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Bohn hopes to know within a month when CU can join Pac-10 and how much $$$ B12 keeps

NashBuff

CSU Knob-Slobberer
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=5341087

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- University of Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn said he hopes to know within a month how much it's going to cost the school to bolt the Big 12 for the Pac-10.

Lawyers for both conferences and the university are in discussions on an exit strategy for CU, which announced earlier this month it was switching leagues in 2012.

The Buffaloes would prefer to leave after next season like the University of Nebraska, which is joining the Big Ten in 2011.

That could prove costlier for Colorado, but the Big 12 might also decide it's better for the Buffaloes to leave after next school year and agree to a lower penalty fee.

Big 12 bylaws require CU to forfeit half its Big 12 revenue distributions for the next two school years in order to leave the league. According to IRS tax records examined by The Associated Press, the Big 12 paid out $10,135,802 to Colorado in 2008-09.

That would make the buyout around $10 million, although Bohn said the cost for leaving after one year is undefined.

"There's some ambiguity in the buyout, so we're trying to figure it out," Bohn said before the annual College Football Kickoff Luncheon. "We really have a desire to come up with answers because we want to continue to fuel that interest" in joining the Pac-10.

"I do know that it is extremely complex and we recognize that the timing of the University of Colorado's departure has implications to 22 institutions," Bohn said.

Had Texas and other Big 12 schools followed CU to the Pac-10, there might not have been any buyout necessary because the Big 12 would have dissolved. But the Longhorns declined Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott's invitation, and so did Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Texas Tech.

The only certainty in all this complexity is that the Buffs will be playing in the Pac-10 by 2012-13. "We do know that," Bohn said. "Everything else is unresolved."

No matter the ultimate cost of leaving the Big 12, Bohn insisted the university is already reaping the rewards of switching conferences.

"We're benefiting every day with that intensity of interest in the program that helps us with recruiting, it helps us with our donor base, it helps us with the media, it helps us with our faculty," Bohn said.

He said there's been a rise in donations to the department since the announcement that the school was joining the Pac-10, but he declined to be specific.

Among the many tasks involved in the transition is redoing football schedules.

"We had some schedule models in place through 2020, but that will be altered significantly, potentially starting in '11," Bohn said.

The Buffs also are awaiting announcements on whether teams will play eight or nine league games in the Pac-10, which also lured Utah from the Mountain West Conference, making it eligible for a conference championship.

"I think that's the most frustrating thing is as we're gaining excitement associated with this move, we don't have all the details," Bohn said. "We want to continue to fuel that intensity of interest that our program desperately needs, and you can fuel it by talking about championships and models and schedules and that's the hardest thing is not being able to share that yet."

Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins skipped the luncheon because he was at his daughter's wedding.

Hawkins is on the hot seat, having posted four non-winning seasons in Boulder, where his decision to recruit his son, Cody, to play quarterback has backfired.

"I have a lot of confidence in Dan," Bohn said. "He's done everything we've asked him to do off the field and he recognizes in Year 5, as we all do, that the expectations are high for the scoreboard this fall."

The Buffs are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their 1990 football championship this fall and will recognize Alfred Williams, a member of that team who was elected into the college football hall of fame this spring.

"It's a big year for Dan. We all know that," Bohn said. "But it's an opportunity for us to say goodbye to the Big 12 Conference potentially ... but also use that to enhance future recruiting possibilities and future growth of the program."

The Big 12 exit isn't the only buyout on Bohn's plate. He said he's still awaiting the $500,000 that former basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik owes the university for breaking his contract to take over at Wake Forest.

"We're working through that and I don't anticipate any problems," Bohn said. "It's just kind of taken a back burner with all these other issues. But we remain very respectful and appreciative of what Jeff did for us."

NOTES: Among the attendees was MWC commissioner Craig Thompson, whose rescheduling task was made easier when Utah left the league for the Pac-10. Now, Boise State, which left the Western Athletic Conference for the MWC, will more than likely just take Utah's place on the league schedule. ... With the Utes' departure, Thompson is thrilled to have Boise State, 26-1 over the last two years, as the MWC enters the third year of a four-year cycle to gain an automatic bid in the BCS.

I'm glad we are working towards a solution. The sooner we know the better (except if CU has to play in the Big 12-2 in 2011).

www.pac12fans.com
 
The story doesn't mention whether our friends from Nebraska are involved at all. Are we going to work this out on our own?
 
The story doesn't mention whether our friends from Nebraska are involved at all. Are we going to work this out on our own?

