DENVER -- The mothers of three University of Colorado
football players asked Gov. Bill Owens to apologize Monday for
calling the school's football recruiting scandal an embarrassment
to the state.
The parents had a closed-door, hour-long meeting with the
governor, telling him the school needs support.
"Unjust comments made by you stating that the football program
is an embarrassment to the entire state of Colorado have hurt us
deeply. We would like you to reconsider your statement and issue an
apology to our sons and their coaches," the three parents said in
a statement afterward. They also asked the governor to support the
reinstatement of football coach Gary Barnett.
Owens made the comments during a Feb. 22 television interview
with Fox News, saying the school has a good educational institution
but the football program "has been an embarrassment."
Owens' spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said the governor "felt that
there was a useful exchange of information" with the parents and
thanked them for expressing their concerns.
The meeting was held shortly after the an independent commission
investigating the scandal delivered its final report to the Board
of Regents after nearly three months of work. The report will be
formally released to the public Wednesday.
The panel was asked to determine whether sex and alcohol were
used as recruiting tools by the university and make recommendations
on how to prevent problems. Regents chairman Peter Steinhauer said
the regents will vote on whether to accept the report, then turn it
over to CU President Betsy Hoffman for action.
"The regents do not act on positions lower than dean. We don't
vote on coaches or professors. We will turn it over to President
Hoffman for her decision," Steinhauer said.
At least nine women have said they were sexually assaulted by
players or recruits since 1997, though no charges have been filed.
Three of the women have sued the school in federal court, accusing
it of failing to protect them from being assaulted.
Attorney General Ken Salazar, tapped as a special prosecutor at
the height of the scandal in February, said last week his review
turned up no new evidence warranting criminal charges. Boulder
police also cleared two football players in one of the cases.
Barnett was suspended for comments he made in two of the cases,
including that of former Colorado player Katie Hnida, who said she
was raped by a teammate in 2000. Hoffman has said Barnett's fate
depends on the outcome of the panel's investigation.
Dianne Littlehales, whose son, Tyler, plays for the team,
criticized the investigative panel. She said most of those who
testified came from special interest groups and rape victim support
groups.
"There were all sorts of special interest groups taking up the
panel's time. They were all relating their special agenda," she
said.
Evan Dreyer, spokesman for the commission, said the panel worked
hard under difficult circumstances and tight deadlines.
The 40-page report with another 15 pages of attachments was
drafted after commissioners met for 22 hours during three closed
sessions earlier this month.
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On the Net:
Independent Investigative Commission: http://www.coiic.org