Barnett subdued in departing dream jobBy Vicki Michaelis and Jack Carey, USA TODAYBOULDER, Colo. - Gary Barnett often described the University of Colorado head coaching position as his dream job, even after a recruiting scandal enveloped the football program and polarized campus factions against him.

"I love the University of Colorado," said Barnett, 59, who first worked at Colorado as an assistant under Bill McCartney from 1984-91. "I love our players. I had a chance to meet with them today. It was a very difficult time, because these are my guys."

No decision has been made on who will coach the Buffaloes in their bowl game Dec. 27. Assistant head coach/linebackers coach Brian Cabral, who took over as an interim head coach when Barnett served a scandal-related suspension, is a possibility.

The end of Barnett's often-stormy tenure came on a day a CU spokeswoman said the school has asked university attorneys to review an unsigned letter that makes allegations of improper conduct against Barnett.

Some of the allegations in the letter, which was first reported by Denver's Rocky Mountain News, already have been investigated, spokeswoman Michelle McKinney said. She said the attorneys are trying to determine whether any of them warrant further investigation.

"It is an anonymous letter, so there is some caution on how you approach this," McKinney said. "Several investigations the university has been subjected to have looked at these allegations. If there are any allegations that our legal counsel believe were not fully investigated, we do intend to thoroughly look into them."

Barnett survived the recruiting scandal last year, although the university's president, chancellor and athletics director resigned in its aftermath.

Two investigations looked into allegations of misbehavior, including rape, but the only criminal charge involved the misuse of a university-issued cellphone and solicitation of a prostitute by an aide. Investigators also said sex, drugs and alcohol were available for recruits, though they concluded no school official knowingly condoned it.

Steven Snyder, a private investigator who worked for a regents-backed independent commission that looked into the scandal, told the News he received the anonymous letter in October and turned it over to university President Hank Brown.

He said he did not act on most them because he did not consider them serious but he thought university officials should see the unsigned letter.

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