On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated on its Web page quoted former place kicker Katie Hnida as saying she had been subjected to lewd comments by other players, groped in team huddles and raped by a teammate.
Barnett issued a statement saying he knew nothing about the rape and told television reporters she was an awful player who was not respected by the rest of the team.
"You know what guys do, they respect your ability. Katie was a girl, and not only was she a girl, she was terrible. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights," he said.
posted on February 19, 2004 07:56:36 AM new she was terrible. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights," he said.
Should he be fired?
No! Just for saying she was not a good player is not a reason for getting someone fired.
Now, after being suspended he hasapologized.
Goes to show how far out of tune P.C. has gone.
So far there is no proof that she was raped. In a situation like this one needs to be very careful.
If this did happen then I will say "nail the sob."
But if this is a case where she is lying about this just to keep her spot on the team and it can be proofed in a court of law then she should do serious jail time.
posted on February 19, 2004 08:10:54 AM new
I believe that it was highly inappropriate to make such a statement under the circumstances at a news conference. His emphasis on the fact that she was a girl could be seen as sexual harrassment.
I'll post the story here...
Katie Hnida issued a statement saying she was "healing" from "horrors endured" at Colorado.
DENVER - Colorado football coach Gary Barnett was suspended for his comments about a female player who accused a teammate of rape, the latest blow to an already-troubled football program.
Barnett was placed on paid leave Wednesday night by university president Elizabeth Hoffman, who also said she was "utterly distressed" over comments Barnett made in a 2001 police report filed by another woman who said a football player raped her.
Barnett, 57, will be on leave while an independent committee investigates a burgeoning list of allegations involving the football program, including rapes, recruiting parties featuring alcohol and sex, escort services and hiring strippers.
Barnett said he disagreed with Hoffman's decision but apologized and accepted it, calling himself "a team player." He also said the police report contained some inaccuracies.
The suspension came one day after he criticized the performance of former Colorado kicker Katie Hnida, who said she was raped by a teammate four years ago. The coach called her an "awful" player and said she couldn't "kick the ball through the uprights."
Hnida, who now plays for the University of New Mexico, last year became the first woman ever to score points in a Division I-A football game.
Ryan Johanningmeier, who was a team captain while Hnida played at Colorado, said Thursday some teammates could be "a bit nasty."
"However, we all get called names. I got called names," he told ABC-TV's "Good Morning America."
Johanningmeier said that when one player's comments about Hnida got too personal, Barnett "gave this guy a pretty good reprimand in front of the team, reminded us once again that this was a player on the team who needs to be treated with respect. A lot of it stopped at that point, from what I saw."
Hoffman called Barnett's Tuesday comments "extremely inappropriate and insensitive" remarks were the main reason Barnett was put on administrative leave, Hoffman said.
"Rape is a horrific allegation and it should be taken seriously," she said.
After spending much of Wednesday commenting about Barnett's remarks, Hoffman learned police had released the report that quoted an unidentified woman saying Barnett told her he "would back his player 100 percent" if rape charges were pursued. The woman declined to file charges.
Hoffman said she learned of the woman's rape allegation recently, but it was unclear when Barnett first knew of it.
The accusations involving the football program that have surfaced over the past three weeks stem from civil lawsuits filed by three women against the school. They said they were raped by players or recruits at or after an off-campus party in December 2001.
No assault charges have been filed in those cases, but Boulder County prosecutor Mary Keenan said in a deposition for one of the lawsuits that she believes the football program uses alcohol and sex to entice recruits.
An adult entertainment company has also said CU players regularly hired strippers for recruiting parties, and the university acknowledged that an escort service was called from a cell phone that had been assigned to a former football recruiting aide.
CU formed an independent investigative committee this week to look into the accusations, with the goal of issuing a report on April 30. Hoffman also said she would hire an administrator to oversee athletics, reporting directly to her and Chancellor Richard Byyny.
A spokesman for the investigative committee declined comment on Barnett's leave.
Hnida told Sports Illustrated that she was assaulted in the summer of 2000 at the home of a teammate while attending Colorado. Asked why she didn't tell police, she said she was afraid of the player and didn't want a "media mess."
