A Colorado State football season that’s already launching under a cloud of uncertainty because of the COVID-19 pandemic has a new complication — one that puts new coach Steve Addazio under fire before he’s even coached a game.
University president Joyce McConnell announced that her office will conduct an immediate investigation of Rams football and the athletic department as a whole in response to allegations in a report published Tuesday by the Fort Collins Coloradoan.
While McConnell described the accusations as “extremely serious” and “deeply troubling” in a statement, the university president has yet to specify a timetable for her examination of CSU football, other than it would move “quickly” and that her office would be transparent in sharing the information gathered.
The published report cited statements from 10 anonymous sources within the athletic department that criticized CSU athletics’ handling of positive COVID-19 tests and accused department officials of minimizing and altering coronavirus data. It was particularly damning of Addazio’s football program, with the sources in the story claiming coaches threatened to withhold playing time or scholarships for players who report symptoms or are quarantined.
One football player in the report, who declined to be identified, described the situation as a “cover-up … it’s not about the health and safety of the players but about just trying to make money off the players.”
The allegations against the football staff were refuted Tuesday by four CSU players when reached by The Post, including quarterback Patrick O’Brien and tailback Marcus McElroy Jr.
The Rams suspended football activities July 29 because of a spike in coronavirus positives within the program. CSU officials on Monday announced the athletics program had 16 total COVID-19 positives, 11 of those coming from within the football program. CSU declared six active positive coronavirus cases as of Monday, with all those infected coming from the football team.
Addazio said in a statement that he “fully” supports the investigation and that he wants “every student-athlete to have confidence that we are taking every possible measure to ensure their safety, and we will continue working with the training staff, the athletic department and the University to evaluate and implement any additional steps necessary to live up to our high standards.”
CSU athletic director Joe Parker said in a statement that he would “embrace” McConnell’s investigation and “if we learn anyone on our staff has not been fully supportive of our commitment to health and safety, this is unacceptable and will be dealt with swiftly.”
“If we learn that there are any employees of CSU Athletics who do not share Colorado State University’s commitment to student health and well-being above all else,” McConnell continued, “we will address the issue immediately.”
The Rams are slated to open their football season on Sept. 26, the athletic department announced Wednesday. Specific dates and matchups were not released.
