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National | Sports | John Dawson

Colorado Buffaloed

Usually hiring an interim coach signals a significant change in direction. Most often an interim coach presides over a team until a replacement can be found for the fired boss. Gary Barnett, the suspended Colorado coach, hopes he's the exception to the rule.

Colorado University officials placed Mr. Barnett on paid leave and installed long-time assistant Brian Cabral as interim coach after Mr. Barnett criticized the athletic ability of a former female Colorado kicker who accused some of her teammates of raping her. Former CU kicker Katie Hnida's allegations came amidst a firestorm of rape allegations against the Colorado football team and its recruits. Since 1997, seven women have alleged Colorado players or recruits raped them. And many of the claims come from a Dec. 7, 2001, party where four Colorado players were charged with serving alcohol to minors-possibly football recruits-and three women claimed that football players raped them.