Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Colorado Coach Sidelined Over Comments on Kicker
Aired February 19, 2004 - 14:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: The more you learn about a growing scandal at the University of Colorado, the more troubling it is.
Head coach Gary Barnett has been sidelined over remarks that he made about one-time team kicker Katie Hnida.
Hnida claims that she was raped by a teammate during the summer of 2,000. And there are been other charges of rape and they stand accused of using sex parties to recruit players.
Joining us now from the heart of the scandal, former major league baseball player and sports radio talk show host, Jim Tatum. He hosts the "Jim Tatum Show" on KRGO (ph) in Colorado Springs.
Jim, great to see you.
JIM TATUM, SPORTS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good afternoon.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about Gary Barnett. What do you think of him?
TATUM: Well, I think it's very disappointing that Gary Barnett has not stepped out and been a little bit more aggressive with his program and his players and this university.
The comments he made about Katie Hnida yesterday, I think, were out of line. And it only proves to me that I think Gary Barnett wants out of this situation, specifically because of his reaction to her -- naming her as a girl and a terrible football kicker. I think that's very inappropriate and I think Gary Barnett wants out.
And with the suspension, I think time is evident that he will be fired at some point.
PHILLIPS: Well, you even said to me, you know, as a man this was inappropriate. What do you mean by that?
TATUM: Well, I think that, you know, as former players, or coaches, or somebody that's looking at coaching as a profession, I think there's a fraternity that you really has to take responsibility with the university and with your program and have a little bit more understanding of what these men that you are leading look up to you and how they respond to you and your reactions.
I think Gary Barnett hasn't handled that in a very professional way. I think he's a very angry man because of these allegations, but ultimately they're separate situations and allegations throughout the whole program.
The one thing he can control is his players, his team, and I don't think he's done a very good job of explaining that, not only to them, but to the nation.
PHILLIPS: As so many people complain that it was inappropriate what had he to say, here is the apology that he made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY BARNETT, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: I sincerely regret that yesterday a portion of my remarks were either misinterpreted or taken -- aired out of context. And I apologize for answering that question in a manner where I must have come across as insensitive.
What I wanted to communicate was that, regardless of Katie Hnida's abilities, I wanted Katie on our football team. I wanted to give her a chance to be a part of our program.
I want to reaffirm my feelings and remarks that I made yesterday. I am very sensitive to Katie's allegations. I want to do whatever I can to help Katie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now Jim, you said you've received a lot of calls about Coach Barnett, specifically one player that used to associate with them. What did he tell you?
TATUM: It was yesterday afternoon. And one of the things that he'd mentioned is Gary Barnett's ego, I think, got in the way with this.
And I think if you look at any types of issues that come up that manifest like this, I think that's something you can address, is the fact of an ego of an individual and how does that get in the way of what they're trying to accomplish or what they're trying to do.
And again, this is Gary Barnett, the football coach of the University of Colorado. This has nothing to do with the fact players are raping young women on that university or whatever else is going on. Those are separate issues.
But as a football coach, if I am in a position, I am going to take initiative to know and let the families of these players that I have coached, the players in general that I'm leading, they are supposed to go out on Saturday afternoons and play at a very high level and represent this university and represent the team in a high manner.
I don't think that Gary Barnett has lived up to his end of the deal. And I find it hard to believe that the parents of these young men -- and we're lumping them all together. We think everybody on this football team has a problem with their sexual situation. And I don't think that's fair to them. I don't think he's defended them, because there's always two sides to the story. And the bottom line, there are a lot of kids up there at the University of Colorado that are doing it right, that are having an understanding that they're there to get an education, and it's a privilege to play Division I football.
And again, it gets back to Gary Barnett being able to stand out and be a man about this situation and fight it. Not necessarily back off it. But defend himself, his family, this university, his football team.
And I just find that he hasn't really taken that initiative, and it's really sad, because I think he's a good coach. But just because you're a good coach doesn't mean that you should have priority over everything and basically take a back seat.