NU is not involved in this at all. The Huskers will be full Big Ten members next season and with the Big Ten Network money, NU doesn't really lose much. NU is the school that put both the Pac and Big 12-2 & CU in this mess.
 
NU is not involved in this at all. The Huskers will be full Big Ten members next season and with the Big Ten Network money, NU doesn't really lose much. NU is the school that put both the Pac and Big 12-2 & CU in this mess.

actually, i think Missouri was the arch duke Ferdinand of this WW I. they bitched and moaned enough to make it happen and then got jumped by Dr. Tom's super ethical bad assness to the Big 10......and we got what we've always wanted (at least as long as i've read CU boards since about 1998). I was a Big 8 honk since my dad started taking me to games in the Mallory years, but i can move on.
 
http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=204964881

Brooks: Bohn Awaits Pac-10 Details, But Hopes Surge Continues


COLORADO SPRINGS - Most Colorado fans want all their questions concerning the Buffs' move to the Pacific-10 Conference answered yesterday.
Know this: CU Athletic Director Mike Bohn wishes he could have provided the answers day before yesterday. But like Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the conference changeover is a process not to be rushed.

The devils - more of them than you can imagine - are in the details, and while Bohn hopes all those can be attended to ASAP, he's even more intent on the university, its fan base, athletic teams and myriad constituents maintaining the surge of enthusiasm experienced when CU's invitation to join the Pac-10 was formally accepted on June 11.

Before the annual Sports Corp College Football Kickoff Luncheon Tuesday in Colorado Springs, Bohn spent some time answering questions, most of them focused on CU's impending move from the Big 12 Conference to the Pac-10.

No, he couldn't pinpoint the date, even the season, when the Buffs might begin competition. The preferred time for all parties is the 2011 football season, but that remains one of those devilish details still being bounced between league offices.

Same goes for what it might cost CU to leave the Big 12, what sport(s) might be added when CU arrives in the Pac-10, what division CU might wind up competing in once it begins Pac-10 play, whether the Pac-10 wants a championship football game, what the league eventually will be called . . . In short, questions currently outnumber answers.

"We don't have all the details about the move, (but) people want details - they want to start planning, building relationships . . .," Bohn reminded reporters.

But here's where his main focus (and probably his biggest frustration) is: "We want to continue to fuel that intensity of interest that our program so desperately needs; you can fuel it by talking about championship games and models and schedules - but that's the hardest thing, not being able to share that yet . . .

"This is a springboard opportunity for us and we have to seize it. We're probably not going to get this opportunity again certainly in the near history of the university. We need to seize this moment. We have to create a surge and a big push for us to take advantage of this."

Since his league expanded by a pair (CU and Utah) rather than half a dozen, Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott has said on several occasions that tying up all the loose ends should be accomplished later this summer.

For his part, Bohn hopes it's "sooner than later . . . what that means I don't know. I do know it's extremely complex. We recognize that (CU's) departure has implications to 22 institutions; we've got motivation from the Big 12, we've got motivation from the Pac-10 and certainly from (CU) to do it right."

But the majority of Buffs fans believe the right move was made; Bohn said the "approval rating" for joining the Pac-10 is running at a percentage - try 96 - that this and our last Oval Office occupant could only dream about.

After CU became the first domino to fall and Nebraska toppled (going to the Big Ten) a matter of hours later, rumors of the Big 12's total fragmentation appeared on almost every news outlet. Didn't happen, and Bohn said he was not surprised: "We recognized it certainly was a scenario that was in play."

He added: "All along we hoped that every Big 12 institution made the decision that was right for them. We felt for Colorado the right decision was to join the Pac-10 and move quickly, to seize an opportunity to join a conference that is a classic fit for our western orientation across the board as an institution."

Other topics addressed by Bohn included:

Baylor's lobbying for potential Pac-10 membership: "Everybody has their own style and approach, and their approach revealed many things about what was important to them and what works for them. That was their decision, but (CU) really chose to do something different."
Future football scheduling affected by the Pac-10 move: "We had some schedule models in place through 2020, but that has been or will be altered significantly (with) potentially starting in 2011 (in the Pac-10)."
The 2010 football season: "Obviously, it's a big year for Dan (Hawkins), we all know that. But again, it's an opportunity for us to say good-bye to the Big 12 Conference, potentially - whether it's this year or next. We can use it to enhance future recruiting opportunities and future growth of the program." The Buffs' 3-9 finish in 2009 put Hawkins' four-year record at 16-33.
Former men's basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik's $500,000 buyout: "We don't anticipate any problem . . . we remain respectful of what Jeff did for us." After leading CU to a 15-16 record last season, Bzdelik left for Wake Forest.
Preceding a short Q&A session with four in-state coaches - Air Force's Troy Calhoun, Colorado State's Steve Fairchild, CSU-Pueblo's John Wristen and Northern Colorado's Scott Downing - at Tuesday's luncheon, Bohn reminded the gathering of the importance of college football in Colorado.

