CU sorting through mess

Students are concerned about perception after debris thrown on field

B.G. Brooks, Rocky Mountain News

Published November 29, 2005 at midnight

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BOULDER - University of Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said Monday he has received a number of e-mails from students expressing concern regarding an incident that occurred during Friday's loss against Nebraska and generated another round of national embarrassment for CU.

Bohn also said the school continues to investigate the debris-throwing episode that stopped play for about 5 minutes in the fourth quarter of the Buffaloes' nationally televised 30-3 loss against the Cornhuskers at Folsom Field.

"We have to look at all aspects of the communication process, to include game officials (and) communication from the press box," Bohn said. "We're trying to get hold of as much information as possible on culprits that were identified. We'll take appropriate action if they are students here."

Bohn said the incident, which prompted the partial clearing of two sections predominantly occupied by students before play was resumed, is being investigated through a "collaborative effort with student leadership and other campus entities."

In the aftermath of the trouble, which has drawn widespread media criticism, Bohn said some concerned students have e-mailed him and voiced displeasure at the student body being cast in a negative light before a national television audience.

"They're saying the trouble was caused by a small percentage (of students) and doesn't reflect the majority here," Bohn said, adding punitive measures such as revoking student athletic season-ticket privileges could be implemented by the school's office of judicial affairs.

"We're following up and seeing what we can learn from the videos," Bohn said.

Student sections at Folsom Field have been monitored for several years.

Bohn said a possible way to end incidents before they escalate is to have the coach or a team captain use the stadium's public-address system to ask for calm.

CU coach Gary Barnett said game officials "asked me to have an announcement made. . . . I made an appeal to the students, but they couldn't hear me. The students were frustrated with the game and the way it was going, and they expressed that."

Barnett did not have "much else to say" on the incident but added, "I bear responsibility for the way the team played."

The Big 12 Conference routinely "looks at all issues that surround fan behavior," commissioner Kevin Weiberg said on a teleconference. Member schools submit security policies to the league office at the start of each season and are expected to follow those policies.

Based on reports of incidents from the host school and possibly reports from visiting schools, Weiberg said a provision is in place that would allow a reprimand if deemed necessary.

CU has had no communication as of yet with the Big 12, Bohn said, adding, "The number of students involved is minimal. We've got great student leaders on this campus."

ON THE MEND? Asked after Monday's practice if he sensed his team was on the rebound, Barnett said, "It's not like throwing a switch, (but) we're heading in the right direction. . . . By the time we get down there (to Houston), we'll be ready. It takes time."

Before the practice, several players said they can't afford to let Friday's loss linger, but junior defensive end Abraham Wright admitted flushing the memory will be difficult.

"Until I get another clean slate, I'll never get those Iowa State and Nebraska games out of my head," he said. "(A win against Texas) won't save our season, but we can still get to our goals."

Senior tight end Joe Klopfenstein was perplexed by CU's offensive showing in the two losses.

"It's so frustrating, not being able to execute and do the things we did (in earlier wins)," he said. "Is it a matter of getting worse than we were earlier in the season or just a mental thing? We don't know right now. It's something we have to figure out and change. If we can get back to playing how we were, it'll give us a chance."

BOWL TALK: Bohn concedes CU historically has not "traveled well" for postseason play, a situation he hopes to remedy with a plan that would offer students complimentary bowl tickets, beginning this season. Cost of the tickets is to be picked up by donors.

"It would add a new element in how we travel," he said.

CU's postseason plans won't be determined until after Saturday's Big 12 championship game (11 a.m. MST, KMGH- Channel 7) against No. 2 Texas at Houston's Reliant Stadium. Should they upset the unbeaten (11-0) Longhorns, the Buffaloes would earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl.

But with a loss, CU could wind up as the sixth or seventh team selected among eight bowl-eligible Big 12 teams.

The selection process, though, is flexible, with school and bowl representatives usually willing to arrange the best postseason matchups and geographic fits.

Weiberg said Nebraska's lopsided victory Friday "clearly changed some things" in the league's postseason picture.

The league follows a postseason selection order, but once it gets to the Independence Bowl - No. 6 in the process - Weiberg said the mixing and matching of pairings can be done.

Weiberg added this season the Big 12 "might not need to do anything but follow the selection order."

CU is one of four Big 12 teams with 7-4 records.

The others are Iowa State, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The league's bowl selection process is BCS, Cotton, Holiday, Alamo, Houston, Independence, Champs Sports and Fort Worth.

ETC.: Barnett said a magnetic resonance imaging exam on junior guard Jack Tipton revealed a torn knee ligament. Tipton is trying to play wearing a brace . . . Barnett said the Buffs were "pretty well prepared" for their Oct. 15 game against Texas, a 42-17 loss. "We made it too easy for Texas," he said. "They were good and probably going to beat us, but we didn't help ourselves in that game. Hopefully, the combination of preparation and performance this time will help us." . . . CU is expected to return a large portion of its championship game ticket allotment of 9,000.

brooksb@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5466

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