Colorado State Football

Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer reportedly won't play a role in the selection of Colorado State's next head football coach.

Steven Godfrey of Secret Base reported Thursday that Colorado State will explore the use of search firms instead after firing head coach Steve Addazio.

Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic tweeted a screenshot of Colorado State's "action plan" regarding the school's last head coaching search prior to the 2020 season, and it was noted that Meyer would be working with the athletic director and team president to find a good fit:

Addazio, who was fired Thursday after going 4-12 in two seasons with the Rams, was an assistant under Meyer at Florida from 2005-10.

Following his time under Meyer at Florida, Addazio went 13-11 in two seasons as the head coach at Temple and 44-44 in seven seasons as the head coach at Boston College.

Colorado State went just 1-3 during the COVID-impacted 2020 season under Addazio before going 3-9 this season.

Meyer was out of coaching at the time he aided Colorado State in its head coaching search. He retired after the 2018 season following seven campaigns as the head coach at Ohio State from 2012-18.

Meyer has Colorado State ties, as he was a wide receivers coach at the school from 1990-95 before serving in the same role at Notre Dame from 1996-2000. He then took on head coaching gigs at Bowling Green, Utah, Florida and Ohio State.

The three-time national champion was lured out of retirement this offseason and hired by the Jaguars, marking his first NFL coaching job.

Despite landing quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL draft, things haven't gone well for Meyer and the Jags this season, as they are one of the worst teams in the NFL with a 2-9 record.

Meanwhile, Colorado State is in the midst of a dry spell that will see it miss out on a bowl game for a fourth consecutive season.

The Rams have not finished with a winning record or played in a bowl game since 2017 under Mike Bobo. That season was part of a run that saw Colorado State reach its fifth straight bowl game.

Colorado State offensive lineman Barry Wesley says he pleaded for his life as he was held at gunpoint in June by a rogue vigilante while working a summer job.

Wesley told Alex Prewitt of Sports Illustrated in an interview released Thursday he complied with the orders of Scott Gudmundsen, who's been treated at a mental health facility and remains held in custody on $50,000 bond after being arrested following the incident.

"Please don't kill me," Wesley told Gudmundsen. "Please don't kill me."

Gudmundsen replied: "You're lucky. I'm not going to kill you. The police are going to do that for me."

Wesley, who's Black, said he'd encountered Gudmundsen with work colleague Kyle Farrell a day earlier on his first day on the job at a roofing company. He said the only thing that stood out about the encounter was the gun holstered by Gudmundsen, a 65-year-old white man.

"It was weird, but not really concerning," he said. "We talked about [Gudmundsen] on the way back to Fort Collins, about George Floyd and the climate of our country and how sensitive it is right now. I just figured: This guy's been watching the wrong type of news channel or something."

Following the incident, Loveland Police Lt. Bob Shaffer told Kevin Vaughan of 9News they received a call from Gudmundsen identifying Wesley and Farrell as members of antifa, a loose term for an anti-fascist political movement often targeted by conservatives, including President Donald Trump.

Stanley Gudmundsen, the man's son, issued a statement of apology for his father's actions to the network.

"Our sincerest thoughts go out to the two salesmen and we apologize to them and their families for the actions of our father and wish them well," he wrote.

Wesley, a redshirt junior for the Rams, told Prewitt he blames the polarized nature of political television networks for laying the groundwork for Gudmundsen's actions.

"I think he was watching the news, and the news was showing him what he wanted to see—and that led to his actions," he said. "I think he was scared and frightened and he needed to do [what he thought was] the right thing. He took advantage of his knowledge of how to use a firearm to take someone's right to humanity."

Wesley noted he still deals with triggers related to the incident, telling his therapist, "I'm not the same person I used to be," per Prewitt.

"He definitely defeated my sense of peace and stability," he said.

Wesley lamented the lack of football because of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it provided "structure and stability" when he needed it most, but said he's considering another job to remain occupied.

