Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn is keeping a close and eternally positive eye on ticket sales for the Buffs’ opener against Colorado State on Saturday. But it has been difficult for him not to hear dissenters.
About 3,000 tickets remain, and they are seen as CU’s problem because of the home team’s inability to sell out its stadium. That perception doesn’t sit well with Bohn, especially because Colorado State originally requested only 3,000 tickets. CSU sold those and asked for another 500, which were snapped up as well, but the 3,500 is below the 5,000 CSU received last year.
“We’re selling at the exact same pace as last year,” Bohn said. “The difference is the number of tickets that were committed to from Colorado State.”
CSU athletic director Mark Driscoll said the university requested 1,500 fewer tickets this season because he didn’t want to have any left. CSU did not sell all of its 5,000 last year.
Driscoll doesn’t plan on requesting more, but added Colorado State is directing fans who want to buy tickets to CUBuffs.com, the Colorado ticket office or King Soopers.
Meanwhile, Bohn said he expects the game to sell out. CU’s Folsom Field holds 53,750.
Similar but different
CSU coach Sonny Lubick sees a close game because the teams have many similarities.
“They have a very good quarterback in Joel Klatt,” Lubick said. “I’ve always had respect for him. He’s a heady football player and very good decision-maker. The offensive lines are comparable. I think they’re pretty good, I think we’re pretty good.
“Defensively it looks like they are gifted with some solid linebackers. They are solid in the front four. We always have trouble running against them. They’ll be improved in the secondary like I think our secondary will be improved.”
Fundraising close to goal
Bohn said CU has moved into feasibility studies in its quest for an indoor practice facility that the football team could use.
“The exciting thing about the indoor facility is it appears to be gaining some momentum to be a campus-wide facility,” Bohn said. “I believe it’s a great, great move for the sense of teamwork on campus.”
Bohn said CU likely will fall short of its $3.7 million fundraising goal by Thursday, but not by much, and maybe not for long after that. The athletic department has raised nearly $2.5 million and is awaiting word on two more “major gifts,” Bohn said.
Footnotes
One CU-CSU week tradition is falling by the wayside. There will be no alumni flag football game. However, the fans’ golf fundraising tournament is on and will be held at Vista Ridge on Wednesday. Bohn and Driscoll aren’t playing. …
CSU wide receiver Dustin Osborn (collarbone) and defensive end Terrance Carter were cleared to play this week. Osborn is listed as a starter. Lubick said Matt Rupp will probably get the start at defensive end. Nnamdi Ohaeri is first on the depth chart at running back, a hotly contested position. Lubick said he expects all of his top backs to play Saturday.