Barnett later that day snapped at a reporter who asked him about her abilities. "It was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful," he said. "Katie was not only a girl, she was terrible. OK? There's no other way to say it."
During a brief news conference in Boulder late Wednesday, Barnett apologized "for answering that question in a manner where I must have come across as insensitive."
He said his remarks had been taken out of context or misinterpreted.
Hoffman, who was not present for Barnett's press conference, said the coach "was not apologetic" when she discussed his remarks with him earlier. "It was my feeling ... that he did not understand the seriousness of the comments he had made the day before," Hoffman said.
Byyny said an interim head coach would be named, probably within 48 hours, and most likely would be an assistant coach currently on the staff.
Gov. Bill Owens agreed with Hoffman's decision.
"In view of the serious allegations concerning the CU football program, the action taken this evening by President Hoffman is both appropriate and necessary," Owens said in a statement.
CU athletic director Richard Tharp also supported the decision to place Barnett on leave.
Barnett was hired to coach Colorado's football team five years ago with the goal of ending an era of loose recruiting practices and return the team to national prominence.
He has led Colorado to a Big 12 Conference title and a BCS bowl game in his five seasons as head coach. But during the last two seasons, nine players were suspended for various violations of team rules, including curfew and behavior standards.
posted on February 19, 2004 08:35:33 AM newAn adult entertainment company has also said CU players regularly hired strippers for recruiting parties, and the university acknowledged that an escort service was called from a cell phone that had been assigned to a former football recruiting aide.
Last night on Fox News one of the men who provided women for 'dancers' was interviewed and said this type of recruitment has been going on for close to 20 years.
posted on February 19, 2004 08:57:38 AM new Last night on Fox News one of the men who provided women for 'dancers' was interviewed and said this type of recruitment has been going on for close to 20 years.
So, you are saying that since it's been going on for 20 years it's acceptable?
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Barnett called Hnida a "distraction" for the football team and a player who was not fit for Division I football.
"It's a guy's sport, and they felt like Katie was forced on them," Barnett said. "It was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful."
"You know what guys do, they respect your ability. I mean you can be 90 years old, but if you can go out and play, they respect you.
"Well, Katie was a girl. Not only was she a girl, she was terrible. And there's no other way to say it. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights."
Hnida, an honorable mention all-county high school kicker, was brought to CU as a walk-on by then Coach Rick Neuheisel, but, when he left the university, Barnett became her coach.
The full story about this is still unknown. I'm not surprised to hear about the parties, etc and many times if there is rape the girls don't come forward or aren't listened to unless there are a several of them speaking about it all at once and sometimes that is years later.
Male sports are very macho and so are the male coaches and male players. I'm not saying she deserved to be treated this way but if she wanted to play with the boys I can't see that they would change their ways just for her.
posted on February 19, 2004 09:17:49 AM new
I find it suspect when someone waits five years then comes on crying "Oh poor me".
I find the coaches comment taken way out of context.
If she finds the remarks made by the male players not up to her P.C. standards then she should join a all womens lawn bowling team.
Then she would find out just how cruel women can be as they are way better at tongue lashing.
But as I said before lets see where the proof is before we hang the wrong party.
His emphasis on the fact that she was a girl could be seen as sexual harrassment.
So is looking at a woman walking down the street. Another case of P.C. gone insane.
Of course, no one deserves to be raped even if she is "playing with the boys". Under the circumstances, the remark at a press conference was insensitive and seriously inappropriate for a major university college coach The Republican Governor Bill Owens agreed with the Universtiy president and has issued his opinion that an investigation is in order.
Governor Bill Owens said, "The University administration understands the gravity of these charges and the need to act to protect its reputation as a world-class institution of higher learning. I look forward to a complete and detailed accounting of the facts that will help the University move beyond these very serious charges."
posted on February 19, 2004 09:40:42 AM newColorado football coach is ignorant
By Pete Barth
The Sheboygan Press
Sometimes, a person says something so stupid, we can only shake our heads in disbelief.
Take Colorado University head football coach Gary Barnett’s stunning quote about former female kicker Katie Hnida.
