College football

Barnett unhappily leaves Colorado coaching job

By wire services
Published December 9, 2005

BOULDER, Colo. - Gary Barnett reluctantly stepped down as football coach of Colorado on Thursday, accepting a $3-million settlement and ending a tenure that was riddled by off-the-field problems but ultimately done in by recent bad results on the field.

Barnett said the decision was made by athletic director Mike Bohn.

"I respect that decision, I didn't like that decision - I didn't resign my position - but I wholeheartedly accept ... the decision," Barnett said.

Barnett pointed to a resume that includes a Big 12 Conference championship, several Big 12 North titles and conference honors as coach of the year.

"I would deem that a success. Other people might not," he said.

Choking up, Barnett thanked his players and fellow coaches. He said three weeks ago he was looking forward to an extension. Colorado, however, lost three straight games by a combined score of 130-22.

"It's pretty simple. We lost," he said. "I think our team has been overly concerned about a contract extension. ... We ran out of juice."

Barnett's tenure included a recruiting scandal, which resulted in an investigation that concluded drugs, alcohol and sex were used to entice recruits to the Boulder campus, though none of practices was sanctioned by university officials.

Barnett, 49-38 over seven seasons, will not coach the Buffs (7-5) against Clemson in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 27.

Tight end Quinn Sypniewski called Barnett's dismissal a "tragedy."

ORLANDO - Texas quarterback Vince Young and Southern California tailback Reggie Bush each won two awards, one as best player in the nation and one for being the best at his position.

Young won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's top quarterback.

Bush won the Walter Camp player of the year award and the Doak Walker Award given to the nation's best running back.

Young, Bush and USC quarterback Matt Leinart are finalists for the Heisman Trophy.

Young beat out Bush and Leinart for the Maxwell, and Leinart and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn for the O'Brien. He leads the nation in passing efficiency with a 168.6 rating. He has passed for 2,769 yards and 26 touchdowns, and has rushed for 850 yards.

"This award (Maxwell) means a whole lot because people doubted me about being a quarterback and thought I should have been moved to another position," Young said.

Bush beat out Washington State's Jerome Harrison and Memphis' DeAngelo Williams for the Doak Walker Award.

CHUCK BEDNARIK TROPHY: Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny was named the nation's best defensive player, beating out Maryland linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, the former Seminole High standout, and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk. Posluszny ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 111 tackles.

FRED BILETNIKOFF AWARD: Mike Hass of Oregon State was named the nation's best receiver, beating out Dwayne Jarrett of Southern Cal and Jeff Samardzija of Notre Dame. He leads the NCAA in receiving yards (139.3 per game).

OUTLAND TROPHY: Minnesota center Greg Eslinger was named the nation's top lineman, beating out Oregon defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and Auburn offensive tackle Marcus McNeill.

THORPE AWARD: Texas safety Michael Huff was named the nation's best defensive back, beating out Virginia Tech cornerback Jimmy Williams and Clemson cornerback Tye Hill. He has 97 tackles and two interceptions.

GROZA AWARD: Oregon State's Alexis Serna was named the nation's best kicker, beating out Mason Crosby of Colorado and Had Dean of Clemson. He leads all kickers with 101 points.

RAY GUY AWARD: Wake Forest's Ryan Plackemeier was named the nation's top punter, beating out Danny Baugher of Arizona and John Torp of Colorado. He leads the nation in net punting (41.38) and average yards per punt (47.2).

COACH OF THE YEAR: Joe Paterno won the award for turning around Penn State after four losing seasons in the past five years. Paterno also is among six finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, the Football Writers Association of America's coach of the year honor. The others: Central Florida's George O'Leary, Texas' Mack Brown, USC's Pete Carroll, UCLA's Karl Dorrell and Notre Dame's Charlie Weis. The winner will be revealed during the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl.

ORANGE BOWL: FSU's Bobby Bowden and Paterno renewed their friendship before a news conference in Hollywood, swapping back slaps and small talk.

"Bobby has won more games than I have, so he can talk first," Paterno said, laughing.

They met in 1962, when Paterno was an assistant at Penn State and Bowden was coach at Samford.

"As we've grown older, there ain't nobody else left," said Bowden, 76. "Everybody has been fired or is gone or retired. So we naturally gravitate to each other."

Said Paterno, who turns 79 this month: "We're the only two guys who go to bed at 8 o'clock."

NORTH CAROLINA: Receiver Mike Mason was dismissed for violating team rules. He played in 11 games in the past season and had 22 catches for 372 yards and one touchdown.

[Last modified December 9, 2005, 01:19:17]