Colorado State suspended all football activities after an investigation launched by the president of the university into the completion of the program of Covid-19 case exposed allegations of racism and verbal abuse against athletes. Athletic Director Joe Parker said he asked President Joyce McConnell to expand the investigation she announced Tuesday to include a comprehensive review of the athletic department and football program.
“Today we have learned of some extremely serious allegations of racism and verbal abuse by the CSU’s athletic administration in general and in the football program in particular,” Parker said.
Parker’s statement did not name any particular member of the coaching staff or athletics department. Steve Addazio is in his first season as head coach of the Rams.
McConnell announced the investigation Tuesday after an article published in Colorado that unidentified footballers and members of athletic staff were quoted as saying that coaches told them not to report coronavirus symptoms and threatened players with reduced playing time if they were quarantined .
“Colorado State University is committed to being an anti-racist university, and we will not tolerate any behavior or climate that goes against that core value,” Parker said. “In addition, CSU Athletics is committed to the health and well-being of student-athletes above all other priorities, and this includes their mental health. We believe it is our responsibility to ensure that all student-athletes feel welcome and valued as members of an inclusive athletic community. “
Colorado State has all meetings, workouts and practice breaks.
“While we have worked hard this fall on football, the holistic well-being of our student-athletes is our uniform top priority,” Parker said. “We have to and accuse these accusations before we focus on football.”
On Tuesday, Addazio said he welcomed the investigation into the alleged abuse of the coronavirus proton.
CBSSports.com reports that several players took to Twitter to make the claims made by the unnamed players and employees in the story.
McConnell announced Thursday via an email to student-athletes and department staff that Husch Blackwell, a Kansas City-based law firm, would lead the probe into those allegations.
Addazio was hired in December, replacing Mike Bobo, after spending seven seasons with Boston College.
The Rams were scheduled to open the Sept. 19 season by hosting Northern Colorado, but the Big Sky Conference voted this week to push its football season back to the spring.
.
