BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- The parents of a woman who claimed she was raped by University of Colorado football players said on Tuesday they believe CU leaders ignored problems of sexual assault at the university.

Karen and Rick Burd (pictured, right), the parents of Lisa Simpson, told an investigative panel that they believed the university would not have made any changes without the publicity surrounding their daughter's lawsuit.

They said they told Chancellor Richard Byny about the alleged attack but don't believe he followed up.

The commission, appointed by the university's regents to look into claims sex and alcohol were offered to recruits to persuade them to attend CU, will meet in public for the last time next Tuesday. They will complete their report at that meeting.

Simpson is one of three women who filed lawsuits against CU claiming they were sexually assaulted by players or recruits in December 2001.

Her parents told the panel that they are confused by CU's stance. They say that while university officials claim they want to get to the bottom of the scandal, it seems like they just want the issue to go away so they can get back to business as usual.

"I truly believe that there would be no changes to the recruiting policy, no panel, no investigation of any kind had this not become so public a few months ago, and had Gov. Owens not pressured Betsy Hoffman into action," said Karen Burd.

Simpson's parents say that it has been interesting watching the panel encounter the same barriers they faced -- the frustration of not getting straight answers to simple questions. They say accountability is the biggest issue.

"I have been a CU football fan for 40 years and I want the program to excel. The football program, made up of outstanding young men, deserve more than what they're being forced to accept today. It's time to clean house and start over," said Rick Burd.

They say Simpson's life has been a nightmare for the past two years, ever since she came forward.

Ironically, the day before, parents of current CU players said that the lives of their sons have been ruined since the scandal erupted. They met to demand that the university repair damage done by the investigation and issue a statement of support for its football coaches and players.

"I don't like my kid being blamed for something he didn't do and I'm sure none of you would either," said one CU parent.

The parents also want the school to commit to fielding a nationally competitive football team.

Meanwhile, former CU football coach Rick Neuheisel is disputing claims that he knew about allegations of rape by CU football players in 1997 but decided they weren't a big deal.

The allegations came during athletic director Dick Tharp's testimony before the commission two weeks ago. Neuheisel coached the Buffs from 1995 to 1998. He said the first he heard of the allegations that two CU football recruits raped a 17-year-old girl in 1997 was in a newspaper article the following year.

No charges were ever filed in that case.