Colorado State suspends football activities following allegations of racism, verbal abuse

Colorado State football team activities have been suspended indefinitely due to allegations of racism and verbal abuse in the program.

The Coloradoan reached out to CSU leadership on Friday seeking interviews regarding an investigation by the paper looking into allegations by multiple CSU players and athletics staff who say they witnessed racial insensitivity and emotional and verbal abuse among coaches and athletic administrators.

The Coloradoan published a story looking inside the athletic department on Saturday. Later on Friday, CSU released a statement from athletic director Joe Parker. 

“Today, we learned of some extremely troubling allegations of racism and verbal abuse from CSU’s athletic administration generally and in the football program specifically.

"I have consulted with President (Joyce) McConnell about these new allegations, which obviously deeply concern her as well.  Effective immediately, and for the best interests of our student-athletes, I am pausing all football-related activities indefinitely.  This includes practices, workouts, and team meetings. 

"I have also asked President McConnell to expand the independent investigation she announced on Tuesday to include a comprehensive review of our athletic department and football program specifically related to allegations of racism and verbal abuse. While we have been working hard towards playing football this fall, the holistic well-being of our student-athletes is our unequivocal top priority. We must and will address these allegations before we focus on playing football.”

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McConnell hired the law firm Husch Blackwell on Thursday to conduct an independent investigation of the athletic department's handling of COVID-19 health protocols. That came in response to a Coloradoan report in which CSU athletes and staff voiced concern about coronavirus protocols.  

"I am profoundly disturbed to hear of these new allegations, and I have already expanded the scope of the investigation," McConnell said in a statement Friday night. "Colorado State University is an avowedly anti-racist university and an avowedly anti-racist community. We will not tolerate a climate that makes any member of this university community feel unwelcome or not valued. On the contrary, we will expose it and put an end to it immediately."

CSU voluntarily shut down summer workouts on July 29 following a surge in COVID-19 positive tests. The football program had 11 positive tests as of Aug. 3. Another round of 150 coronavirus tests (all CSU athletes, not just football) were conducted Monday.

The results of those tests have not been shared.

The Coloradoan requested updated COVID-19 test result numbers on Friday but they have not yet been provided.

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