Hnida, 22, came forward this week and said she was raped by a former teammate four seasons ago. The rape, she said, came on the heels of multiple cases of extreme, raw sexual harassment.
So what did Barnett have to say about Ms. Hnida’s claim?
“It was obvious Katie was not very good. She was awful. Katie was not only a girl, she was terrible. OK? There's no other way to say it.”
Wow. How can a man in Barnett’s position say something so ridiculous and insensitive?
Whether or not females should be playing football with males is a reasonable debate. But let’s not offer up the tired old “boys-will-be-boys” rhetoric, and let’s not suggest Hnida put herself in this position because she entered a world she didn’t belong in. That’s nonsense.
Bottom line: Barnett is the captain of this ship. New rape charges against Colorado players seem to surface each day, and we recently learned the athletic department hired an escort service to entertain high school boys in town for recruiting visits.
All of that evidence suggests that Barnett, who was placed on administrative leave late Wednesday night, should lose his job outright.
posted on February 19, 2004 09:53:06 AM newRead what Coloradans are saying about Barnett and CU:
Letters to the Editor of The Denver Post
Kids deserve better
As a parent of a former college athlete, I am pleased to finally see some attention given to recruitment practices. It is about time that the people who are in charge and responsible for college sports be held accountable. Removing their blinders is likely to be very painful and ugly, but it is long overdue.
College recruiting practices should be scrutinized at every level for every sport.
The coaches and administrators and the NCAA have turned their heads and taken a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude to the parties and behavior of the hosts.
Aren't the athletes going to college for an education?
College officials should get their heads out of the sand, take off the blinders, be accountable, and be responsible. Our youth and future leaders deserve better.
JEANNETT DAVIS
Golden
Embarrassed by CU
Re: "Ex-CU kicker tells magazine she was raped by teammate," Feb. 18 news story.
I have followed the story about football recruiting at the University of Colorado with great interest, and after reading the Sports Illustrated story about Katie Hnida, I can only say enough is enough. If CU president Betsy Hoffman, athletic director Dick Tharp and football coach Gary Barnett aren't outright liars, then they are at a minimum incompetent administrators who are oblivious to events happening around them.
These three stooges are an embarrassment to the university and to the state of Colorado. They should be replaced with someone who knows the meaning of the word "integrity."
I worked hard for my engineering degree. My wife and I both worked 40 hours a week to get me through college, and now I'm ashamed to say my degree is from the University of Colorado. Give me back the dignity of my degree.
BILL HAWTHORNE
Thornton
Barnett needs to lead
How long will we let University of Colorado football coach Gary Barnett get away with his "hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil" attitude?
As new allegations of sexual misconduct within the CU football program arise almost daily, Barnett's pat response seems to be: I didn't know what was going on; nobody told me what was going on; it's not what I told them to do; I can't watch everything and be everywhere, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah.
As head of the football program, it is not only his responsibility to say the right things to his players, but also to follow up to ensure that the rules and regulations that he says he insists upon are actually in place and being adhered to. Players need to know that if the rules are broken, severe consequences will follow. The head football coach of a major program is not only a coach, he is a mentor, a babysitter and a father figure in some instances. Those roles require poking your nose into every aspect of the program and pouncing when things go awry. You can't just throw your hands up in the air and say, "No one told me; it's not my responsibility."
Barnett is guilty of one of three things: being so totally clueless that he really doesn't know what is going on in his program; knowing what is happening but turning a blind eye; or knowing and participating in a cover-up, which would be the most sinister of the three.
Whichever is correct, all are unacceptable. Rather than defending himself against each allegation that comes out and denying responsibility, Barnett needs to admit that, taken as a whole, all of the allegations point toward a void of leadership on his part and the existence of an environment that fosters this type of behavior.
TOM BUEHNER
Highlands Ranch
Pattern of abuse
When one looks at the University of Colorado football program and head coach Gary Barnett over the past few years, there are many troubling things to take into consideration.
Starting quarterback Craig Ochs left the program and intimated that Barnett had openly embarrassed him in front of teammates concerning his religious beliefs.
