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Colorado investigation Feb. 19: The latest on the sexual misconduct investigation involving the University of Colorado football team, which has placed coach Gary Barnett on paid administrative leave. James Hattori reports.

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updated 7:47 p.m. ET Feb. 20, 2004

DENVER - Brian Cabral took over as interim head football coach at Colorado on Friday, pending the outcome of an investigation into a recruiting scandal that includes allegations of rape.

Athletic director Dick Tharp made the announcement at a news conference Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after Barnett appeared on CNN's 'Larry King Live.' On the program, Barnett expressed confidence he would keep his job. The football program has been rocked by allegations of rape and sex-and-alcohol parties involving recruits.

“I just know that the way that it’s coming across nationally, I just don’t think that’s who I am,” Barnett said.

Tharp did say that Barnett could be reinstated depending on how the resulting investigation plays out.

University President Elizabeth Hoffman placed Barnett on administrative leave for criticizing the on-field performance of kicker Katie Hnida after she said she had been raped by a teammate in 2000 and harassed by others. Barnett told reporters that Hnida was “not only a girl” but a “terrible” player.

Hoffman also said she was distressed by a remark attributed to Barnett in a 2001 police report that if another woman pursued rape charges against a player, Barnett “would back his player 100 percent.”

Barnett has apologized for his comments, which he said were taken out of context and misinterpreted. He will remain on paid administrative leave while an independent committee investigates the allegations and revelations involving the football program.

The coach could save his job if he proves the football program is not hostile to women, Hoffman told The Denver Post for Friday’s editions. “We want to leave open the possibility that coach Barnett will still be our head coach,” she said.

Barnett and his program have been under scrutiny since three women filed lawsuits claiming they were raped at or just after an off-campus party for high school recruits in December 2001.

The latest blow came Thursday, when Boulder police said they were investigating whether a woman was raped by a CU football player in 2002, the seventh alleged assault since 1997 linked to the team.

Former and current players voiced support Thursday for their coach.

“We believe coach Barnett is a man of high moral integrity,” former quarterback Charles Johnson said. “We believe he is doing the right things. A balanced story is not being told.”

Current Colorado quarterback Joel Klatt said there seemed to be a rush to judgment.

“I want to encourage everyone — the media and the public alike — to wait until the evidence is shown and the facts are out before anyone starts passing judgment on any parties involved,” he said.

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