A group of Colorado State football players released an open letter expressing support for head coach Steve Addazio and his staff amid allegations of racial and verbal abuse.

Unnamed football players also told Miles Blumhardt of the Coloradoan that staff members "told players not to report COVID-19 symptoms, threatened players with reduced playing time if they quarantine and [players] claim CSU is altering contact tracing reports to keep players practicing."

CSU wide receiver Thomas Pannunzio (h/t ESPN's Myron Medcalf) posted the letter on Twitter:

"To the contrary, our experience since Coach Addazio's first day has been positive, welcoming and focused on our development as student athletes," the letter read in part, per Medcalf.

"To be absolutely clear, we have not experienced any racially insensitive comments to our teammates from the athletic department or coaching staff.

The letter is from a group of senior players calling itself CSU United, which claims that the entire team supports its efforts.

However, Medcalf reported that "Multiple sources within the CSU football program told ESPN Saturday the #CSUunited letter does not have the full support of the team."

Per Kevin Lytle of the Coloradoan, CSU has suspended all football activities following the allegations of racial and verbal abuse and has hired the Husch Blackwell law firm to conduct an independent investigation into the COVID-19 claims.

According to ESPN's Andrea Adelson, former player development coach and ex-CSU quarterback Anthoney Hill wrote a letter to CSU athletic director Joe Parker after Addazio terminated his employment with CSU in January.

Part of the letter reportedly read:

"I'm more concerned about your conduct in allowing CSU Athletics to become an environment where coaches can exhibit toxic masculinity as well as make racially insensitive comments to black players on your watch. Also, bringing in a new head football coach who tells the graduate assistants within days of knowing them that he 'doesn't give a f--k about their feelings' is contradictory to being 'committed to the holistic development of student-athletes...and of crafting a culture where students thrive.'"

As far as COVID-19's impact on the program, Lytle reported that CSU voluntarily shut down football team activities July 29 after a spike in positive COVID-19 tests.

Medcalf reported more details:

"Last week, 27 Colorado State football players missed the team's most recent practice with COVID-19 symptoms or potential exposure. After team activities were paused after eight players tested positive, some players and coaches told ESPN they viewed Addazio's plan to return 'early' from a planned 14-day quarantine as ill-advised and unsafe. By Sunday, the team had 11 positive cases. The results of Monday's re-testing for the entire team have not been released."

Addazio was hired in December after seven seasons leading the Boston College program. The 61-year-old, who also led Temple in 2011 and 2012, is at his third collegiate head coaching spot.

Colorado State has suspended all football activities upon fielding allegations of racism and verbal abuse within the athletic administration and football program notably, per Kevin Lytle of the Coloradoan.

A statement from athletic director Joe Parker on Friday read as follows:

"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.”

Per Lytle, the Coloradoan is investigating allegations from ex-CSU players and athletic staff members who claim they "witnessed racial insensitivity and emotional and verbal abuse among coaches and athletic administrators."

This news comes after the school hired an outside law firm, Husch Blackwell, to conduct an independent investigation into allegations regarding COVID-19 practices.

Specifically, allegations claim that football coaches have "told players not to report COVID-19 symptoms, threatened players with reduced playing time if they quarantine and claim CSU is altering contact tracing reports to keep players practicing," per Miles Blumhardt of the Coloradoan.

CSU football is led by head coach Steve Addazio, who joined the program in December after seven seasons at Boston College. The 61-year-old also led Temple's program from 2011-2012.

Sean Keeler of the Denver Post provided more exclusive information on current players' plans:

"Seniors and upperclassmen on the Rams football team, a group of roughly 20, met in person Friday night, a source told The Post, to discuss the most recent charges. The group also discussed drafting a teamwide petition of support for Addazio, who was hired to replace Mike Bobo last December, and for the current staff.

"The petition would attest that the coaches had not acted in any racially insensitive way and treated players with respect.

