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University of Colorado Football Coach Suspended

Aired February 19, 2004 - 15:00   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, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the University of Colorado's defensive lineup; 15 members of C.U.'s 1999 football squad are weighing in on the sex allegations that may cost their former coach his job.
As we've been reporting, Gary Barnett is on paid suspension after slamming the talents of a place-kicker from that '99 team, a woman who says a teammate raped her. Three other alleged rape victims are suing C.U. in federal court and a fourth claim is on file with police. All arise from a reported school tradition of using sex and alcohol to woo recruits. The university is investigating.

And for more on today's event, we turn to CNN's Josie Burke. She's in Boulder -- Josie.

JOSIE BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we are waiting to hear from those former C.U. football players, gentlemen who played on that 1999 football team with Katie Hnida. Of course, Hnida's allegations are some of the most heinous that have come to light since all of the questions about the football team here surfaced three weeks ago.

In this week's issue of "Sports Illustrated," she spoke to "Sports Illustrated" columnist Rick Reilly. And she talked about her experience on that football team in the year 1999. She described terrible circumstances where people verbally abused her, where her teammates physically abused her, where they groped her, allegedly, when they were in huddles, where they said things to her that were inappropriate, where they even, when she was practicing, she alleges, threw football at her head.

In that article, we did hear from one football player who said that he did think that Katie Hnida had to endure things that most other players did not. But, as a group, we haven't heard from a lot of the other players on that team. There was one young man who was on the team who came out just the other night when Gary Barnett was talking about the allegations. Brady McDonnell said that, as far as he was concerned, was friends with Katie Hnida, but he'd never seen any of the different things that she had spoken about.

So this is clearly an effort to have some members of that team who feel like maybe they're being lumped together, get their word out about what they experienced during that season. As far as Barnett, certainly the comments that he made about Hnida, in response to her allegations, are part of what got him put on this paid administrative leave.

Let's listen for a minute to what he had to say after his suspension about those comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY BARNETT, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: 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 and I wanted to give her a chance to be a part of our program.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURKE: Barnett was actually with his team this morning. He was supervising the football team as they went through their conditioning drills. We still believe that he is in the building here. He hasn't had much comment, other than to say early this morning that the university had given him 48 hours.

Again, Kyra, we are waiting to hear from these 15 or so football players from that 1999 team. And, again, we're under the impression that this is something they've organized themselves and it's not an official athletic department press conference -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Josie, do you know if these 15 players have been in touch with the coach, if they've remained friends with the coach, and because of that have sort of rallied together and come forward?

BURKE: It would be premature to speculate. That's certainly a line of questioning that will definitely be pursued, whether they're here to talk about their experiences in 1999, specifically say this is what happened to us and don't lump us together with all of the other things that are being said about that team, or whether they're here to support their coach. Both things could be true, but, again, it would be premature for us to speculate until we hear what they do have to say.

PHILLIPS: Josie, another question. And forgive me if you have already mentioned this. But I don't know about Barnett's family. Is he married? If so, has his spouse come out and talked about this or made any comments? Does he have children? Does he have a daughter?

BURKE: Those are all excellent questions, too, Kyra. I specifically don't know the answers. I can tell you that we have not heard any public statements from his family members.

I did sit down with him on Monday, had a long talk with him about the situation. And one thing that he was adamant about is that the people who have worked with him like him, respect him. And, as far as he's concerned, they know that he would never put up with any of the different things that are being alleged. And he specifically asked and implored members of the media to speak to the women in his life, because he thought that was an important viewpoint that did need to get out. PHILLIPS: Josie Burke, OK, we'll continue to monitor the press conference there. We'll check back in with you when the players do step up to -- the former players, rather -- step up to the mike.

Meanwhile, we want to go to New York. We're joined by attorney Rob Becker to talk a little bit more about this case.

Rob, you've been following all the details. What is your take? first of all, let's talk about Katie Hnida and legally what's in store here, what could happen. What do you foresee?

ROB BECKER, ATTORNEY: Well, the interesting thing is, she said that she's not going to bring a lawsuit. I actually think that, if she did, it would probably be a stronger Title IX lawsuit than the three that actually were brought against the university.

She has alleged that her father went and told the coach and the athletic director about the problems and that they didn't do anything about it and it then continued. If she could prove that that's what happened, she'd have a pretty strong case. So, the university has to be very careful about that. And that's not even getting, of course, to the criminal issue of whether or not there was a rape. But she apparently doesn't want to press charges there either.