He called it "a rallying point for fans and communities . . . a great economic engine and a great developer of leaders."

Notable, quotable:

Hawkins missed the luncheon. Daughter Ashley was married Saturday in Boise, Idaho, and the Hawkins family stayed several extra days in their former city and later took a driving trip to Oregon.
Fairchild, whose team opened 3-0 last season (including a 23-17 win against CU in Boulder) before losing nine straight, said the Rams' improvement in 2010 hinges on better pressure on opposing QBs and regaining the knack for explosive offensive plays that CSU exhibited in 2008.
Asked by luncheon emcee Mike Moran to pinpoint what the Rams' success might depend on, Fairchild said the quick development of a young quarterback - redshirt freshman Nico Ranieri or true freshman Pete Thomas - and the rebuilt offensive line in front of them.

Fairchild likes his stable of running backs, which includes UCLA transfer Raymond Carter, and his linebacking corps, which features senior Ricky Brewer and junior Mychal Sisson. Carter is one of "four or five" running backs that Fairchild said he "wouldn't hesitate to put in a game right now. We're stacked in there pretty good. The task in fall camp is to decide the rotation - who does what well and how do we use them? But that, no question, is a strength - the running back spot."

He also likes his past two recruiting classes. All but three members of the 2009 group redshirted and the 2010 contingent - on paper anyway - supposedly was better. "I don't pay attention to the stars much anyway," he said. "We've stacked in two classes that I think will get our talent level to what it needs to be to compete on the upper end of the (Mountain West) conference."

The CU-CSU game returns to Denver this season (Sept. 4) and the move is fine by Fairchild. Talking about the Rams' non-conference scheduling now that Boise State has joined the MWC, he said, "We've got CU now for the next 10 or 11 years and we were smart enough to get that game back in Denver, so that's good for the entire state and both schools. We came to our senses."
Bohn also said this season's Rocky Mountain Showdown at Invesco Field will have a new title sponsor. He declined to reveal the name but said it is a Colorado company with no previous involvement.

When it appeared the college football landscape would be wracked by realignment, Fairchild was as mystified as any fan. He said he understood, but still seemed dismayed, that television revenue was the driving force.
"You know what's sad about that, I think, is that people were disguising it a lot of different ways, but ultimately it was chasing television football contract money," he said. "And when you do that - I get that finances are part of college athletics - but when you do that at the expense of the fans, the heritage, rivalries and geographic things, I'm not sure it's good for the sport. But we'll see."

What surprised him most during those tumultuous two weeks?

"If you'd said last December that this summer Texas would consider going to the Pac-10, that to me was the surprising thing - how quickly it gained momentum and almost happened. Yeah, that surprised me," he said.

And he doesn't appear to be a fan of any future mega-conferences: "I don't know . . . I'm just not sure that all this was occurring for necessarily the right reasons. I see both sides. But I think for CU not to play Oklahoma, that's maybe not good for the program. Fans should be taken into it a little bit, too. I hate to think of the day where Colorado State and Wyoming don't play. That wouldn't be a good thing. If money can dictate how that happens, I'm not sure it's the right thing."

Wristen, the former CU assistant, is among that 96 percent approving of the Buffs' move west. Here's his take: "I've been fortunate enough to be in both conferences. Without knowing all the dynamics of what was going on, you felt like as an outsider looking in, it was like adult musical chairs. You'd better jump on that chair first. I think CU played it right and parlayed it into what they needed . . . I think they're in a conference where they can compete at a high level - and that's what we all want (as coaches)."
Had the Pac-10 been able to add five teams from the Big 12 South, Wristen can't see how it would have benefitted the Buffs. "It just compounded your problems; you might as well just stay (in the Big 12)," he said. "I think the way it is now will be a good thing for CU."

Wristen's CSU-Pueblo staff includes former Buffs Dusty Sprague and Donnell Leomiti, both of whom attended Tuesday's luncheon.
 
