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  • Prime Time. Prime Time. Its a new era for Colorado football. Consider signing up for a club membership! For $20/year, you can get access to all the special features at Allbuffs, including club member only forums, dark mode, avatars and best of all no ads ! But seriously, please sign up so that we can pay the bills. No one earns money here, and we can use your $20 to keep this hellhole running. You can sign up for a club membership by navigating to your account in the upper right and clicking on "Account Upgrades". Make it happen!

Allbuffs State of the Union - 2011

dio

Admin
Club Member
Junta Member
Well Allbuffers, we roll on towards the most exciting year of football that the Buffs have had in probably a decade. I want to take a few minutes of your time to discuss how our little site has grown-up and now stands at the forefront of a new era in CU athletics.


The first thing we need to do is understand how we got here. The old-timers will know this, but with the influx of new members I want to take some time to retell it. Allbuffs was formed by one man nearly a decade ago – Matt. At the time, there was basically one online portal for Buffs fans to convene – Netbuffs. Matt saw the obvious need for a more positive (and better formatted) gathering place for Buffs fans. He invested his own money and his own time to take a very small offshoot of Netbuffs users and started Allbuffs. Matt and a handful of moderators (many of whom are still here today) ran the small site, building as they went.


As I mentioned, the site started very small. But Matt and his team provided the users with the opportunity to create and publish their own content on the forums. The forums themselves eventually expanded, encompassing Basketball, Football, and Recruiting. As a fan-site, Matt and his team didn’t have the resources or the connections to get the latest ‘scoop’ or have the latest rumors – those would eventually be provided by loyal users. However, Allbuffs did begin to provide something that didn’t exist for CU athletics – a place where news, rumor, statistics, and discussion were aggregated into one place. It seems like a simple concept, but it is something that few sites do well. Allbuffs did it well because of early users such as JimmyBuff and WindyCityBuff. The crown jewel of the site became the Football Recruiting forum, where VamosBuffaloes built immaculate profiles. Again, VamosBuffaloes built this without the resources of Rivals or Scout – and he did it as a hobby. Allbuffs continued to build a site of aggregation and discussion that didn’t exist anywhere else on the web for CU athletics – and it remained free.


This continued for years - Matt and his teams running the site as a hobby, earning no money on the venture, all investments coming from meager advertising revenue or out of the pocket of Matt himself. Yet, the site continued to flourish. The users – some still here, some who have moved on – provided a unique atmosphere for an online message board. Poignant discussion was mixed with good sports knowledge leading to engaging discussions. Users also developed a light-hearted sense of humor with one another, masterfully mixing maturity and immaturity to create the atmosphere that still exists today (I bet you guys didn’t realize that was what you were doing all day when you should be working).


And yes, the site continued to grow at the hand of Matt and his team. It took time, but Allbuffs rose and its voice and vibrant community eventually became the primary source of Buffs news on the net. Yet, the growth of the site was causing greater time and financial burdens on Matt and his team. It was at this point in 2008 that Matt asked for help. He could no longer continue to run the site alone, but he also didn’t want it to die. Users stepped up to assist, forming what is now affectionately known as The Junta. Acting as a group of volunteers, The Junta took over running the various functions of the site – freeing Matt up to enjoy the site as a participant, as well as allowing him to contribute to the areas that were of his primary interest.


Junta members continued to build. In fact, I want to take a moment to recognize The Junta members and Moderators who continue in the tradition of those who came before them, building and evolving the site:
• Buffnik and Boulder Buff continue to develop the recruiting forum – making it the premier destination for recruit discussion and analysis
• Goose and ScotchBuff have built the Basketball forum into the premier CU basketball discussion spot on the web
• Highflyer, Jens, Junction, Liver and wsp4820 all continue to moderate the site, and often cause more problems than they fix
• Chipwich, 96 Buff, and SkiTown work tirelessly on the back-end keeping this place afloat from a technical standpoint, while also chipping in with moderating duties.
• Absinthe also works tirelessly to promote the site and has been a key driver in partnering with other CU and non-CU organizations to provide much of the unique content that is available throughout the year. His work often goes unnoticed, but it has been key in raising the profile of the site and providing unique opportunities that haven’t existed in the past.
• Matt is still the founding father and continues to contribute to the development of the site in all capacities.


This doesn’t even take into account those users who have historically contributed to building this place – such as VamosBuffaloes and Alferd Jasper. I don’t list these names so that The Junta can pat themselves on the back. Rather, I list these folks to highlight that this is truly an organization that was built ‘For the Fans, By the Fans’. Each of these folks runs the site in their spare-time. They spend portions (often large portions) of their personal lives writing recruiting profiles or blogs, contacting other sites to get unique content for Allbuffs users, updating the site software and security, fixing technical problems, and pursuing a whole host of other items that are necessary to keep the site running and growing.


