ERIE — Toughest schedule in the nation?
Bring it on, says Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn. College football guru Phil Steele’s website ranked the Buffs No. 1 in scheduling difficulty, and Bohn isn’t apologizing for the hybrid slate in CU’s inaugural Pac-12 season.
“Do I recognize it’s a huge challenge for us? Yes, but our players love to play big games in big environments,” Bohn said Wednesday after a CU golf event. “Historically, CU has played great in big games.”
The interest extends to the fans. Bohn said the school has sold more than 23,000 season tickets and has a realistic shot at exceeding the 25,000 goal. Unlike a year ago, the sky boxes are sold out and the department is working on a waiting list.
With a 13-game season that has no bye week, the Buffs’ home schedule consists of Cal (nonleague), Washington State, Oregon, USC and Arizona.
Bohn will announce the entire 2012-17 nonleague slate in September, and he didn’t rule out LSU returning to the schedule after that game had been dropped. He also said he would welcome a chance to play a former Big 12 opponent, clearly alluding to Nebraska, when he noted a school also in a new (Big Ten) league.
“We need to get the opportunity for the program to ramp up a little and look for some marquee SEC matches for home-and-home,” he said. “We’re also looking at some games that might be a little more user-friendly to our coaches and our program.”
And it appears the Buffs will bring back the throwback jerseys they sported in 2010 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 1990 national championship team.
Quarterback Tyler Hansen on Wednesday sent out a photo on Twitter of the 2011 jersey of sophomore wide receiver Paul Richardson. They had just finished filming a commercial, Hansen said.
In years past, the gold CU football helmet was a different shade than the gold pants. Now they’ll be the same.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
