CU overhauls recruiting

New football guidelines ban private parties

? Colorado announced sweeping changes to its scandal-ridden football program Thursday, barring recruits from visiting bars and private parties and putting them under the close supervision of parents and coaches.

Calling the guidelines the strictest in the nation, university president Betsy Hoffman and chancellor Richard Byyny said recruits would visit the Boulder campus during the offseason so coaches and athletes will have more time to focus on them. All activities will be planned, approved and supervised by a coach.

The recruits, primarily high school athletes, also will be limited to a single night’s stay during campus visits, instead of the usual two. A 1 a.m. curfew will be moved up to 11 p.m.

“As painful an experience as it may be, we view it as an opportunity to set the standard for an issue all colleges and universities must be concerned about,” Hoffman said.

Seven women have accused Colorado football players or recruits of rape since 1997. The school faces federal lawsuits by three of the women who say they were raped by football athletes at or just after a 2001 off-campus recruiting party.

Asked if the new guidelines will hurt recruiting, Byyny said: “It really doesn’t matter. We want to have a model program.”

Also Thursday, Baylor responded to the scandal in the men’s basketball program by appointing a special panel to recommend standards and policies for recruiting and admitting athletes.