Yet, I am struck that despite the efforts of this group of people, the site wouldn’t grow if it wasn’t for one simple fact – Allbuffs has the best user base of any message board on the web. I say that with good authority, as I have spent my time lurking on message boards for nearly everything under the sun – whether it is video games, sports, news… anything. None, and I mean this honestly, none of the sites I have ever been to have the users that we have. The intelligence, the humor, the understanding, and the camaraderie that exists here exists nowhere else. Allbuffs users have worked to take the online connections into real-life friendships – Sackman graciously allows Allbuffs users to ‘Sackygate’ before games, Buffs events around the country are organized and promoted on the site, meetups before and after basketball games occur with regularity, and even the current students make friends that they carry through their education and into the real world. It is you guys, from the folks with 20,000 posts to the folks with just a few, all the way down to the lurkers – you are the folks that makes this site great, and I hope that you stay with us for as long as this site exists.


So, the next question is: Where are we now?


The added hands of The Junta has allowed Allbuffs to grow significantly over the past 3 years. We are now the biggest unofficial CU site on the web. We have almost 1,800 registered members, of which about 150 are contributing club members. We have almost 200,000 visitors a month during the football season. The growth of the site has necessitated a new server and more bandwidth over the past year. The recruiting forums offer the best source of compiled recruit information and discussion on the web. We have a blog system that allows users to publish their own articles. We have developed a chat room that can be used by members for live chat during games or other events. Allbuffs has partnered with Neulion media, the official video provider for CU Athletics, to be the only unofficial CU fan site that can provide CU video clips that come directly from the University. Similarly, Allbuffs has also partnered with TeamFanShop (Football Fanatics) to provide one of the largest catalogs of official CU fan gear and paraphernalia anywhere (each purchase supports the site and CU athletics). No other CU sites outside of the school itself offers this service. Allbuffs has even picked up a staff writer – Joe Soehn – who is able to provide content that is quite literally available NOWHERE else (thanks Joe!).


That is a ton of unique content and services that are available to Allbuffs users – yet one thing remains true – Allbuffs is a mostly free venture. We have been implementing all this without squeezing you for cash. How? Well, it goes back to our users. We ask, we don’t demand, a yearly subscription to the site of $15. That $15 doesn’t line my pockets, and it despite our joking, it doesn’t provide hookers and blow for The Junta. In fact, The Junta members still purchase their own yearly $15 subscriptions. The majority of that cash goes right back into site operating costs such as hosting the servers, upgrading the software, renewing the domain, etc. In the rare instance we have a few extra bucks, we put that cash back towards the site in the form of fun – such as t-shirt giveaways or fark contests – as well as into the initiatives that I’ve listed in previous paragraphs that support the growth and development of the site. Additionally, any users who subscribe for $15 don’t have to see any of the banner advertising that non-club members see.


But the point is that this site continues to be a site ‘For the Fans, by the Fans’. And so here is my annual sales pitch. If you lurk on the site and enjoy the content and want to continue to see it to grow, consider buying a $15 subscription for the year. If you are a user who enjoys spending your free time on this site, consider chipping in to keep the site running. If you can’t give $15, then we understand, and you will still get 99.99% of all the features you currently get. The $15 isn’t a fee, or a tax, or a demand – it is more of a suggested donation to keep this site alive. We don’t have corporate backing or any investment of any kind – Allbuffs is reliant upon what makes the site great, the users. We are kind of the PBS of online message boards – just without the phone bank.


In the beginning of this post, I noted that Allbuffs stands at the forefront of a new era in CU athletics. We have joined a new conference to face exciting new foes. We have a budding basketball program that could turn into a national power in short order. Our football team has new life after a decade of mismanagement. And while all this is happening, Allbuffs is swirling in its midst. Remember, we’re the biggest unofficial CU site on the web, and Allbuffs has grown into the primary source of CU athletic information and discussion on the internet.


What does the future look like for Allbuffs? Well, I don’t expect us to take any steps backwards. We plan on continuing to provide all the features that you’re used to. We also don’t expect any changes to the software that the site is run on (but that can always change quickly, as you all know). There are no intentions of requiring subscriptions or raising member ships fees, unless operating costs require it. Sounds boring right? Well, I can assure you that the coming days, weeks, and months will see exciting new partnerships formed and new features added to this site. You are going to see things that should make you excited as we access new content and contacts. But broadly, what is the mission of Allbuffs going forth?