He has a voice in this and he hasn't really used it, outside of yesterday with the comments about Katie Hnida, which, as I explained earlier, was way out of line.
PHILLIPS: And you mentioned -- You mentioned having a voice. You know, you said that even though these remain to be allegations, that Katie Hnida has lended -- or has become a voice for rape, and you even went beyond this case just talking about rape in general. I thought your thoughts were interesting.
TATUM: Yes. Well, I'm a big proprietor of women that are treated this way, whatever level it may be, whether that's rape or if they're verbally abused.
I think that gender, that being the women's agenda, need to stand out and not allow themselves to be in a fear situation. It is tough. There is no doubt about it.
And I'm not professing that I know exactly how women feel in those circumstances. But I just know as a man, I have a daughter. I have a young daughter that's 4 years old.
I'm going to tell her, if something like this ever happens to you, or you come across something like this, don't be afraid to ask for help and explain your story and educate. Educate the women of this country that they don't have to sit back and say, "I'm scared of coming forward."
That is the wrong approach. I think women should take more of an initiative that that's something that happens in their life and they have to live the rest of their life with that. I think that there is more therapy involved in educating and telling your story than anything.
PHILLIPS: Finally, I got to ask you this quickly as a former major league baseball player. Do you remember those times of being recruited? Do you remember that environment? Do you remember these type of parties where sex and alcohol were used? TATUM: I do. I signed a letter of intent to go to the University of Nebraska. And I can honestly sit here today and say that I never came across somebody offering me alcohol or sex to come to their university.
So I think -- and you know, this is back in 1985. And it's 2004 now. A lot of things have happened in this society and this country, in this world and the sports industry in general that have changed.
And it's hard for me to believe -- and I explained this to you before -- that you would offer sex and alcohol for someone to come to your university. I just don't think that's -- that mixes. There's more to a university and a football program than offering sex and alcohol to have you go to that university.
PHILLIPS: Jim Tatum, talk show host, KRGO (ph) in Colorado Springs. Always a pleasure, Jim. Thank you.
TATUM: Appreciate it. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired February 19, 2004 - 14:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, ANCHOR: The more you learn about a growing scandal at the University of Colorado, the more troubling it is.
Head coach Gary Barnett has been sidelined over remarks that he made about one-time team kicker Katie Hnida.
Hnida claims that she was raped by a teammate during the summer of 2,000. And there are been other charges of rape and they stand accused of using sex parties to recruit players.
Joining us now from the heart of the scandal, former major league baseball player and sports radio talk show host, Jim Tatum. He hosts the "Jim Tatum Show" on KRGO (ph) in Colorado Springs.
Jim, great to see you.
JIM TATUM, SPORTS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good afternoon.
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's talk about Gary Barnett. What do you think of him?
TATUM: Well, I think it's very disappointing that Gary Barnett has not stepped out and been a little bit more aggressive with his program and his players and this university.
The comments he made about Katie Hnida yesterday, I think, were out of line. And it only proves to me that I think Gary Barnett wants out of this situation, specifically because of his reaction to her -- naming her as a girl and a terrible football kicker. I think that's very inappropriate and I think Gary Barnett wants out.
And with the suspension, I think time is evident that he will be fired at some point.
PHILLIPS: Well, you even said to me, you know, as a man this was inappropriate. What do you mean by that?
TATUM: Well, I think that, you know, as former players, or coaches, or somebody that's looking at coaching as a profession, I think there's a fraternity that you really has to take responsibility with the university and with your program and have a little bit more understanding of what these men that you are leading look up to you and how they respond to you and your reactions.
I think Gary Barnett hasn't handled that in a very professional way. I think he's a very angry man because of these allegations, but ultimately they're separate situations and allegations throughout the whole program.
The one thing he can control is his players, his team, and I don't think he's done a very good job of explaining that, not only to them, but to the nation.
PHILLIPS: As so many people complain that it was inappropriate what had he to say, here is the apology that he made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARY BARNETT, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: I sincerely regret that yesterday a portion of my remarks were either misinterpreted or taken -- aired out of context. And I apologize for answering that question in a manner where I must have come across as insensitive.
