12/22/24
February 17, 2004
Female kicker Katie Hnida says she was harassed and raped while at Colorado.: SI's Rick Reilly breaks a harrowing story that adds to the mounting body of evidence against CU. Hnida's statement following the story's release. Previous discussion.
Wow. What a wonderful group of guys. It sickens me what happened to her, but I'm glad things have turned around.
posted by justgary at 12:39 AM on February 18, 2004
Sickening. But I got to point out that the rape that occurred had nothing to do with the football program. It was done by a teammate, but could anyone else that she knew. Hnida not reporting it might have had something to do with football program or at least the environment that was tolerated.
posted by GoDizzGo at 01:06 AM on February 18, 2004
But I got to point out that the rape that occurred had nothing to do with the football program. It was done by a teammate, but could anyone else that she knew. The environment, if its as described, could certainly lead to crossing a line. First the names, then the flashing, then the touching. And everyone got away with it, so just maybe anything goes... The environment at the school was obviously awful, with women used as a tool for recruitment and entertainment. No, rape is not limited to the schools football team I'm sure. And molestation happens everyday outside the catholic clergy also, but it doesn't forgive the environment if it is a feeding ground for crime. Hnida not reporting it might have had something to do with football program or at least the environment that was tolerated. I'm not the most pc person, and I might be misunderstanding your comment. I hope you're not saying that her non reporting of the rape was to blame for the environment she had to endure. Hopefully most of us are over the blaming the victim mentality. How many people were on that team? How many coaches? And it doesn't sound like these things were hidden. And no one said anything. Don't get me wrong. I WISH she would have reported it, but I'm sure that's easier said than done when trying to fit in and being a female among a hundred guys.
posted by justgary at 01:20 AM on February 18, 2004
We don't know enough to state that the environment didn't contribute to the alleged rape. If it was an anything-goes atmosphere under Coach Gary Barnett, as her father alleges, the rapist could have been emboldened by that. My guess is that this is another Barry Switzer, Dave Bliss situation where a coach is either unwilling or unable to stop an out-of-control program. I don't see any way that Barnett isn't tossed out before the next season begins, especially given the wonderfully timed attack on Hnida's athletic ability he just made. When you look at coaches like Barnett, Bliss, and Rick Neuheisel, it's clear that the ability of a coach to be a role model for the youth is a smaller part of the hiring process than it used to be.
posted by rcade at 12:32 PM on February 18, 2004
Wow, what a classy individual Barnett seems to be. They sure can pick 'em at Colorado. Plus, doesn't this most recent barb (the one rcade linked to) contradict his previous alibi? "I didn't know anyone on the team would resent Katie enough to harm her ... except that she was terrible, and people didn't respect her, and she was a girl in a place she shouldn't have been." Charming.
posted by jeffmshaw at 01:07 PM on February 18, 2004
On Tuesday, [CU President Elizabeth] Hoffman warned that the stakes are high and when asked if Barnett's job was on the line, she said, "Everyone's job is at risk." Barnett's going down, I bet Hoffman has a search committee meeting before the weekend to find a replacement.
posted by billsaysthis at 07:14 PM on February 18, 2004
An email I just got from a friend: "I would still argue that Dave Bliss is the most loathsome man in sports, but Gary Barnett is No. 2 with a bullet these days."
posted by jeffmshaw at 07:40 PM on February 18, 2004
They are having a midnight, EST, press conference about Barnett's job. I don't think there has ever been a press conference in the history of press conferences that started 'thanks for coming at this late hour, guys, we just wanted to reassure everyone that Coach has a lot of job security here.'
posted by tieguy at 10:57 PM on February 18, 2004
He deserves it, the bastard. Unless he just came out and said "she deserved it," I can't think of anything worse he could have said in this situation.
posted by dusted at 11:41 PM on February 18, 2004
Barnett's clearly on the way out -- there's no way Colorado would publicly humiliate him and then keep him around as damaged goods. And I couldn't be happier about it. His knock on Hnida's ability was a cheap shot. If he felt that way about her at the time, he should've cut her from the squad and taken the public relations hit. I think it's likely that his disrespect for her presence on the team was recognized by the other players. Though it's a stretch to consider that a contributing factor to her attack, it would certainly encourage the other kinds of harrassment she described.
posted by rcade at 09:30 AM on February 19, 2004
"I sincerely regret that yesterday a portion of my remarks were either misinterpreted or taken out of context, and I apologize for answering that question in a manner where I must have come across as insensitive." --Head coach Gary Barnett Translation: I said nothing wrong, you misinterpreted me. Pretty standard non-apology stuff, but it's still annoying. Say you're sorry without qualification or shut your mouth.
posted by dusted at 01:01 PM on February 19, 2004
another previous discussion