Erroneous Internet Report Alert

Earlier today (Wednesday, Dec. 19), one of those football coaching hire gossip sites published the below (I won’t identify the site, do not want to give it any credibility since it’s all anonymous):

“Cincinnati- Bearcats coach Brian Kelly agreed to terms on a new five-year contract UCLA: Rick Neuheisel is scheduled to be interviewed by UCLA Chancellor Gene Block for the Bruins' head coach job tonight, sources familiar with the search said. Coach Hawkins interviewed with UCLA on Monday. He is very interested in the job and UCLA is going to be able to meet his salary requirements”

(This is how it was published; the UCLA paragraph ran into the tail-end of the Cincinnati note.)

We have had numerous inquiries from fans, and this erroneous one line mention has already reached into the recruiting world. And it says only “Coach Hawkins” without mentioning a first name, but in some circles, it is taking on a life of its own.

Either it was innocent in that whoever entered it typed Rick’s name and subconsciously was thinking of Colorado, or it was on purpose in an attempt to throw a monkey wrench into our recruiting.

Regardless, two contacts were made with this website to change it, and no reply or change was forthcoming. We had legal representation contact this site at the request of Athletic Director Mike Bohn to have it changed this afternoon.

Mike, Dan and I assure you that what is claimed in the above highlighted text in regard to “Coach Hawkins” could not be further from the truth. It is our hope that it is righted by the website and that the media does not pursue this as any kind of story, as there is none to pursue. Dan Hawkins is a Colorado Buffalo. Period. That may only help serve to accomplish what the author intended. We wanted to address it on our website since the question has come up in recruiting.

Anonymity is the cloak of cowardice someone once said; websites such as this one also gives people freedom to make things up to damage others. That is sad.

David Plati

Associate AD/Sports Information

THURSDAY UPDATE: The website finally altered what was written, though it doesn't confess to a typo or the original information being wrong; just says Coach Hawkins was not interested in the position. It would be nice if they admitted to an error, but alas, why confirm to the public you're ever wrong in that world.

Colorado University Athletics