From Thursday morning's Rocky Mountain News:
University of Colorado president Hank Brown has asked attorneys to investigate a series of allegations about the school's football program and its embattled coach, Gary Barnett, raised in an unsigned letter, the Rocky Mountain News has learned.
Steven Snyder, a private investigator hired in 2004 to look into CU's recruiting practices, said he believes the letter was written by "a former employee of the athletic department."
Snyder forwarded the letter and accompanying documents to Brown's office after he received them in October.
The letter includes assertions Barnett attempted to influence the sworn testimony of subordinates and charges of NCAA violations and financial improprieties.
Among the alleged NCAA violations is an assertion football players were tipped off well in advance of what were supposed to be random drug tests...
In addition, the charges were provided to the state auditor's office, which is wrapping up a monthslong review of spending in the CU athletic department and in summer football camps conducted by Barnett....
The new allegations about conduct in the football program first came to light in October, when they were forwarded to Snyder, an investigator retained in 2004 by the Independent Investigative Commission, which had been created by the regents to examine CU's recruiting practices....
He said it included a typed 1 1/2- page letter and copies of a number of documents, some of which appeared to include Barnett's handwriting....
Snyder and the second source detailed a series of allegations and concerns raised in the letter:
• That Barnett attempted to influence the testimony of others who gave depositions in the civil lawsuits and before the state grand jury.
• That Barnett failed to take any action against some football players suspected of inappropriate behavior, including an instance in which he failed to discipline a player who was the subject of a criminal sexual-assault investigation.
• That Barnett told others that every effort was to be made to protect one of the players who was accused of being involved in the Dec. 7, 2001, party that spawned the scandal and federal lawsuits.
• That NCAA violations occurred during Barnett's tenure at CU, running the gamut from a charge that the Buffaloes sometimes used 10 coaches on the sideline instead of the nine that are allowed to assertions players were tipped off, well in advance, of the days when they would be subjected to what were supposed to be random drug tests. The letter also accused Barnett's recruiting program of hosting extravagant meals and taking prospects and players to clubs that served alcohol.
• That numerous questions existed about the use of money, particularly in the summer football camps that are now the subject of the looming state audit report. For example, the letter alleged extraordinary amounts of money were provided to a student staff member in the athletic department who also was involved in the ambassador program, which pairs recruits with hosts while they are visiting the Boulder campus in an effort to help orient the prospects to CU and the football program.
• The letter was accompanied by copies of documents, including some that described "undisclosed supplemental income" apparently paid to assistant coaches. Snyder said the notes included handwriting that appeared to be Barnett's.
"He signed it 'Gary,' and then it had a 'Colorado football' stamp underneath it," Snyder said.
The source familiar with the letter's contents said it included extensive details, including locations where incidents occurred and the names of people involved.
There's more.
The link:
http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/n...4298911,00.html