Newz Forum: FOOTBALL: Colorado names Cabral as interim head coach

Colorado named assistant Brian Cabral the interim head coach of its beleaguered football program Friday pending an investigation into a recruiting scandal that includes allegations of player rape.

Cabral will step in for Gary Barnett, who was put on paid leave this week after criticizing the athletic ability of a former Colorado player who says she was raped by a teammate in 2000.

The 47-year-old Cabral said he would try to "pull this team together" and "win back the confidence of the university, the community, the alumni (and) former players in our program."

I believe our players possess the character we recruited them for," he said. "We will not just maintain but we will build this program."

"I have no doubt when all is said and all is done, we'll find coach Barnett to be a man of character," he said.
The program is at the center of a scandal that erupted three weeks ago with the disclosure of allegations it uses sex and alcohol to entice recruits to Boulder. The claim was raised in depositions for federal lawsuits filed by three women who say they were raped by football athletes in 2001.



Since then, a player has been suspended for taking a recruit to a strip club and a former recruiting aide admitted he used a university phone to dial up an escort service for his personal use.

Far more damaging are the rape allegations. Six women say they were assaulted by football players or recruits, though no charges have been filed in any of the cases.




[Edited on 2/21/2004 by crayon]