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Separation anxiety

Colorado players are surprised, upset about departure of Barnett

Paul Willis, Special to the News

Published December 9, 2005 at midnight

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BOULDER - Despite rampant media speculation, players on the University of Colorado football team didn't believe it.

Not until a meeting Thursday afternoon with athletic director Mike Bohn and coach Gary Barnett were the players officially informed that Barnett had been relieved of his duties.

"You see all the speculation on the Internet and in the news, but for the most part, we were all left in the dark," Buffaloes cornerback Terrence Wheatley said.

"It took us by surprise, and it's kind of hard to take right now."

The scowls and looks of discontent on the players' faces said it all as they emerged from the meeting, held on campus at the Dal Ward Athletic Center.

They were overtly disappointed with Bohn's decision to cut ties with Barnett with one year remaining on his contract.

"He treats us like sons, and we treat him as a father," linebacker Jordon Dizon said. "To lose him, it hurts deep down."

"I think it's a shame," said tight end Quinn Sypniewski, a sixth-year senior who was a part of Barnett's first recruiting class at CU.

"I think coach Barnett is a good man. I think what he's done for this program has been tremendous despite what he's gone through. I feel still that if you don't have the university's and the administration's support, you're not going to go very far with a football program."

Bohn said no single reason led to his decision to fire Barnett, not the Buffaloes' limp to the finish line this season, not the lingering effects of last year's nationally publicized recruiting scandal.

Barnett said he was not given a reason for his dismissal, and although he "didn't like it," he "whole-heartedly supports the decisions leaders have to make."

According to players, Barnett addressed them for about 2 minutes during the meeting and departed to applause from the team.

"It was real heartfelt," Wheatley said. "It just shows what type of person he is. He's a real class guy. I'm still proud that he was my coach."

Bohn gave Barnett the option to coach the Buffaloes in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 27 against Clemson. Although Barnett said he was undecided because he didn't want to make an emotional decision, Bohn said he is certain Barnett will not coach the game in Orlando, Fla. Players held out hope Barnett would be on the sideline.

"We all want him to, I know that," backup quarterback James Cox said. "He's been our coach all year, and it'd be great to start with him and end with him and send him out with a 'W.' "

The Buffaloes conducted a seven- on-seven practice under offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, although they don't begin official preparation for the bowl game until Dec. 16.

It is unclear who will coach the game, but assistant Brian Cabral, who took over when Barnett was suspended for spring practices in 2004, figures to be a prime candidate.

Players' immediate concerns were centered more on Barnett than who will coach the game or who will become their next coach.

"It's real sad for me and a big burden on me right now," said running back Kevin Moyd, a redshirt freshman from Miami. "He's the first coach who put an impression on me, and that's why I came here. I'll keep in touch with him wherever he goes and keep him as a friend."

Cox said Barnett's departure is "so emotionally draining" given the tumultuous events surrounding the team during the past two years. The consensus among players was they wished the school had honored the final year of Barnett's contract.

"To see him go out the way he has, I think it's a tragedy," Sypniewski said.