What's new
AllBuffs | Unofficial fan site for the University of Colorado at Boulder Athletics programs

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • 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!

The Politics that saved Hawkins...

ScottyBuff

Well-Known Member
Governor proposes study of Colo. higher education

Possible solutions include a ballot measure asking voters for a tax increase to fund higher education, a study of efficiency and performance, and giving the Colorado Commission on Higher Education more power to set tuition and eliminate duplicate courses.

Ritter is being forced by state law to cut $560 million from this fiscal year's budget, which ends June 30. Over this fiscal year and the next, lawmakers will see the state General Fund budget slashed from $7.5 billion to $6.2 billion, with higher education funding one of the few budget items not protected by the state constitution.

Monfort said a tax increase could be a tough sell because of the perception among voters that university administration and faculty haven't made their share of sacrifices in a slumping economy.

\"To achieve that, we have to be realistic and deliberate in how we direct our current low funding levels. We also need to look for new revenue streams to sustain our colleges and universities,\" Bruce Benson said.

There is the political motive for not buying out Hawkins this year.

The "perception among voters" is ALL that matters. Another $3 million buyout could have been the reason this proposed bill would have been defeated. And before you post that it was donor money not tax payer money, of course that would be true, but the energy and time it would take to try and convince the millions of Colorado voters of that would be monumental, so they decided to avoid a backlash from voters, and other politicians, and deal with the backlash from fans and alumni.

So not only are we stuck with Hawkins, but most likely there will be a tax increase proposed in Colorado to fund the public university system.
 
Last edited:
:nod:

I think what bothers me most is the way it was handled. We were promised a policy of openness with the new administration and it's just not there. CU sports fans were lied to.
 
Has anyone considered that keeping Hawk for one more year might be the right move from a football perspective?

By keeping Hawk for another year CU has a lot of time to identify the right guy. Hawk seemed like the right guy, but that isn’t working out so well. No need to rush into another potentially bad hire. You make another bad choice and you’re stuck for another 4-5 years. Maybe these guys are taking the long view and trying to do more due diligence this time.

Just a thought.
 
The leaders of higher education need to hammer home two points again and again. First, the University of Colorado system is the fourth largest employer in the state. Those are jobs that are not merely all professors and high-level administrators. Second, the state of Colorado attracts college-educated adults from all over the country. The education level of the populace is much higher than the national average. If Coloradoans are going to compete for jobs, they need to have a strong higher educational system to turn to.
 
How about a a full stadium and a few BCS bowl appearances for a new revenue stream. Maybe a tv deal to broadcast all of our games? Don't think you can accomplish that with the current staff.
 
How about a a full stadium and a few BCS bowl appearances for a new revenue stream. Maybe a tv deal to broadcast all of our games? Don't think you can accomplish that with the current staff.

He wasn't referencing the football team and athletic department, but the entire University.

While that would help it is a small drop in a big bucket for the university.

The main point would rather be the engagement of the alumni through the athletic department and the donations that they make.
 
Governor proposes study of Colo. higher education

There is the political motive for not buying out Hawkins this year.

The \"perception among voters\" is ALL that matters. Another $3 million buyout could have been the reason this proposed bill would have been defeated.

Yes, that's how I've seen it.
You can't throw $3 million out the window essentially and expect the average person to understand it isn't "real money."

Ritter and the CU bigwigs had to look at the whole picture, and this was not the year to buy out a coach for weak performance.
 
The leaders of higher education need to hammer home two points again and again. First, the University of Colorado system is the fourth largest employer in the state. Those are jobs that are not merely all professors and high-level administrators. Second, the state of Colorado attracts college-educated adults from all over the country. The education level of the populace is much higher than the national average. If Coloradoans are going to compete for jobs, they need to have a strong higher educational system to turn to.


Here is the where that argument breaks down for the Boulder Campus - over 50% of the student at CU - Boulder are from out of state so the CU campus is not seen as the place for higher education by many people in the state. The other campuses are seen as much more important in meeting the needs of the population. CU Boulder is very much behind the curve in providing continuing education opportunities to the local workforce. Regis and DU are cleaning up in that Market.
 
Colorado voters don't want and therefore won't get a top tier D1 football team.

That's the bed that's been made.

If CU is the state's 4th biggest employeer, then what are the top 3?

US Military?
State of Colorado?
City of Denver?

How far down does one have to go to get a private company?
 
Colorado voters don't want and therefore won't get a top tier D1 football team.

That's the bed that's been made.

If CU is the state's 4th biggest employeer, then what are the top 3?

US Military?
State of Colorado?
City of Denver?

How far down does one have to go to get a private company?

According to this Lockheed is #1 followed by Peterson AFB, CU-Boulder, CU Hospital, and IBM.

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview6.asp?soccode=&stfips=08&from=State&id=&nodeid=12
 
According to this Lockheed is #1 followed by Peterson AFB, CU-Boulder, CU Hospital, and IBM.

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/oview6.asp?soccode=&stfips=08&from=State&id=&nodeid=12

#3 CU Boulder 6902
#4 CU Hospital 6500
#9 CU Denver 4056
#17 CU Hosp (again) 3500
CU C Springs ?

total 20,956


That's a big payroll Mr Benson manages. If added up, CU would displace Locheed at the top. Sure would like to see more fortune 500 on that list.

Time to look at Texas.

