ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brian Cabral, Colorado's new interim head football coach, listened as athletic director Dick Tharp talked during a news conference yesterday. Cabral, a Saint Louis alumnus, takes over for Gary Barnett.
Stepping Up
Saint Louis alum Brian Cabral
replaces Gary Barnett as acting
Colorado head coach
The way Brian Cabral sees things, he's just keeping the seat warm for Gary Barnett.
Cabral, a Saint Louis School graduate, was named the interim head football coach at the University of Colorado yesterday. He takes over for Barnett, who was placed on administrative leave on Wednesday.
"It's a long way from surfing at Kailua Beach, but it just seems like there's been a direction and a purpose in my life to where I am today," Cabral told the Star-Bulletin last night. "This is not ideal, but it is a situation where I feel like because of my past I have a lot to offer our program and university at this time."
Cabral, an assistant at CU for the last 15 years, steps into possibly the nation's most-visible coaching position at this time. The Colorado program has been surrounded by controversy in recent weeks with accusations of rape and misconduct regarding parties for recruits becoming a near daily occurrence.
"I've seen some real highs with national championships and Big 12 championships and unfortunately I've seen some dark times that I've never experienced anywhere," Cabral said.
Barnett was placed on administrative leave earlier this week for comments regarding former CU kicker Katie Hnida, who said she was raped by a CU player in 2000.
Cabral said he was informed of the decision to name him as the interim coach at a meeting with the school's chancellor and athletic director yesterday morning. He said he expects Barnett to be reinstated at the end of the 70-day period covered by his leave.
"I'm stepping alongside Coach Barnett during this time to lead the team along with our other coaches," Cabral said. "This is not a one-man show. This is something where only our coaches collectively and our players as a team can get through this.
"My responsibility is not the allegations, it's not what our program is going through. My responsibility is the welfare of our coaches and our players and to pull us through this 70-day period."
Cabral grew up in Kailua and played his high school ball at Saint Louis under Cal Lee in the early 1970s. Lee converted him from a running back to linebacker and the move proved to be profitable as Cabral went on to successful careers in college and the pros.
He was a team captain as a linebacker at Colorado and played nine years in the NFL, serving as special-teams captain with the Chicago Bears.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colorado interim football coach, Brian Cabral, listened as athletic director Dick Tharp spoke during a news conference yesterday.
Lee, now a Hawaii assistant coach, said the circumstances of Cabral's ascension to the head-coaching position aren't ideal, but he thinks Cabral has the temperament and experience to handle the role.
"It's going to take a very special person," Lee said. "Brian's been at the university all of his life and if there's somebody to get it done, I think Brian is the guy. I'm sure he'll do fine.
"You just have to take the horse by its reins and start going. You can't just look at the negatives. You have to look at the work that's in front of you and the things you have to do and you have to get it done. Those other things are behind you. You have to look ahead. Because it's going to be a big job."
Cabral recruited several Hawaii high school players to Colorado over the years and helped convince Campbell senior David Veikune to sign with the Buffaloes earlier this month.
Veikune, an all-state defensive lineman, said Cabral's appointment helped ease his mind about the situation surrounding the Colorado program.
"While this controversy is going on he should be able to step up and get things organized," Veikune said. "He doesn't beat around the bush. He's always straight-forward with what's going on and he's a really good guy. Everyone respects him."
Among the players Cabral helped attract to Boulder over the years were Kahuku offensive lineman Chris Naeole and Saint Louis defensive linemen Vili Maumau, Sam Taulealea and Vaka Manupuna. Manupuna was a sophomore with the Buffaloes last season.
Cabral has served under three head coaches at Colorado -- Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel and Barnett -- and is ready to take his turn at the helm.
"I told (the players) we possess a character that nobody sees," Cabral said. "There's a lot of focus on other issues, but I believe that there's a character in our team ... that we know is in them and it's time for us to prove what our character is."
