Sent this early this AM before this thread was created:
Hi Todd,
I am the Chair of the Denver chapter of the Forever Buffs. I appreciate the support you have provided in the trying times for the AD. It was nice to see that University is behind the proverbial front porch of the University and supports it when changes become inevitable.
With that being said, there is one consistent factor in our athletic downturn and slide over the last 2 decades. That is the Chancellor of the University of Colorado Phil DiStefano. He intervened and undermined Mike Bohn who has moved on and proved to be a very successful AD at both Cincinnati and the University of Southern California. Very successful. He has also been a huge part of the issues with Rick George's tenure as well. While he might have been a once very good faculty representative, his leadership, as demonstrated yesterday during the press conference surrounding the coach change, is way out of touch and inappropriate at best.
Mr. DiStefano should never have been involved in the press conference. He took what should have been a day of change and optimism for many Buffs fans and immediately made major mistakes again with his comments. To say that CU cannot get transfers into CU that many of our peers can is completely ludicrous. Basketball recruits that Tad Boyle could not get in were able to transfer to Wake Forest without issue. To think we have a better or higher academic standing than many of the institutions that regularly enroll transfer students is really a false elitist stance that really has no bearing. USC, UCLA, Michigan, Ohio St, Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington, and the list goes on. Schools with better academic standing than CU are able to do what CU apparently will not. This is an issue of will not vs can not. Plain and simple.
This is only one of the areas that needs improvement. CU should charge in-state tuition for every single student athlete on scholarship, not out of state. The AD should be moved out from under the Chancellor and report to the President's office. Enrollment window opportunities for student athletes. And many more changes that could benefit the AD and help enable success.
There is a window in front of you to make major, long term, positive changes that can set the AD up for long term success and create a legacy for yourself. I hope you are open to looking at the opportunity for what it is.
I am a longtime vested Buff who will be part of the change as well. If given the chance, I would be honored to tell you about my love affair with this great institution and am always open to being a part of the solution. I would only need an invitation.
Sincerely and Go Buffs!