It is with fragile care that high school football recruits are
treated when they arrive at universities for their official visits.
These prep athletes are shown the opportunities schools have to
offer ““ on the field, in the classroom and even socially.
But what happens when all the fun goes too far, when what was
supposed to be an informative weekend takes a turn for the
worse?
The Colorado football program may have to answer that question,
in response to allegations that a university student was raped at a
sex party put on to entice recruits. The school has established a
commission to investigate the charges.
“Morals have a lot to do with a program,” UCLA
Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said regarding the recruiting
practices. “When you’re charged with supervising 22
sports, it’s one thing, but the issue that comes into play
here is what athletes are doing when they are not under your
handle.”
Though Colorado is in the center of what may be a recruiting sex
scandal, ripples of controversy can still be felt at UCLA. E. J.
“Doc” Kreis, currently the head of strength and
conditioning for the Bruins, was questioned in a deposition for his
alleged involvement in the Colorado case.
As the former Buffalo strength coach, Kreis ““ who was
named in connection with the suit against the university ““
allegedly helped players who were suspected of being involved in
the sex party corroborate their stories and hide evidence. He has
since denied these allegations, both in depositions and interviews,
according to the Daily Camera. Kreis was unavailable to comment to
the Daily Bruin, an Athletic Department spokesman said.
UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said although the Athletic Department
had no prior knowledge of Kreis’ alleged Colorado
involvement, it wouldn’t have mattered in his hiring.
Guerrero said UCLA would have nothing do with the pending Colorado
investigation.
Athletic departments around the country are hoping to keep a
tighter rein than in the past, as the recruiting landscape becomes
littered with alleged sexual indiscretions. At the University of
Minnesota, for example, recruits were allegedly taken to strip
clubs by their hosts during a Dec. 5-7 visit.
Former Bruin tight end Mike Seidman said he had a similar
experience at UCLA. He told the St. Paul Pioneer Press last week
that on an official visit to Westwood, he was taken to strip clubs
and since then had offered recruits he hosted the same treatment.
However, the current Carolina Panthers rookie noted that none took
up his offer.
“I’d take guys wherever they wanted to go,”
Seidman told the Pioneer Press. “If a kid is 18, I see
nothing wrong with it … If a kid was forcibly taken, that’s
another thing. But I don’t think that happens. It’s all
done in fun.”
Guerrero did not concur with Seidman’s philosophy.
“If that was to happen,” he said, “It’s
likely that student wouldn’t have a UCLA uniform
anymore.”
With reports from Diamond Leung, Bruin sports senior
staff.