BOULDER — Now the real work begins.
The University of Colorado celebrated its first day in the Pac-12 on Friday. When the euphoria of leaving the Big 12 fades, CU’s various programs need to show they belong in their new league, which is nicknamed the Conference of Champions for a reason.
But before that, it was party time.
University of Colorado chancellor Phil DiStefano and most of the athletic department turned out for a big photo op outside the Folsom Stadium luxury box hospitality area. Everyone wore newly printed Colorado/Pac-12 T-shirts.
Bells rang 12 times at three campus buildings, but the sound didn’t reach downwind to the stadium. Both video boards flashed the new conference logo and Pac-12 Day proclamations by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Boulder Mayor Susan Osborne.
“What’s special about today is that it’s official,” CU football coach Jon Embree said. He also took a call from ESPN’s “College Football Live” show and said: “We want to be a program that (will make ‘College) GameDay’ want to come here and do their show.”
It’s difficult to determine whether CU football interest has increased because of the new league affiliation or the new coaching staff. CU athletic director Mike Bohn said this week that season-ticket sales have already surpassed last year’s 21,000 mark, and the biggest traffic traditionally takes place in July and August.
The conference switch provided windfall business for the campus bookstore. A variety of T-shirt and polo shirt designs went fast.
“It’s been going really well,” bookstore employee Emily White said of a half-empty table just before 1 p.m.
“We put them out at 11 a.m.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
