Colorado

I don't know exactly what's in the water out there, but something is definitely wrong with the State of Colorado. Over the last 10 years there have been multiple major news stories emanating from this relatively low populated State. The Columbine High School tragedy, the Jonbenet Ramsey murder mystery, the Unabomber, Kobe Bryant’s rape case, and the recent silly comments of Colorado University Professor Ward Churchill (who asserted that each individual killed in the 9/11 attacks was personally responsible for the attacks, and compared them to a Nazi War Criminal), to name a few. But the most remarkable thing coming out of the State has to be Colorado University Head Football Coach Gary Barnett. How in the world does he still have a job?

For well over a year now, accusations and lawsuits have been swirling around the Football program at CU; accusations that are heavily ladened with rape and sexual harassment. It began when Katie Knida, the female former field goal kicker, alleged that she had been raped, and often sexually harassed by her male teammates while she was on the squad. Other reports began arising that detailed recruiting weekends which included enticing High School players to come to Colorado by “introducing” them to College Women. Another report exposed the fact that phone calls had been made from the Athletic Department to a nearby strip club, apparently to invite strippers to a recruiting event.

Many more women have since come forward and also alleged rape. And even many former recruits have come out (on the record) and explained how the women at Colorado University “take care of you,” and how it is one of the great things about being a potential Colorado Football player. And just last week, 2 women who worked in the Athletic Department also came out and said that they were also raped by men connected to the Colorado Football Program.

So can someone explain to me again why Barnett still has a job?

By comparison, Washington University’s Head Football Coach Rick Neuheisel was fired for betting on NCAA basketball games in 2003, George O’Leary was fired from Notre Dame’s head football position for falsifying his resume, and Mike Price was fired from the Alabama position for involving himself with a stripper. Indeed the list goes on. And all of these men were fired more-or-less on grounds of moral indecency and school misrepresentation. Barnett is the head of a program that promotes using women as sexual objects, and has multiple sexual assault lawsuits on its hands, but he gets to keep his job?

And I’m tending to believe that at least one of the rape allegations is true, especially given the high volume of charges, the clear lack of supervision at these recruiting weekends, and the comments coming from both Barnett’s lips, as well as many former recruits. And if only one of the allegations is true, then that’s one too many.

I suppose that Colorado University’s President read my mind, or finally got her mind right, when she resigned yesterday morning, because I was certainly going to remark that she should’ve done so long ago. However, the heads should just keep on rolling. I’m yet trying to figure out how the Athletic Director hasn’t been fired, and I’m actually angry that Barnett has not received his pink slip yet. And where in the world is the NCAA? Why don’t they put the Colorado Football program on 2 year probation, suspend their scholarships, and send a genuine message that an atmosphere that objectifies women and uses them as sexual bait is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in Collegiate Sports???

I don’t know what’s exactly in the water in Colorado, but someone should inject it with a heavy dose of Justice, and I suggest that the elixir begins distribution in the administrative and athletic offices at Colorado University.

-Maelstrom