Marcus Houston left the program and transferred to Colorado State University, where the NCAA allowed him to bypass a mandatory year of non-competition, with the implication that it was due to unusual circumstances while playing for CU and Barnett.
Boulder District Attorney Mary Keenan said in a deposition that the CU football program is using sex parties to entice recruits, and when she confronted Barnett about stopping the practice, he inferred that she is the problem and is just out to get the program.
Katie Hnida, a former female place- kicker for the football team, says that in 1999, players intimidated and verbally abused her, made sexually graphic comments, and exposed themselves to her at least five times. Her father stated that he mentioned these problems to Barnett and got about as much response as Mary Keenan did.
There is a clear pattern of abuse under Barnett's watch, and instead of facing the truth, he either places the blame elsewhere or just denies it happened. This is not what a responsible leader of young athletes should be doing. The university needs to quit living in denial and admit it has a problem. Barnett is not facing responsibility and correcting problems with his program.
KERRY HARWICK
Arvada
posted on February 19, 2004 10:00:06 AM newThen she would find out just how cruel women can be as they are way better at tongue lashing. Boy it that true. And evidence of that can even be seen here.
The story I heard was that the boy who's accused of raping her was someone she dated.
posted on February 19, 2004 10:05:38 AM new
No one is surprised that you've been 'hearing things', Linda; it's right up there with your amazing ability to 'see things' that aren't there...
posted on February 19, 2004 10:20:43 AM new
from USA Today 2-17-04
Hnida, who kicked field goals and was homecoming queen at a suburban Denver high school before going to Colorado, has not identified an alleged attacker.
In a statement issued Tuesday by officials at New Mexico, Hnida said she has contacted authorities in Boulder, "but I do not expect to file any charges at this time."
Coach Gary Barnett, whose first season at Colorado in 1999 was Hnida's only year on the team, said "we've yet to find any evidence to date that supports" her allegations, first revealed Tuesday on the Sports Illustrated magazine Web site.
Barnett said he was "surprised" at Hnida's allegations and knew of no harassment beyond a crude remark by a teammate.
Hoffman and Byyny said they will appoint a special assistant by the end of next week to oversee athletics.
In the magazine interview, Hnida said she was raped in the summer of 2000 at a teammate's home. She said when a phone call interrupted the assault, she escaped.
Her father, Maj. Dave Hnida, an Army surgeon now serving in Iraq, complained to athletics director Dick Tharp about the treatment. The story said he did not know about rape allegations at the time.
The facts are not all in.....
Re-elect President Bush!!
[ edited by Linda_K on Feb 19, 2004 10:22 AM ]
posted on February 19, 2004 10:34:58 AM new
I wish I could find the article from when this first came out but she was not just raped (Linda, I think the :"dating" aspect was exaggerated from the fact that she was at the players place watching TV when it happened - she stated that he tried to kiss her, she told him to stop and his reaction was to instead rape her) but was also continually grabbed and groped as well as the verbal abuse. There was also a quote from another former player upholding her allegations of abuse on the practice field.
Do I believe the coach should be fired? Absolutely. He is either a blatant liar or completely ignorant of what is going on with "his boys", either of which could be forgivable if he seemed to actually give a damn once infractions were pointed out, but he doesn't. He does everything he can to cover up, minimize, and deflect.
His players deserve better.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 19, 2004 10:41:54 AM new
fenix - I don't agree that a persons job should be taken away UNTIL there is proof.
Like I agreed with in Trai's statement....if he's found to have known about this rape...they he should be fired. But to fire him on an accusation that hasn't been proven...is jumping the gun, imo.
Especially since she has not filed charges against her alledged raper, nor did she tell her father about it even though she did tell him about all the harrassment.
The USA Today article said that she stated she was able to escape the rape because the phone rang. If it was a party, then all would have been aware of the rape and I have doubts that the phone ringing would have stopped this boys actions...to answer the phone??
posted on February 19, 2004 10:46:03 AM new
Wanted to add. IF these charges are found to be true....separate from the rape charge, then ALL heads should roll at the top University levels. I don't buy that for 20 years this [recruiting practices] went all and word of it never reached the Universities leaders. I wouldn't just hold the coaches responsible.
posted on February 19, 2004 10:54:51 AM new
Rape is not the only issue, linda.