Bohn's response to BU's tactics was just professional...given how BU played nasty in the media and how NU slammed the Big 12-2 on the day they announced they were moving to the Big Ten, I really believe CU handled this whole thing with class.
 
actually, i think Missouri was the arch duke Ferdinand of this WW I. they bitched and moaned enough to make it happen and then got jumped by Dr. Tom's super ethical bad assness to the Big 10......and we got what we've always wanted (at least as long as i've read CU boards since about 1998). I was a Big 8 honk since my dad started taking me to games in the Mallory years, but i can move on.

It was good to play the five North schools but I did miss playing both Oklahoma schools annually.
 
Bohn's response to BU's tactics was just professional...given how BU played nasty in the media and how NU slammed the Big 12-2 on the day they announced they were moving to the Big Ten, I really believe CU handled this whole thing with class.

i could not believe the Baylor shizz. i work in higher ed at CU, and to openly "call out" another school like that is totally unreal. just BS. i can only wish the worst to Baylor at this point.

It was good to play the five North schools but I did miss playing both Oklahoma schools annually.

yeah, i miss the home-homes in basketball of the Big 8. people forget, it was a tough conference to win on the road. Buffs held their own more often than not at the CEC. none of these 3 win conference results.

as i've posted before, this is the year CU wins in Norman. first time since 1981. I have an uncle who is a "Posse Club" member at OSU and GIA is super cool. he's taken me a couple times.
 
Mike Bohn went all the way to Colorado Springs to talk football, sat near Troy Calhoun, and he wasn't quoted about renewing a series with the zoomies.

It's interesting that Mike Bohn represented the football program instead of one of the assistants coaches. The conference reallignment provides some amazing aircover. It would be nice to get more of an update regarding the summer activities at the Dal and surrounding practice fields.

Other than that, I liked what was printed. My critism had more to do with what wasn't printed. The stuff he said is all good.
 
It would be nice to get more of an update regarding the summer activities at the Dal and surrounding practice fields.

can't speak to weight-lifting, but the Buffs were out on the practice fields running and jumping the last two weeks at about 7 AM. agility drills, that sort of thing. lot of football players taking summer classes in CU's Term A. My neighbor has 4 football players in his modern lit class.
 
NU is not involved in this at all. The Huskers will be full Big Ten members next season and with the Big Ten Network money, NU doesn't really lose much. NU is the school that put both the Pac and Big 12-2 & CU in this mess.

My point was not to place blame (but if we must, I agree with Mick that Mizzou has more blood on their hands than anyone). A lot of us on this board have been discussing whether CU & NU would join forces to fight the XII Lite - and many of us thought that might be a good idea. Now it seems that CU is taking care of their business independently, as will NU. I guess that is good. We are once again being proactive in making the best deal for us, and everyone else can do the same.
 
i could not believe the Baylor shizz. i work in higher ed at CU, and to openly "call out" another school like that is totally unreal. just BS. i can only wish the worst to Baylor at this point.

Baylor seems to be made up of the worst types of people. Those that think they can play dirty in their personal and professional lives as long as they go to church on Sunday and talk a pious game. I really hate them. Seriously. It is actual hate.
 
can't speak to weight-lifting, but the Buffs were out on the practice fields running and jumping the last two weeks at about 7 AM. agility drills, that sort of thing. lot of football players taking summer classes in CU's Term A. My neighbor has 4 football players in his modern lit class.

To me, that just fits into the "We're well on our way to having a new coaching staff soon, so let's just forget about the current batch now."
 
Baylor seems to be made up of the worst types of people. Those that think they can play dirty in their personal and professional lives as long as they go to church on Sunday and talk a pious game. I really hate them. Seriously. It is actual hate.

Hate is a wasted emotion on Baylor. We'll play them a grand total of once more in football. They're an irrelevant school in an irrelevant conference. They're to be pitied, not hated.
 
"We came to our senses"?!?! Did anyone else want to punch Fairchild in the ovaries after hearing this?

No Steve, CU backed down to accomodate your sorry program, we would have been much better off with this game in Boulder, not Denver. And spare me your thoughts on CU's move to the Pac 10 - if you really think it was a bad move you're either jealous or an idot...I suspect both.
 
"We came to our senses"?!?! Did anyone else want to punch Fairchild in the ovaries after hearing this?

No Steve, CU backed down to accomodate your sorry program, we would have been much better off with this game in Boulder, not Denver. And spare me your thoughts on CU's move to the Pac 10 - if you really think it was a bad move you're either jealous or an idot...I suspect both.