PHILLIPS: So, Rob, why come out and even bring this up and come forward, and obviously look at all the attention that it's getting, and not -- and say right now not going to press charges?

BECKER: Well, I think you have to take her answer to that at face value, because her actions are backing up what she says she's doing. She said, this all came back to me when I heard about these other women suing and I just couldn't keep it under wraps anymore. And I want to see change at the university.

She's saying, I don't want money. I don't want anyone in jail. I want to see change at the university and that's why I'm coming forward now.

And I think her actions are totally consistent with that explanation.

PHILLIPS: All right, let's talk about coach Gary Barnett. Right now, it's being investigated, all these allegations and what type of control he had over his environment. He's on paid leave of absence. Is this the type of thing where, if all of this, all the dust has cleared, he could come back and say, you should have had more faith in me? I'm suing you.

BECKER: Well, you know, first of all, he's only been suspended and he's still being paid. So I think he would only begin to have even a chance at a suit is if they actually fire him and stop paying him.

The likelihood that everything is going to turn out to be in his favor, I don't think that's all that high. There's too many allegations out there. I mean, the thing -- the straw that broke the camel's back last night, midnight Eastern time, what made Betsy Hoffman put him on suspension was not really Katie Hnida. It was the fifth woman. It was this police report that said that, when a fifth woman accused one of his players of rape, he said, I'll back my player 100 percent.

There's also notes that indicate, through hearsay, that he had also threatened the job of the victim. Now, the most important thing for Barnett to be expected of him is that he's got to say, I want to objectively investigate any accusation that comes forth.

Not only does he supposedly say this thing about 100 percent backing the player who had supposedly raped the fifth woman. He has also said, all these charges are wrong. He said, there hasn't been any evidence so far. And there won't be any. And he can't possibly know if there won't be any. That shows a complete lack of objectivity. And then his remarks about Katie Hnida, saying she was a terrible player, I don't know if she was or not.

But the point is, that's not the point. When someone accuses a player of rape, the coach should be saying, we've got to do everything to make this better and he shouldn't even be thinking about talking about what kind of a player she was.

PHILLIPS: Attorney Rob Becker, we're going to ask you to stand by, Rob.

And as soon as this press conference takes place, we'll take it live. We'll talk more with Rob, also Josie Burke, who's there on the scene covering this story for us.

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 - 15:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour with the University of Colorado's defensive lineup; 15 members of C.U.'s 1999 football squad are weighing in on the sex allegations that may cost their former coach his job.
As we've been reporting, Gary Barnett is on paid suspension after slamming the talents of a place-kicker from that '99 team, a woman who says a teammate raped her. Three other alleged rape victims are suing C.U. in federal court and a fourth claim is on file with police. All arise from a reported school tradition of using sex and alcohol to woo recruits. The university is investigating.

And for more on today's event, we turn to CNN's Josie Burke. She's in Boulder -- Josie.

JOSIE BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we are waiting to hear from those former C.U. football players, gentlemen who played on that 1999 football team with Katie Hnida. Of course, Hnida's allegations are some of the most heinous that have come to light since all of the questions about the football team here surfaced three weeks ago.

In this week's issue of "Sports Illustrated," she spoke to "Sports Illustrated" columnist Rick Reilly. And she talked about her experience on that football team in the year 1999. She described terrible circumstances where people verbally abused her, where her teammates physically abused her, where they groped her, allegedly, when they were in huddles, where they said things to her that were inappropriate, where they even, when she was practicing, she alleges, threw football at her head.

In that article, we did hear from one football player who said that he did think that Katie Hnida had to endure things that most other players did not. But, as a group, we haven't heard from a lot of the other players on that team. There was one young man who was on the team who came out just the other night when Gary Barnett was talking about the allegations. Brady McDonnell said that, as far as he was concerned, was friends with Katie Hnida, but he'd never seen any of the different things that she had spoken about.

So this is clearly an effort to have some members of that team who feel like maybe they're being lumped together, get their word out about what they experienced during that season. As far as Barnett, certainly the comments that he made about Hnida, in response to her allegations, are part of what got him put on this paid administrative leave.

Let's listen for a minute to what he had to say after his suspension about those comments.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY BARNETT, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO: 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 and I wanted to give her a chance to be a part of our program.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURKE: Barnett was actually with his team this morning. He was supervising the football team as they went through their conditioning drills. We still believe that he is in the building here. He hasn't had much comment, other than to say early this morning that the university had given him 48 hours.