"CSU players plan to meet Saturday morning on campus, in person, to discuss Parker’s announcement, lingering concerns over COVID-19 protocol and to gather signatures on the petition before its release, the source said."

ESPN's Andrea Adelson reported that former player development coach and ex-CSU quarterback Anthoney Hill wrote a letter to Parker outlining numerous complaints. Hill was terminated in January, one month after Addazio was hired.

The letter to Parker, which was sent after the termination, read in part as follows, per Adelson:

"I'm more concerned about your conduct in allowing CSU Athletics to become an environment where coaches can exhibit toxic masculinity as well as make racially insensitive comments to black players on your watch. Also, bringing in a new head football coach who tells the graduate assistants within days of knowing them that he 'doesn't give a f--k about their feelings' is contradictory to being 'committed to the holistic development of student-athletes...and of crafting a culture where students thrive.'"

CSU's season is currently scheduled to begin on Sept. 19 against Northern Colorado.

Colorado State president Joyce McConnell has responded to a report that football coaches at the school were attempting to cover up COVID-19 cases and told players not to report their symptoms. 

McConnell told Miles Blumhardt of the Coloradoan on Thursday she was "horrified" by the allegations and that the school would be hiring an external law firm to conduct an independent investigation.

"First of all, I was horrified, then shocked and disappointed after reading your story," McConnell told Blumhardt. "I then immediately turned to finding out the truth because the most important thing is the health of our student-athletes."

McConnell sent an email to the CSU community regarding the accusations, writing:

"I tell you all now that nothing is more important to me or to CSU than the health and well-being of our students. Nothing. They are our purpose and our responsibility, each and every one of them, whatever sport they play or major they declare.  

"Effective immediately, I have launched an investigation into the concerns raised in the article. This investigation will come out of my office. It will move quickly, and I will transparently share the outcome with all of you."

Football players told Blumhardt CSU coaches have dissuaded them from reporting COVID-19 symptoms.

Players also said coaches have threatened to decrease playing opportunities for anyone who enters quarantine. An athletics staff member also said contract tracing reports have been maliciously altered to keep players on the field.

Per Kevin Lytle of the Coloradoan, CSU announced on July 29 that it would pause the football team's summer workouts after eight positive cases came to light from the 140 tests given to student-athletes since their return to campus in June.

"We are taking this step to voluntarily pause football activities to minimize the opportunity for this virus to spread any further," CSU athletic director Joe Parker stated.

"We will always put the health and safety of our student-athletes and community first, and while we are disappointed to see this spread occur within our program, we remain encouraged for the continued collaboration we have experienced with our University’s Pandemic Preparedness Team, local, county, and state health officials."

CSU hired ex-Temple and Boston College football coach Steve Addazio to run the program last December.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, CSU football plans to play an eight-game Mountain West Conference schedule. Their slate will begin no earlier than the week of Sept. 26, per Matt Schubert of the Denver Post.

Colorado State football players and athletic department staff say coaches have tried to cover up COVID-19 cases, according to Miles Blumhardt of the Coloradoan.

Players and staff told Blumhardt coaches told players not to report symptoms and threatened to reduce playing time for those who quarantine. They also alleged the team is altering contact tracing reports. CSU President Joyce McConnell announced an investigation into the allegations Tuesday night, per Justin Michael of DNVR Sports:

The Rams had 16 confirmed cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, while 27 players were missing because of COVID-19 during the last practice on July 29. The team was forced to pause workouts because of the outbreak.

"I believe there is a cover-up going on at CSU," an anonymous player said. "But they could only cover it up so long and now that we have so many cases across athletics, they can't cover it up anymore. It’s not about the health and safety of the players but about just trying to make money off the players."

There were 10 different players and staff members who provided similar stories to the Coloradoan.

"There are some red flags in the athletic department, but the common denominator with this administration is to protect the coaches before the student-athletes and that makes them feel more like cattle than student-athletes," a staff member said.