Yep. Because if CU and the state had had the political juice to pull CSU along into the Pac 12, Fairchild would have been against it. You know, because of how tragic it would be to lose that annual game against Wyoming. That guy is such a douche. I can't wait to see his team be even worse than last year. I honestly have trouble seeing how they're going to get to 3 wins.
 
"We came to our senses"?!?! Did anyone else want to punch Fairchild in the ovaries after hearing this?

No Steve, CU backed down to accomodate your sorry program, we would have been much better off with this game in Boulder, not Denver. And spare me your thoughts on CU's move to the Pac 10 - if you really think it was a bad move you're either jealous or an idot...I suspect both.


Yep Fairchild is both an idiot and jealous. Just mad because the lammies would never be able to get the invite to a BCS conference with their ****ty facilities, ****ty fan base, and ****ty program. Obviously doesn't know anything about the history of CU or athletics because if he did he would understand the move was a no brainer. Fairchild reminds me of Baylor - quick to judge another program and cast stones but has nothing to support the claims and nothing to support their own program. He should worry about CSU and not what CU does.
 
Excellent post SINKRATZ. No need to hear from little brother's coach on anything. He need only talk to Mountain West TV network. Then his voice will really be heard.
 
SF is a bitterman. Just like Sonny he's looking for the exit to a real program. SF has a chance since he's not 100 years old. poor ol' Sonny was stuck doing his golden years at CSewe....
 
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But I think for CU not to play Oklahoma, that's maybe not good for the program.

You know what would be good for the program, doucherocket??? To not play your half-assed band of bottom feeders who get jacked up for exactly one game a year, then disappear back into sub-mediocrity. THAT would be good for the program. Thanks for your concern, now go **** yourself....
 
Yep. Because if CU and the state had had the political juice to pull CSU along into the Pac 12, Fairchild would have been against it. You know, because of how tragic it would be to lose that annual game against Wyoming. That guy is such a douche. I can't wait to see his team be even worse than last year. I honestly have trouble seeing how they're going to get to 3 wins.

Exactly. And please explain to me Steve, how losing the Oklahoma game is bad for the program, but passing on an additional $8M per year in revenue is not? Good luck with Boise...clown.
 
Here is CSU's schedule. 0-2 wins really would surprise me less than 4+ wins:

vs. Colorado
@ Nevada
@ Miami (OH)
Idaho
TCU
@ Air Force
UNLV
@ Utah
New Mexico
@ San Diego State
Brigham Young
@ Wyoming
 
Mark the calendar. On June 29-30, Steve Fairchild is the most annoying football coach with a 3-9 record in the entire state of Colorado. Congradulations, Steve. If it's so important, why don't you ask the lammies AD to sack up and put Oklahoma on your own schedule?

PS. Thanks for the bulletin board material.
 
I didn't read it, and I'm too lazy to post a link or start a new thread, but I saw a small headline in the DP about U of Denver possibly joining the WAC even without a football program. Anybody heard anything?

I wonder if it would allow them to add football? Hell, if CSU-Pueblo can do it, why not DU?
 
I didn't read it, and I'm too lazy to post a link or start a new thread, but I saw a small headline in the DP about U of Denver possibly joining the WAC even without a football program. Anybody heard anything?

I wonder if it would allow them to add football? Hell, if CSU-Pueblo can do it, why not DU?

I thought they were trying to join the WCC. That makes a lot more sense. None of those teams play D1 football and they're similar western city schools. (Gonzaga, Loyola-Marymount, Saint Mary's, Portland, San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Clara, Pepperdine). I believe they all play baseball and that they were also looking at Seattle as a new member. Denver's a major geographic outlier for this, though. Makes sense in every other way.
 
Not sure why DU would want to join the WAC. Don't see the advantage over Sunbelt and WCHA. Enlighten me if I am wrong.
 
Not sure why DU would want to join the WAC. Don't see the advantage over Sunbelt and WCHA. Enlighten me if I am wrong.

Big difference in exposure. I think the WAC would want them to have a football program, though. This could be a good thing for CU, though. If DU brings back it's football program, in another 10 years when the CSU contract is done, we can replace them with DU. The problem DU would have is where to play their games. Not a lot of empty space around the DU campus to put even a small football stadium.

edit: I take that back. There is space on the North side of I-25 for a small football stadium. There's one there already, in fact, that could be expanded.
 
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