was not aware McAvoy was gay. Kill calls McAvoy ''a great teammate'' and ''giving kid.''

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Information from: Star Tribune, http://www.startribune.com