February 18, 2004
Colorado Coach Barnett Calls Rape Victim 'Terrible' Player
The head coach of the University of Colorado football team called the only woman ever to play for it a "terrible" player on the same day she said she had been raped by a team member.
The statement by head coach Gary Barnett prompted university President Elizabeth Hoffman to rebuke him on Wednesday and warn "I think everybody's job is on the line."
Adding to the scandal swirling around the school's athletic program, a fifth woman came forward on Wednesday to say she was also raped by a football player.
On Tuesday, Sports Illustrated on its Web page reported that Katie Hnida, a former place kicker, said she was subjected to lewd comments by other players, groped in team huddles and raped by a teammate.
Coach Barnett issued a statement saying he knew nothing about the rape but later when trying to explain why Hnida had been harassed said she was an awful player who was not respected by team members.
"You know what guys do, they respect your ability. Katie was a girl, and not only was she a girl, she was terrible. She couldn't kick the ball through the uprights," he said.
After being verbally abused and molested by teammates, ex-Colorado kicker Katie Hnida tells SI's Rick Reilly she was raped by one of them.
full SI story