Other players have refuted the story on social media (warning NSFW language):

Colorado State had announced zero positive tests upon players arriving to campus in early July, but eight players tested positive a short time later and it was up to 17 by the end of the month.

The school is still waiting on results from 150 athletes tested on Monday.

Players said head coach Steve Addazio, who was hired in December after an extended stretch at Boston College, hasn't followed protocols, including wearing masks, and has pushed for practices over safety.

"A lot of players don't feel safe at football practice," one player said.

CSU athletic director Joe Parker denied that the staff is subverting safety protocols.

"There is no influence from our coaching staff on those kinds of decisions, and those decisions are made outside of the athletic department and that is the way I want it," he said.

An unnamed Colorado State football player was allegedly held at gunpoint Thursday by a Colorado man who thought he was a member of the anti-fascist Antifa movement.

Kevin Vaughan of KUSA reported Friday the Rams player and another man, who were both going door-to-door for a roofing company after a recent storm, were allegedly held up by Scott Gudmundsen, who was arrested at the scene with two guns that were seized for evidence.

The player was described as a "man of color" by the school in an official statement.

Loveland Police Lt. Bob Shaffer told KUSA that police received a call from Gudmundsen, who said he armed himself because he saw two "Antifa guys" walking around the neighborhood.

"I am going out there to confront them," he told police.

His son, Stanley Gudmundsen, emailed a statement to KUSA saying his father is receiving treatment at a local mental health facility.

"Our sincerest thoughts go out to the two salesmen and we apologize to them and their families for the actions of our father and wish them well," he wrote.

ESPN's Alex Scarborough provided a portion of the letter CSU president Joyce McConnell sent to the school community following the incident:

"Our student is a young man of color, while the perpetrator is white. Regardless of what investigators learn or reasons the perpetrator gives, we know this: Our student got up Thursday morning, worked out with his team, then showered, dressed and went to work. Hours later, he was facing a stranger with a gun and hearing police sirens that had been inexplicably called on him. Given what we have seen happening in cities across this country, we know all too well that this encounter could have proceeded very differently."

U.S. President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr have blamed Antifa for violence at nationwide protests after George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was killed while in Minneapolis Police custody May 25. A New York Times analysis found no evidence to support the claims by Trump and Barr.

Premier Roofing Company CEO Chris Tulp released a statement to KUSA saying he wanted Gudmundsen "punished to the fullest extent of the law:"

"I have spoken to both teammates and they are understandably shaken. I want to respect their space. With that said, we intend to stand up for the members of our team who are hard-working, honest, charitable, good people. We are proud of them and deeply saddened that they were subjected to this horrific incident and will stick with and support them in any way necessary to ensure justice is served."

No further details about the Colorado State player were immediately released. The Rams are scheduled to open the 2020 season Sept. 5 against Colorado.

Colorado State football coach Mike Bobo didn't feel he deserved a raise after his performance this season and shockingly turned one down, according to Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com.

Bobo was supposed to get a $100,000 pay increase in 2019 but turned it down after his team finished 3-9 in 2018. He will make $1.8 million after signing an amended contract.

"This is an administration that stood behind me, and I felt like we didn't live up to our end of the deal," Bobo said. "I wanted to make a statement to our players that we're in this together and you've got be accountable, starting with me."

Bobo is entering his fifth year with the program, having led the Rams to a 7-6 record in each of his first three seasons with three bowl losses.

Things went south this season with an offense that scored just 22.8 points per game and a defense that allowed 36.8 points per game.

Instead of passing the buck, the coach conceded he deserved much of the blame.

"It's easy to point fingers at your players and say, 'You didn't do this right and didn't do that right,'" Bobo said. "I wanted to say that I'm a part of it as much as anybody, and I want to get it right."

While Rams players might not feel too sorry for Bobo considering his salary, they will likely at least respect his taking responsibility for the lost season.