Again, Kyra, we are waiting to hear from these 15 or so football players from that 1999 team. And, again, we're under the impression that this is something they've organized themselves and it's not an official athletic department press conference -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Josie, do you know if these 15 players have been in touch with the coach, if they've remained friends with the coach, and because of that have sort of rallied together and come forward?

BURKE: It would be premature to speculate. That's certainly a line of questioning that will definitely be pursued, whether they're here to talk about their experiences in 1999, specifically say this is what happened to us and don't lump us together with all of the other things that are being said about that team, or whether they're here to support their coach. Both things could be true, but, again, it would be premature for us to speculate until we hear what they do have to say.

PHILLIPS: Josie, another question. And forgive me if you have already mentioned this. But I don't know about Barnett's family. Is he married? If so, has his spouse come out and talked about this or made any comments? Does he have children? Does he have a daughter?

BURKE: Those are all excellent questions, too, Kyra. I specifically don't know the answers. I can tell you that we have not heard any public statements from his family members.

I did sit down with him on Monday, had a long talk with him about the situation. And one thing that he was adamant about is that the people who have worked with him like him, respect him. And, as far as he's concerned, they know that he would never put up with any of the different things that are being alleged. And he specifically asked and implored members of the media to speak to the women in his life, because he thought that was an important viewpoint that did need to get out. PHILLIPS: Josie Burke, OK, we'll continue to monitor the press conference there. We'll check back in with you when the players do step up to -- the former players, rather -- step up to the mike.

Meanwhile, we want to go to New York. We're joined by attorney Rob Becker to talk a little bit more about this case.

Rob, you've been following all the details. What is your take? first of all, let's talk about Katie Hnida and legally what's in store here, what could happen. What do you foresee?

ROB BECKER, ATTORNEY: Well, the interesting thing is, she said that she's not going to bring a lawsuit. I actually think that, if she did, it would probably be a stronger Title IX lawsuit than the three that actually were brought against the university.

She has alleged that her father went and told the coach and the athletic director about the problems and that they didn't do anything about it and it then continued. If she could prove that that's what happened, she'd have a pretty strong case. So, the university has to be very careful about that. And that's not even getting, of course, to the criminal issue of whether or not there was a rape. But she apparently doesn't want to press charges there either.

PHILLIPS: So, Rob, why come out and even bring this up and come forward, and obviously look at all the attention that it's getting, and not -- and say right now not going to press charges?

BECKER: Well, I think you have to take her answer to that at face value, because her actions are backing up what she says she's doing. She said, this all came back to me when I heard about these other women suing and I just couldn't keep it under wraps anymore. And I want to see change at the university.

She's saying, I don't want money. I don't want anyone in jail. I want to see change at the university and that's why I'm coming forward now.

And I think her actions are totally consistent with that explanation.

PHILLIPS: All right, let's talk about coach Gary Barnett. Right now, it's being investigated, all these allegations and what type of control he had over his environment. He's on paid leave of absence. Is this the type of thing where, if all of this, all the dust has cleared, he could come back and say, you should have had more faith in me? I'm suing you.

BECKER: Well, you know, first of all, he's only been suspended and he's still being paid. So I think he would only begin to have even a chance at a suit is if they actually fire him and stop paying him.

The likelihood that everything is going to turn out to be in his favor, I don't think that's all that high. There's too many allegations out there. I mean, the thing -- the straw that broke the camel's back last night, midnight Eastern time, what made Betsy Hoffman put him on suspension was not really Katie Hnida. It was the fifth woman. It was this police report that said that, when a fifth woman accused one of his players of rape, he said, I'll back my player 100 percent.

There's also notes that indicate, through hearsay, that he had also threatened the job of the victim. Now, the most important thing for Barnett to be expected of him is that he's got to say, I want to objectively investigate any accusation that comes forth.

Not only does he supposedly say this thing about 100 percent backing the player who had supposedly raped the fifth woman. He has also said, all these charges are wrong. He said, there hasn't been any evidence so far. And there won't be any. And he can't possibly know if there won't be any. That shows a complete lack of objectivity. And then his remarks about Katie Hnida, saying she was a terrible player, I don't know if she was or not.

But the point is, that's not the point. When someone accuses a player of rape, the coach should be saying, we've got to do everything to make this better and he shouldn't even be thinking about talking about what kind of a player she was.

PHILLIPS: Attorney Rob Becker, we're going to ask you to stand by, Rob.

And as soon as this press conference takes place, we'll take it live. We'll talk more with Rob, also Josie Burke, who's there on the scene covering this story for us.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com