Boulder District Attorney Mary Keenan said in a deposition that the CU football program is using sex parties to entice recruits, and when she confronted Barnett about stopping the practice, he inferred that she is the problem and is just out to get the program.
According to CNN, District Attorney Keenan has stated under sworn testimony that sex and alcohol has been used at Colorado to recruit high school players.
posted on February 19, 2004 11:03:53 AM newBut let’s not offer up the tired old “boys-will-be-boys” rhetoric, and let’s not suggest Hnida put herself in this position because she entered a world she didn’t belong in. That’s nonsense.
It may be tired old rhetoric but that's the way it is. "Boys", and obviously "men" aren't being taught any different or they are unwilling to change or it's their basic nature to be tough around one another. I doubt they could change their ways of interacting, especially overnight, just because a girl was suddenly there.
On one news report I heard a male player say that they verbally abused each other also.
posted on February 19, 2004 11:05:04 AM new
Helen - the only area we are in disagreement on is that so far it's all allegations/accusations....NO PROOF. Innocent until PROVED guilty.
Before any heads roll we need more information. New information has been coming out everyday about the practices at the University. More women have come forward saying they were raped. Last I heard 5 have made that claim, two have actually brought charges.
Don't you even question why she waited four years to come out with this...has NOT filed charges against this boy and say's she's not going to any time soon?
Appears to me that you have found the accused rapist guilty without benefit of a trail. On only an accusation.
posted on February 19, 2004 11:23:28 AM new
linda, everything is probably as lovely as Baghdad was a few months ago...according to your report.
There is enough evidence to lead to sworn testimony by the Boulder District Attorney, the call for an investigation by the University President and by the Governor of Colorado along with national news coverage.
But, the news conference alone is reason enough to fire this coach. Any adult with so little consideration for his students who makes such sexist and derogatory remarks regarding his students should not hold a job as coach.
posted on February 19, 2004 11:39:53 AM new
:on't you even question why she waited four years to come out with this...::
No - I don't . Most rape victims do not come forward, especially in college. Had she come forward at the time and had to go to school at CU while accusing a CU player of rape her life would have been made a living hell. She stated that she only came forward because of the coaches insistance that he knew of no inappropriate behavior on the part of his players when she knew he was lying.
::has NOT filed charges against this boy and say's she's not going to any time soon? ::
Let's see, four year old rape, no witnesses, no physical evidence. I'd say it proves that she understands that it is an unprosecutable case. Also her gripe seems to be against the coach who allowed the atmosphere that alllowed for her abuse. Notice she does not name the player.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 19, 2004 11:42:35 AM new
A coach saying a football player can't play ball is not a federal offense....LOL He's entitled to make a judgment call on his players abilities as he sees them.
Re-elect President Bush!!
posted on February 19, 2004 11:48:30 AM new
fenix - Imo if she doesn't file charges for the alleged rape, that case is over. One cannot just make accusations, they have to be proved in a court of law. Otherwise women would have the power to 'claim' anything and then all those men's lives would be changed, whether they accusations were true or not. It's not like no woman has ever lied about being raped before when it wasn't true.
posted on February 19, 2004 12:17:32 PM new
Whether or not she was raped is something tobe investigated.
What would concern me would be the coach's attitude that as a poor player she deserved to be raped or otherwise mistreated. So if, in his estimation, she'd been the greatest place kicker ever towalk on the field rape or other mistreatment wouldn't have happened? Or been "deserved?"
One news article mentioned here noted that other, male, players had left the team because of the coach and the way he allows his team to act. What's wrong with this picture?
That said, the coach shouldn't be fired for stating his opinion, but he should be investigated on how he runs the team.
******
Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on February 19, 2004 01:07:58 PM new
I have to wonder why if she was a terrible player that she was kept on the team or even made the team in the first place. His comments didn't make sense in that regard.
posted on February 19, 2004 01:21:18 PM new
She didn't make the team. She was cut prior to the setting of the final roster.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
one of the men who provided women for 'dancers' was interviewed and said this type of recruitment has been going on for close to 20 years.
