College Football Scandals Widen

DENVER, Feb. 18, 2004 — -- Katie Hnida made football history at the University of New Mexico in 2002 when she became the first woman to play in a Division I football game.

"Once I started kicking and it took off I really fell in love with the sport!" Hnida said in an earlier interview.

But now she says, in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, that when she began her college career at the University of Colorado, she was sexually harassed, groped and raped.

"She was threatened by football players that are 100, 120 pounds bigger than her. [They] said, 'You know, don't ever tell anybody about this,' " said Sports Illustrated's Rick Reilly, to whom Hnida told her story.

The University of Colorado is just the latest school to be rocked by such allegations. The NCAA is now scrutinizing several colleges where those involved in football programs are accused of behaving badly.

Other College Sports Scandals

In July 2003, an investigation revealed that football coaches at Alabama State University played ineligible players and paid for strippers to entertain recruits. The head coach has since denied those allegations.

Last month, the University of Minnesota's most-sought-after football recruit switched schools after his hosts took him to a strip club during a visit.

Brigham Young University is investigating a party for recruits involving sex and alcohol.

Peter Roby, who heads up the Center for Study of Sport in Society, blames the intense competition among schools to attract star athletes.

"They want to be able to bring the best possible recruits on campus, to give their coaches and teams the best chance of being successful, and as a result have a chance to cash in the best payday they can — bowl games and championships," said Roby.

A Sense of Entitlement

And that, says sports psychologist Harry Edwards, is what leads many young athletes to feel entitled.

"Athletes are just like everyone else," Edwards said. "It just happens they can do one thing better than anybody else in the world, and this gives them a forum, a spotlight on front street, and often times that's their undoing."

Edwards is also critical of coaches who "look the other way."

In Colorado, football coach Gary Barnett has denied knowing about any problems — including allegations that escort services and strip clubs were used to lure new recruits and now Hnida's allegation of rape.

"Not at one time did she ever bring up to me any issue or any problem on our football team," Barnett said.

Reilly countered, "He's either the most clueless coach we ever had at Colorado, or he's trying really hard not to know."

The university is now naming a special assistant to monitor the athletic program.

"Everybody's job is at risk at any point in time. I mean this," said University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman.

Late today, the university reprimanded the coach and said his denials would be investigated.