BOULDER, Colo. -- A prosecutor raised questions about the alleged use of sex to lure athletes to the University of Colorado nearly two years before the issue erupted into a public controversy, a newly released document shows.

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Boulder County District Attorney Mary Keenan wrote CU football coach Gary Barnett in March 2002 to ask whether sexual favors were arranged for players and high school recruits.

The university released a copy of the letter Monday in response to an open records request by a local paper.

Keenan said she met with Barnett shortly after sending him the letter but did not recall his response. Barnett did not recall any discussion with Keenan, a university spokesman said.

The letter states, "This is at least the second time in recent years that allegations of sexual assaults and excessive intoxication in connection with recruits to the football program has been brought to the attention of the district attorney."

The letter says the university "gave assurances that decisive action would be taken to prevent any recurrence," she wrote.

The letter is the first documentation that Keenan directly asked university officials whether sex was used in recruiting.

In an October deposition taken as part of a civil lawsuit, Keenan said she verbally put the school "on notice" about sex, alcohol and recruiting in 1998.

The deposition, made public last week, has caused a furor.

University President Betsy Hoffman has promised an investigation by an independent commission. Legislators contemplated a formal investigation of their own but held off to give Hoffman a chance to act.

Barnett and other officials have vehemently denied using sex to recruit athletes but one group says Barnett is not telling the truth.

Throughout the fallout, Barnett has stuck by his story that nobody in his football program used sex in any way to entice recruits but he stopped short of defending the rest of the campus.

"I'm saying the allegations that we use sex in the recruiting process is absolutely not true," Barnett told 7NEWS. "And I am positive that none of that has ever come from any coach in our program, nor from me. Can I be assured that nothing has happened on campus? Absolutely not."

"He really needs to come out with the truth," said Kathy Redmond, the founder of the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes.

She thinks the initial accusations against CU are only the tip of the iceberg.

"I have a feeling Gary Barnett, because of how he is couching his statements, is A... a little bit worried, and B... has some knowledge as to other people that could be coming forward in the future," Redmond said.

Barnett says he's not afraid of an inquiry.

"We have nothing to hide, so bring anybody in here, and have it sponsored by whoever you want. It ain't going to make any difference," he said. However, he said CU should be judged on par with other universities.

"(If) we're judged against the norm, we're going to be exemplary in this investigation," Barnett said.

But the norm isn't acceptable according to Redmond. She says the issue of sex abuse in college sports reaches far beyond CU.

"Until colleges are more concerned about the character of their athletes instead of the win-loss column, that's when we'll see a difference," Redmond said.

On Friday, the CU Board of Regents will hold a special meeting to discuss the matter. The meeting will be held at the Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimons at 9 a.m. and the public is invited to come share their thoughts and opinions on the university's policies.

Fallout From Scandal Already Hurting CU's Prospects

CU's football team is feeling the impact of the scandal over alleged use of women to lure football recruits.

A defensive end from Honolulu who said he was leaning toward signing with Colorado disclosed that he decided to sign instead with Oregon State.

Newspapers reported that Tavita Thompson was concerned the scandal could result in changes in the Colorado coaching staff.

Barnett on Monday fired his defensive coordinator and replaced him with a former CU coach, citing poor game results.

Officials say 48-year-old Vince Okruch had been at CU for six years including the five years since 1999 that Barnett has been head coach. He and Barnett also spent seven years together at Northwestern.

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