This college football offseason, we’ve seen multiple programs have to shutdown offseason activities over the last couple of months. This time, however, a Group of 5 program is pausing activities and not because of the coronavirus.

On Friday, Colorado State athletic director Joe Parker announced that the department has suspended all football activities after learning of “extremely troubling allegations of racism and verbal abuse” in the football program:

“Today, we learned of some extremely troubling allegations of racism and verbal abuse from CSU’s athletic administration generally and in the football program specifically.

Colorado State University is committed to being an anti-racist university, and we will not tolerate any behavior or climate that goes against that core value. Moreover, CSU Athletics is committed to the health and well-being of student-athletes above all other priorities, and this includes their mental health. We believe it is our responsibility to make sure that all student-athletes feel welcomed and valued as members of an inclusive athletics community.

I have consulted with President McConnell about these new allegations, which obviously deeply concern her as well. Effective immediately, and for the best interests of our student-athletes, I am pausing all football-related activities indefinitely. This includes practices, workouts, and team meetings. …”

The announcement comes days after an explosive report alleging that CSU players were threatened with reduced playing time if they reported COVID-19 symptoms. Steve Addazio, a former Florida assistant and head coach at Temple and Boston College, took the CSU job this offseason after Mike Bobo was fired. The school previously suspended all football activities in late July after 8 players tested positive for coronavirus.