Reforms at Colorado will make life more difficult for Barnett.(Chicago Tribune)

Byline: Teddy Greenstein

Hours after being reinstated as Colorado's football coach last week, Gary Barnett refused to look back at the scandal that led to his three-month paid suspension.

"Maybe it's my football training," he said in a telephone interview. "You glean as much as you can about the situation and look ahead."

Perhaps Barnett realizes there's nothing he can say to appease his critics, who wanted to see him on the unemployment line after numerous sexual assault allegations surfaced involving his players or recruits.

Or maybe Barnett simply needs to focus all his attention on what's in front of him. He arguably now has the toughest job in college football.

In March the university imposed strict guidelines for recruiting visits that call for a one-night stay, an 11 p.m. curfew and supervision by a parent or coach. Using alcohol and visiting strip clubs were already against the rules, but now those rules apparently will be enforced.

The second wave of reform came Thursday when Colorado announced that the athletic department would be treated much like the math or sociology department. Provost Phil DiStephano will oversee the football program, limiting the number of recruits who fall below the university's standards for admission and ensuring academic progress along the way.