FORT COLLINS, Colo. – More than 20 current and former Colorado State football players and athletic department staff say they have witnessed recurring instances of racial insensitivity and abusive behavior within the department.
In dozens of independently gathered and corroborated interviews with Coloradoan reporters, players and staff within the program claim a pattern of concerning behavior has spanned the tenure of former head coach Mike Bobo and current coach Steve Addazio. They say athletic director Joe Parker and other athletic administrators have turned a blind eye to the issues.
Those who spoke to the Coloradoan include a CSU Athletic Hall of Fame member and former coach, a current mental health counselor at the university and numerous players and staff with firsthand knowledge of the football program's culture, which some have called "toxic.