I’ll preface this by saying that I realize it will probably never happen, so be gentle with your retorts. Still, it could…and it should. 
With the start of a brand new college football season coming on fast, hope springs eternal for the University of Colorado football team, picked by many to bounce back from a rough season and contend for the Big 12 North title. Their coach, Dan Hawkins, promises they’ll win 10 games, which would be no small accomplishment.
Still, there are bigger fish to fry in Boulder. Money troubles continue to hamper the success of the athletic teams. Even while there are smiles all around about finally having an indoor practice “bubble” in Boulder, just a few miles to the northeast, CSU is about to open a brand new full fledged indoor practice facility that is better than what CU has. Much better.
Before CU can make big improvements, school officials have to find a way to get more paying customers to watch their teams play. Beating Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game might be easier than getting people to pay to watch Kansas play at Folsom Field. Yet there IS a scenario that could help cure much of what ails the CU athletic department, money-wise. It may seem outlandish, but it’s really not. What about CU leaving the Big 12 and joining the Mountain West Conference?
I know, I know. Never happen. It’s a step backwards and all that. But what if it wasn’t a step backwards? What if the MWC was ultimately successful in gaining access to the Bowl Championship Series, and the monster pay days that go with it? What if the MWC was a permanent part of the BCS? That would mean that the revenue from being in a “BCS Conference” would be the same in the Big 12 and the MWC. Make it a lateral move.
Settle down, Buff fan. I’m sure you take this as a grave insult, seeing how you look down your nose at the MWC. I’m sure you take this idea as a slap at the “storied history” of CU football. You think you’re far too good to lower yourself to join the MWC.
Just humor me for a minute. With the success of the University of Utah last season – we all know the story of the unbeaten Utes who and routed Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, in case you forgot – a strong case is being made – in Congress no less – that the Mountain West Conference should become a permanent part of the Bowl Championship series or a new play-off system. Argue all you want about the caliber of play in the conference, but remember that the MWC had three teams in the Top 15 at one point last season. If you’re honest with yourself, Buff fan, you know that if CU had been in the MWC last season, they would have been hard pressed to finish in the upper half of the conference. Arguments about quality of play aside, there’s still the fact that the depleted Big East remains part of the BCS system, and that conference is certainly not at the level of the MWC. No buts about it: The Mountain West SHOULD be a permanent part of the BCS.
So, IF that happened, and the MWC got real BCS money, CU could make the move and not be hurt financially. It would then be very reasonable, even given the strength of Utah, BYU, TCU and others, to expect that CU could contend for that automatic BCS bid every year, without having to beat Oklahoma or Texas to do so. Is that a bad thing?
It’s at the box office that this idea makes the most sense, however. Regional rivalries with Wyoming (who comes to Folsom Field this season), Utah, New Mexico…to go along with league games with CSU and Air Force, (the Rams have already sold ALL of their tickets to the September 6th game at Folsom) would be better box office draws that league tilts with Baylor or Iowa State, right? When was the last time CU sold out a home game with the Cyclones? Does anyone think that there would be an empty seat if Air Force came to Folsom Field instead? Have CSU and AFA on your conference schedule, and CU would be free to schedule Nebraska, Oklahoma or whomever they want as non-conference tilts. The best of both worlds.
Imagine the fervor if CU and CSU played on “Rivalry Weekend” at the end of the season like Florida and Florida State do, with a league title on the line. Good stuff.
Think about the basketball ramifications as well. Two games each year against CSU, Air Force, Utah, and New Mexico. Does anyone doubt that the (paying) crowds would be bigger for those games than they are for games against Baylor and Texas Tech? The only game that sells out at the Coors Events Center is the Kansas game. Make it an annual non-conference affair.
Yes, a move to the Mountain West could make dollars and sense.
Okay, back to reality. There are several reasons why this is not going to happen, even if the money was equal, pride being chief among them. There’s too much ego at CU (and at every major college program for that matter) to take what would be perceived as a step down in conference affiliation, no matter how much sense it would make. Yet there’s been talk in the past about CU leaving the Big 12 to join the Pac 10 (which would make far less sense than joining the MWC.) Think fans are suddenly going to turn out to watch the Buffs take on Oregon State? How about that natural rivalry game with Cal? Yawn. Even though joining the Pac 10 would be seen as a lateral move rather than a step down in conference strength, it would be a step backwards as CU attempts to build rivalries and fill seats. A move to MWC would be a far smarter one.
Okay, I’ve made my case. Now you Buff backers can take your shots and tell me why I’m off the mark again. Just try doing so after you’ve taken off your black and gold glasses looked at the green.
