More at stake long term for CU than outcome of recruiting scandal

To say the sex-assault allegations against the University of Colorado football program have created a firestorm of negative national publicity for Colorado and Boulder in particular is an understatement.

This past week, the scandal moved up in national headlines as a congressional panel announced it will investigate how colleges are recruiting athletes. U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., says the congressional probe was prompted by the investigation under way by the panel appointed by CU regents. And that investigation was underscored as Colorado Gov. Bill Owens appointed state Attorney General Ken Salazar as a special prosecutor to determine if any laws have…