Dec 4, 2005 1:43 pm US/Mountain
Talk Of Barnett's Future Heats Up After Big Loss
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) ―
Talk of Gary Barnett's future as head coach of the University of Colorado football team heated up Sunday after CU's embarrassing 70-3 loss to Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game Saturday.
Columns on both sides of the issue appeared in local newspapers.
The Daily Camera reported that CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn refused to speculate on Barnett's future with the school after Saturday's game.
That didn't stop the Camera's sports writer from calling for change in a column separate from his news article on the issue.
"No matter what it costs, Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn has no choice but to make a change in head football coaches," Neill Woelk of the Daily Camera wrote. "If he doesn't, the long-term expense of keeping Gary Barnett for even one more year will far exceed any money Bohn might save by not having to buy out the head coach's current deal. Clearly, Colorado's athletic department cannot afford another day such as Saturday."
Woelk went on to say that embarrassment was too kind a word to describe what happened to CU on Saturday.
On the other side, a columnist for the Denver Post said CU should stand by Barnett, despite the chorus of calls for his firing.
"Abandon Barnett, raise more than $2 million to buy out his contract, chase him out of town, and the Buffaloes will teach us what's most important at the University of Colorado: Winning, at any cost," Mark Kiszla of the Denver Post wrote. "And that would be sadder than losing 70-3."
Woelk's news article in the Camera suggested that Barnett could find himself out of a job before CU's bowl game.
"You can't make emotional decisions right now. That's not fair to anybody," Barnett was reported as saying about his future after the game Saturday. "Tomorrow, things are more clear and Monday, things are more clear. I know I made a commitment to my team to fix whatever it is that is our problem right now."
The Camera reported that Bohn would be out of town early this week on business. He reportedly indicated he would meet with Barnett later this week about his future with CU and the future of the school's football program.
(Copyright © MMV CBS Television Stations, Inc.)
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