Edit: I'm not trusting these lists. Where is King Soopers or Qwest or Frontier or Vail Assiciates on the Colo site? Or Exxon/Mobile, Conoco and American Airlines on the Texas list?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Here is the where that argument breaks down for the Boulder Campus - over 50% of the student at CU - Boulder are from out of state so the CU campus is not seen as the place for higher education by many people in the state. The other campuses are seen as much more important in meeting the needs of the population. CU Boulder is very much behind the curve in providing continuing education opportunities to the local workforce. Regis and DU are cleaning up in that Market.

Is it really over 50%? I was under the impression it was a 60-40 split leaning toward in-state students?
 
Totall off topic, but IMO there needs to be less college and more vocational traning. College degrees have been totally devalued over the decades. A college degree used to be fairly prestigious, now any moron can get a college degree because there are so many options these days.

Keep the top tier schools like CU. They need to do what they do, but other schools, lesser schools, should focus on real vocational education, not worthless classes that have no value in the real world.
 
Totall off topic, but IMO there needs to be less college and more vocational traning. College degrees have been totally devalued over the decades. A college degree used to be fairly prestigious, now any moron can get a college degree because there are so many options these days.

Keep the top tier schools like CU. They need to do what they do, but other schools, lesser schools, should focus on real vocational education, not worthless classes that have no value in the real world.
You are kidding, aren't you? I had a "vocational" job. I was a journeyman carpenter. It was not until I went back to college and got my degree that I started to earn a decent living. Not that there is anything wrong with working in the trades. There is a lot to be said for it.
 
You are kidding, aren't you? I had a "vocational" job. I was a journeyman carpenter. It was not until I went back to college and got my degree that I started to earn a decent living. Not that there is anything wrong with working in the trades. There is a lot to be said for it.

CU was for you and people who are willing to work for it and have the aptitude for it, but it's not for everyone. Society is not set up that way.

I'm talking about all of the loads of people getting social sciences, liberal arts, history, communication degrees,etc. from these lower tier schools. They are worthless. It's a wast of time and money. These people need to be learning real skills and I'm not just talking construction.
 
Totall off topic, but IMO there needs to be less college and more vocational traning. College degrees have been totally devalued over the decades. A college degree used to be fairly prestigious, now any moron can get a college degree because there are so many options these days.

Keep the top tier schools like CU. They need to do what they do, but other schools, lesser schools, should focus on real vocational education, not worthless classes that have no value in the real world.

The world needs ditch diggers too.

Signed,

Judge Schmails.
 
Anyway, is the AD not self supporting? It relies on funds that it generates. Football is the cash cow of the AD, supporting, pretty much, every other sport. Therefore, there is great pressure on the AD for the football program to be successful. I am really beginning to question whether or not Bohn is up to the task. Now, if the rumor that he and Hawkins had agreed to a buyout but Bohn was usurped by higher ups, then, maybe, the onus should be on Benson and DiStefano. My deal is that Hawkins isn't as much to blame as Bohn, DiStefano and Benson. I also blame the economic policies, like TABOR, that have tied the hands of those that govern.
 
You are kidding, aren't you? I had a "vocational" job. I was a journeyman carpenter. It was not until I went back to college and got my degree that I started to earn a decent living. Not that there is anything wrong with working in the trades. There is a lot to be said for it.

Jesus was a carpenter

Nothing wrong with a honest trade, plumbers, roofers, carpenters, framers, masons etc... Those folks work their butts off and work many hours to provide for their families. My step father worked in heating and cooling for 40 years, his hands were always cut up from sheet metal. Tough but damn honest work.
 
Jesus was a carpenter

Nothing wrong with a honest trade, plumbers, roofers, carpenters, framers, masons etc... Those folks work their butts off and work many hours to provide for their families. My step father worked in heating and cooling for 40 years, his hands were always cut up from sheet metal. Tough but damn honest work.
This is probably a topic for another thread, but I thank God that I was able to learn a trade. Every kid should. Still, you have to get a college degree these days. It is almost getting to the point where you will need a graduate degree.

OK, back on topic.

PS, at least I have something in common with Jesus.
 
This is probably a topic for another thread, but I thank God that I was able to learn a trade. Every kid should. Still, you have to get a college degree these days. It is almost getting to the point where you will need a graduate degree.

OK, back on topic.

PS, at least I have something in common with Jesus.

You have two, carpentry and long hair...at least you used to have the long hair thing...:smile2:
 
You have two, carpentry and long hair...at least you used to have the long hair thing...:smile2:

Actually had three with the beard and mustache DBT was sportin' in the old avatar! :thumbsup:

EDIT: Had originally put "pimpin'" to describe DBT's facial hair prowess but considering Jesus was also in the conversation of things in common, figured it probably wasn't a good idea to use that particluar adjective. :lol:
 
Actually had three with the beard and mustache DBT was sportin' in the old avatar! :thumbsup:

EDIT: Had originally put "pimpin'" to describe DBT's facial hair prowess but considering Jesus was also in the conversation of things in common, figured it probably wasn't a good idea to use that particluar adjective. :lol:

Jesus did hang out a lot with Mary Magdeline.

There's a direction this conversation could take that would send us all directly to Hell, so I'll stop right here. :smile2:
 
Jesus did hang out a lot with Mary Magdeline.

There's a direction this conversation could take that would send us all directly to Hell, so I'll stop right here. :smile2:

We're already there so fire away... :smile2: :devil: :cool:
 
Actually had three with the beard and mustache DBT was sportin' in the old avatar! :thumbsup:

EDIT: Had originally put "pimpin'" to describe DBT's facial hair prowess but considering Jesus was also in the conversation of things in common, figured it probably wasn't a good idea to use that particluar adjective. :lol:
Do they still allow beards in the Navy? My former brother in law was on the Constellation (I think). He had a gnarly beard, :lol:.
 
Back
Top