Bohn's Decision to Retain Hawk

[Buff_since76]

Looking at Bohn’s retention of Hawkins, I think there might be other factors that led to his decision (a little self preservation in fact). The overall goal Bohn has had since he came on was to create a quality football program, and a competitive b-ball program that at least makes the NIT on a regular basis. With these to programs the AD can then fund all other sports, and become competitive on a national basis. Looking back at when Bohn gave Hawk the extension he thought the football program had turned a corner. Once the extension was announced his focus went to basketball, and building the $10 million practice facility to help b-ball. I believe there is a clause in Bz’s contract that states if there are no improvements to facilities, he can opt out after this year (I might be wrong on the timing, but I know Bz can opt out). Bohn truly believes Bz and his system can work long term at CU, and that he can establish a successful program (I’m not talking about NCAA championships, but at least getting invited to the dance twice a decade and the NIT the other eight years). Bohn had a choice; spend $3 mill to buy out Hawk plus another few million to sign a new coach and get a new staff, or build a practice facility for B-ball/v-ball and lock Bz into his contract. Since CU AD doesn’t have $18 million of cash lying around like ND, the two options were not mutually exclusive. If Bohn fired Hawk, then Bz may have left at the end of the year, and both football and basketball programs would be in disarray. That would mean Bohn himself would be out the door if the football team had a subpar season in 2010. So Bohn kept Hawk in order to build the practice facility (which he announced on the radio would start construction in April of 2010) and keep some stability in the B-ball program, and he knows he can let Hawk go (if the team doesn’t do well) for less than $2 million in 2010.

[sackman]

Reasonable, but I remain of the opinion that Bohn was undermined on this deal. He had his legs cut out from under him by DiStephano and (probably) Benson.

[DBT]

Reasonable, but I remain of the opinion that Bohn was undermined on this deal. He had his legs cut out from under him by DiStephano and (probably) Benson.

No matter who made the decision, it was based on economics, IMO. And believe me, no matter what people on this board think about me, I'd have been all for a change if we could have afforded to do it AND bring in the right guy. I just don't think the money was there and if it was, it would have set the program back financially. Despite you witholding your millions, I think CU's revenue will not change dramatically next year.

[Darth Snow]

No matter who made the decision, it was based on economics, IMO. And believe me, no matter what people on this board think about me, I'd have been all for a change if we could have afforded to do it AND bring in the right guy. I just don't think the money was there and if it was, it would have set the program back financially. Despite you witholding your millions, I think CU's revenue will not change dramatically next year.

yup, cause of the extra game.

[Unleash Hell]

Looking at Bohn’s retention of Hawkins, I think there might be other factors that led to his decision (a little self preservation in fact). The overall goal Bohn has had since he came on was to create a quality football program, and a competitive b-ball program that at least makes the NIT on a regular basis. With these to programs the AD can then fund all other sports, and become competitive on a national basis. Looking back at when Bohn gave Hawk the extension he thought the football program had turned a corner. Once the extension was announced his focus went to basketball, and building the $10 million practice facility to help b-ball. I believe there is a clause in Bz’s contract that states if there are no improvements to facilities, he can opt out after this year (I might be wrong on the timing, but I know Bz can opt out). Bohn truly believes Bz and his system can work long term at CU, and that he can establish a successful program (I’m not talking about NCAA championships, but at least getting invited to the dance twice a decade and the NIT the other eight years). Bohn had a choice; spend $3 mill to buy out Hawk plus another few million to sign a new coach and get a new staff, or build a practice facility for B-ball/v-ball and lock Bz into his contract. Since CU AD doesn’t have $18 million of cash lying around like ND, the two options were not mutually exclusive. If Bohn fired Hawk, then Bz may have left at the end of the year, and both football and basketball programs would be in disarray. That would mean Bohn himself would be out the door if the football team had a subpar season in 2010. So Bohn kept Hawk in order to build the practice facility (which he announced on the radio would start construction in April of 2010) and keep some stability in the B-ball program, and he knows he can let Hawk go (if the team doesn’t do well) for less than $2 million in 2010.

whoa paragraphs?

[Duff Man]

yup, cause of the extra game.

And a game being at Invesco.

[SINKRATZ]

Until basketball actually makes money, I don't see Bohn going out of his way to help the hoops program at the expense of football. He knows where the AD's bread is buttered.

[buffs04]

I doubt this. Basketball is simply not as important at CU as football is - same as virtually every other big school in the country.

[Junction]

Until basketball actually makes money, I don't see Bohn going out of his way to help the hoops program at the expense of football. He knows where the AD's bread is buttered.

At this point he might figure that there's no harm in buttering another piece of bread in case the first one goes bad.....

He doesn't even have to turn men's hoops into a profit center (although it should be if Buzz is getting this team turned around the way it appears he might be...). If he can just cut the deficit there he's made his job much easier....

[Daaah]

I doubt this. Basketball is simply not as important at CU as football is - same as virtually every other big school in the country.

UConn isn't that small, is it?

[sackman]

UConn isn't that small, is it?

Or Kansas. Or Kentucky. Or Indiana. Or Syracuse.

[buffaholic]

Basketball is low hanging fruit. If Bohn can fill the Coors event center with paying customers, there's a lot of money to be made.

A good team will fill it. I witnessed it at AZ when Lute came.

Football would rely on higher ticket prices (and donors) to have a big effect on income.

I say, bring back beer sales. Seriously. I need one right now.

[stampy]

No matter who made the decision, it was based on economics, IMO. And believe me, no matter what people on this board think about me, I'd have been all for a change if we could have afforded to do it AND bring in the right guy. I just don't think the money was there and if it was, it would have set the program back financially. Despite you witholding your millions, I think CU's revenue will not change dramatically next year.

I think it was based on politics more than economics. Economically, this will have a long term negative effect, imo. We may never find out how many season tickets will be cancelled by the retention of Hawk, but I think it is going to be substantial. It just isn't worth paying all that scratch for season tix to see a couple of wins a year, when you can scalp tix under face and participate in all Bohn's ticket deals for quality seats.

It was a political call because even though everyone with a brain knows the AD would pay for the buyout, Benson didn't want to be saddled with it while pleading his case to the State for funding.

At least that's my guess as to why Hawk's back.

[zbuff]

I thought the general scuttlebutt was that money was there to be had. That blows this argument out of the water from the get-go.

[2HellNback]

Reasonable, but I remain of the opinion that Bohn was undermined on this deal. He had his legs cut out from under him by DiStephano and (probably) Benson.

I know for a fact that Bohn is now a Puppet to the chancellor and Prez.

He has no choice but to go along with the story, because the truth beings negative attention to the chancellor and president and Bohn cannot afford for that to happen.