High-stakes journalism.
“In light of your ‘modest proposal’ regarding the University of Colorado’s future in the Pac-10 Conference, here’s a proposal to you: Move from the big leagues of sports journalism and find an audience that’s more in sync with your talents, such as the Fort Collins Coloradoan or the Laramie Boomerang. CU not only had the chips to play in this high- stakes poker game, the Buffaloes were the first called to the table. The Pac-10 has always wanted the Denver television market, but it has also sought to expand with other ‘public Ivy’ schools like CU and Texas. Face it, Mark. Your premise the Mountain West Conference would have been more attractive for CU fans was just plain wacko. Or maybe Waco. As an avid CU fan, Buff Club member and season- ticket holder, I can tell you I never even considered traveling to the nether regions of Ames, Iowa; Manhattan, Kan.; or — OMG — Lincoln, Neb. In summary, CU could no more afford to turn down the Pac-10 in favor of the MWC than you could afford to lend out your page-worn, dog-eared copy of “Sportswriting for Dummies.”
Katy, California dreamin’
Kiz: Getting in the Pac-10 was the easy part. Congratulations. The Buffs are now way out of their league academically and athletically. Pac-10 commissioner Larry Scott proudly cited five member schools in the top 50 of the U.S. News and World Report’s rankings of national universities. Stanford is No. 4 in those academic rankings. CU is No. 77, just behind the University of California-Santa Cruz Banana Slugs. As far as the Buffaloes being too good for the Mountain West, I hate to shock you with this revelation. Colorado lost 23-17 last season to Colorado State, which finished dead last in the MWC standings. Now, I might be a dummy, but even I know: The idea a CU supporter would turn up her nose at a road trip to a rivalry game because the destination was not recommended by Conde Nast Traveler would give a good chuckle to loyal fans of Texas or Florida or any team truly serious about winning football.
MWC would be better.
“CU is off to the Pac-10. What a disappointment! As a college football fan who has been proud to call the Rocky Mountain West home for 25-plus years, I feel betrayed. I let myself get excited about the rivalries that would quickly develop for CU in a Mountain West Conference that already had begun to rival the best conferences in the country before the addition of Boise State. But CU president Bruce Benson tells me the Pac-10 is a perfect match for the Buffs, both academically and athletically. Sorry, Bruce, but I believe arrogance is clouding your judgment. UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel claims CU has a lot of natural geographic relationships with the current Pac-10. U.S. geography probably wasn’t Rick’s best class. Well, at least CU athletic director Mike Bohn and coach Dan Hawkins don’t have to face the embarrassment of getting drummed by Boise State each year.”
Mark, Basalt
Kiz: You mean to tell us the new- look MWC somehow had four football teams ranked in the final AP poll? How could Boise State be No. 4, Texas Christian finish No. 6, Brigham Young be ranked 12th and Utah sneak in at No. 18? The MWC had more ranked teams than the Pac-10 produced in 2009, when even those cheaters from Southern Cal couldn’t finish higher than 22nd. How’s that possible? Why didn’t anybody inform Benson, who was too busy counting his money from the Pac-10? Maybe the Pac-10 took Colorado because the league’s football schools were looking for a safe homecoming foe.
Competitive juices.
“As a huge CU fan and a season-ticket holder, there is a time to realize the Buffaloes are not able to compete with the elite athletic programs on a consistent basis. I would much rather be competitive every year in the Mountain West than be able to say we are in the bottom third of a super conference.”
Jason, Arvada
Kiz: In an online poll by The Denver Post, more fans indicated a preference for a CU move to the Mountain West over the Pac-10 right up to the point when the Buffs decided they were going Hollywood. Maybe that demonstrates why there is often a head-scratching disconnect between Colorado’s flagship university and the state it is supposed to serve.
It’s time to put top priority at first
And today’s parting is free lineup advice to Rockies manager Jim Tracy.
“Since our first basemen are not hitting, maybe it’s time to go to Plan B.
“Suggestion: Play Brad Hawpe at first base.”
Larry, Aurora