What I wanted to communicate was that, regardless of Katie Hnida's abilities, I wanted Katie on our football team. I wanted to give her a chance to be a part of our program.
I want to reaffirm my feelings and remarks that I made yesterday. I am very sensitive to Katie's allegations. I want to do whatever I can to help Katie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now Jim, you said you've received a lot of calls about Coach Barnett, specifically one player that used to associate with them. What did he tell you?
TATUM: It was yesterday afternoon. And one of the things that he'd mentioned is Gary Barnett's ego, I think, got in the way with this.
And I think if you look at any types of issues that come up that manifest like this, I think that's something you can address, is the fact of an ego of an individual and how does that get in the way of what they're trying to accomplish or what they're trying to do.
And again, this is Gary Barnett, the football coach of the University of Colorado. This has nothing to do with the fact players are raping young women on that university or whatever else is going on. Those are separate issues.
But as a football coach, if I am in a position, I am going to take initiative to know and let the families of these players that I have coached, the players in general that I'm leading, they are supposed to go out on Saturday afternoons and play at a very high level and represent this university and represent the team in a high manner.
I don't think that Gary Barnett has lived up to his end of the deal. And I find it hard to believe that the parents of these young men -- and we're lumping them all together. We think everybody on this football team has a problem with their sexual situation. And I don't think that's fair to them. I don't think he's defended them, because there's always two sides to the story. And the bottom line, there are a lot of kids up there at the University of Colorado that are doing it right, that are having an understanding that they're there to get an education, and it's a privilege to play Division I football.
And again, it gets back to Gary Barnett being able to stand out and be a man about this situation and fight it. Not necessarily back off it. But defend himself, his family, this university, his football team.
And I just find that he hasn't really taken that initiative, and it's really sad, because I think he's a good coach. But just because you're a good coach doesn't mean that you should have priority over everything and basically take a back seat.
He has a voice in this and he hasn't really used it, outside of yesterday with the comments about Katie Hnida, which, as I explained earlier, was way out of line.
PHILLIPS: And you mentioned -- You mentioned having a voice. You know, you said that even though these remain to be allegations, that Katie Hnida has lended -- or has become a voice for rape, and you even went beyond this case just talking about rape in general. I thought your thoughts were interesting.
TATUM: Yes. Well, I'm a big proprietor of women that are treated this way, whatever level it may be, whether that's rape or if they're verbally abused.
I think that gender, that being the women's agenda, need to stand out and not allow themselves to be in a fear situation. It is tough. There is no doubt about it.
And I'm not professing that I know exactly how women feel in those circumstances. But I just know as a man, I have a daughter. I have a young daughter that's 4 years old.
I'm going to tell her, if something like this ever happens to you, or you come across something like this, don't be afraid to ask for help and explain your story and educate. Educate the women of this country that they don't have to sit back and say, "I'm scared of coming forward."
That is the wrong approach. I think women should take more of an initiative that that's something that happens in their life and they have to live the rest of their life with that. I think that there is more therapy involved in educating and telling your story than anything.
PHILLIPS: Finally, I got to ask you this quickly as a former major league baseball player. Do you remember those times of being recruited? Do you remember that environment? Do you remember these type of parties where sex and alcohol were used? TATUM: I do. I signed a letter of intent to go to the University of Nebraska. And I can honestly sit here today and say that I never came across somebody offering me alcohol or sex to come to their university.
So I think -- and you know, this is back in 1985. And it's 2004 now. A lot of things have happened in this society and this country, in this world and the sports industry in general that have changed.
And it's hard for me to believe -- and I explained this to you before -- that you would offer sex and alcohol for someone to come to your university. I just don't think that's -- that mixes. There's more to a university and a football program than offering sex and alcohol to have you go to that university.
PHILLIPS: Jim Tatum, talk show host, KRGO (ph) in Colorado Springs. Always a pleasure, Jim. Thank you.
TATUM: Appreciate it. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