It’s quite simple from my perspective – Allbuffs should be the hub of CU fans on the internet. We aren’t here to take down any other sites – each of them provides a valuable service in raising the profile of CU and providing the CU content that we love. In fact, Allbuffs often actively works to nurture a positive relationship with many sites, such as the Ralphie Report (www.ralphiereport.com) and CU at the Game (www.cuatthegame.com). However, Allbuffs should be the hub of CU activity – the place where fans can come and let their hair-down to discuss CU. An honest, warm online environment for CU fans of all stripes to gather. It is where we were when Allbuffs was formed, where we are right now, and where we want to be in the future.


So, I ask you to keep this post in mind as we dive into the new era. If you are a lurker, then I ask you to consider posting every once in awhile. If you’re a poster, I ask you to think about buying a subscription to keep the site afloat. If you are a writer and want to write an article – do it and send it to a Junta member, we will see if we can have it posted. If you want to make CU videos, then have at it, and we will do our best to promote your work. If you are a fan of the less famous CU sports such as Cross Country, Skiing, or anything else, then give us some news and insight… I guarantee CU fans are interested.


Allbuffs is what you make of it – it is For the Fans, By the Fans. Be proud of the community that each of you has helped build, and continue to have fun here.


Don’t hesitate to PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Also, feel free to respond to the stickied post to provide suggestions for future Allbuffs improvements and content.


Go Buffs!


Dio
 
:thumbsup: Thanks for everything you do Dio/Junta. I will work on letting my hair down while on AB.
 
Excellent post and State of the Union!!

/Except that I had completely forgotten about that other site... and this made me remember it!
 
cryingindian.jpg
 
Cliff's Notes from my read through for those of you with short attention spans:

AllBuffs is kicking ass. Buffnik is awesome (might want to rep that guy). AllBuffs will be kicking more ass. Thank you to all lurkers, registered users, and members.
 
If Allbuffs was a stock, we´d be breaking the Dow tomorrow.

I don´t deserve that mention tho.
 
The basketball coverage is the thing that has shown the biggest improvement over the last year (or two). Big ups to Scotch and Goose for the work.
 
Cliff's Notes from my read through for those of you with short attention spans:

AllBuffs is kicking ass. Buffnik is awesome (might want to rep that guy). AllBuffs will be kicking more ass. Thank you to all lurkers, registered users, and members.

Pos rep or neg rep? Guess I'll just take a chance.
 
Thank you for all the work you all do. Great site.

P.S. Since you have developed AllBuffs into an all powerful deity, can you please deliver Conner Wood to the Buff faithful?
 
Thank you for all the work you all do. Great site.

P.S. Since you have developed AllBuffs into an all powerful deity, can you please deliver Conner Wood to the Buff faithful?

Only if you spell his name right. :)
 
Happy to be here letting my hair down, and I will continue to do so...as long as I have hair. After that, we'll see....


Kudos to the Junta.
 
I'm wondering if there is any mobile app for AllBuffs, either on Android or iOS. I mean app specifically for this site.
 
It is you guys, from the folks with 20,000 posts to the folks with just a few, all the way down to the lurkers – you are the folks that makes this site great

On behalf of DBT and Sacky - **** you :lol:
 
I'm wondering if there is any mobile app for AllBuffs, either on Android or iOS. I mean app specifically for this site.

No(t yet). Right now we only have Tapatalk but we are considering getting the vBulletin mobile suite.
 
The Junta stole my VBucks :wtf::pissed::Tantrum:





Oh... and shouldn't you have to end with something like...

"The State of our AllBuffs is Strong!" Everyone else does something like that.
 
The Junta stole my VBucks :wtf::pissed::Tantrum:





Oh... and shouldn't you have to end with something like...

"The State of our AllBuffs is Strong!" Everyone else does something like that.
How 'bout "Mission Accomplished", or "Ask not what your Message Board can do for you, but what you can do for your Message Board" or "We have nothing to fear but interrupted internet service itself". I'm pretty sure we can eliminate, "A kinder and gentler Message Board".
 
I counted not less than 14 standing ovations while reading that state of the union.
 
The Junta stole my VBucks :wtf::pissed::Tantrum:

Oh... and shouldn't you have to end with something like...

"The State of our AllBuffs is Strong!" Everyone else does something like that.


Depends on what your definition of "is" is. :rolling_eyes:
 
I want to say thank you to all of those who have made this site great.
I also want to say **** you to those same people.

Since finding this site I

cant seem to get any work done
my wife thinks I am crazy
I have developed myopia and carpal tunnel syndrome from clicking the "new posts" button

so thanks and get bent
 
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