For more info: Colorado Buffaloes Examiner
Comments
"strength of Utah, BYU, TCU and others,"
This is a relative term. Play some big boys during the season and not just disappointed teams walking through a bowl game. I'll give you that Michigan was not Utah's fault, but no one east of the Mississippi shudders at the thought of TCU or BYU.
Aside for all that, you would be sending the wrong message to change conferences. There's no way it would ever be seen as a lateral move. Total white flag. Colorado can do better.
As a BYU fan, I would love to see Colorado join. It would make my season more exciting and lift the MWC. But it will never happen.
The biggest assumption in this whole scenario is that the Mountain West would even WANT Colorado.
First, The MWC is not looking to add any teams to their conference.
Second, The MWC would be much more likely to add perenially ranked Boise St. rather than Big 12 doormat Colorado. The MWC would be looking to strengthen their conference...not weaken it.
Besides, if Colorado left the Big 12 - that conference would immediately extend an invitation to TCU. Why would the MWC want to essentially trade TCU for Colorado. That, no doubt, would weaken the conference.
"Other Side," I think you're selling the MWC short. The Big East, for instance, is far weaker than the MWC right now. Remember, Utah not only went into the big house and beat Michigan, but they beat Oregon State the week after OSU beat USC. These schools aren't ducking the big boys. BYU has hammered UCLA recently...TCU is the last team to win at Oklahoma...Utah, BYU and TCU are all better than the best of the BCS Big East, that's for certain.
Joe...all I can say is WOW! Never looked at it that way.
I know that CU fans laugh this scenario off, but they shouldn't. BYU is already light years ahead of them as an athletic dept, and if CU came to the MWC, they would be a middle of the pack program unless they significantly improve their facilities.
Their men's bball program in particular is an absolute joke, their field house is terrible, and BYU outdraws them by about 8K fans per game.
TCU and it's 30,000 seat staduim will not be leaving for the Big 12 anytime soon.
The Mtn.WanCer commish himself admitted that the BE had proven itself worthy over the previous 3 seasons. The MWC has ONE good season, and suddenly they are BCS-AQ material? Please. Just hope you guys didn't shoot your only load this last season...
Knudson, you are out of you flippin' mind. (anxiously awaits Knudson's verbal tyrade)
Colorado stands to make nearly double the television and bowl game revenue staying in the Big 12.
Orrin Hatch's self indulgent congressional hissy fit aside, there is no legal precedent with holding state university systems accountable to federal anti-trust laws, one of the only concievable ways to equal out tv and bowl game revenue, the only scenario that makes a DOWNGRADE to the MWC a viable option for CU.
On tto the recruiting agnle, which you conveniently ommitted. The Big 12 has far more cache than the MWC for potential recruits. Imagine stting on the couch listening to Dan Hawkins, "Now that we're with the MWC, you can now look forward to Wyoming, Colo St. (possibly attractive), Utah, BYU, and TCU." Doesn't hold the same impact as yearly games against Nebraska, and every other year against Texas and Oklahoma.
They make less money and cripple recruiting...makes perfect sense!
"Arguments about quality of play aside, there’s still the fact that the depleted Big East remains part of the BCS system, and that conference is certainly not at the level of the MWC. No buts about it: The Mountain West SHOULD be a permanent part of the BCS."
I have no problem with the MW getting an auto-bid for the BCS - when they ACTUALLY meet the guidelines they agreed to when the last BCS contract was signed.
But they didn't come close to meeting those guidelines from the 2004-2007 seasons. They might make it for the last two years of this current contract since the years used will be 2008-2011 and last year was a banner year.
But please STOP with this nonsense about the Big East not being deserving of a BCS auto-bid or at the same level of the MW.
The Big East did meet the criteria that the MW did not which is why they got to keep the auto-bid through the remainder of this current BCS contract. Over the past 4 years they have placed 5th in all three criteria.
"If you’re honest with yourself, Buff fan, you know that if CU had been in the MWC last season, they would have been hard pressed to finish in the upper half of the conference."
By how many touchdowns did Little Brother lose to CU last season? And those jokers went to a bowl game by virtue of their conference...
This is one of the most absurd things I've ever read.
58–19–2
Brilliant article filled w/ factual premises, especially the part about CU's ego preventing them from doing the SMART thing. After seeing CU ignore $2.5M in Rev. just to make CSU play at Folsom as a 6th game, it's gotta be a mix of insecurity, stoopidity & ego that drives their program. That's $500k from playing at Invesco + $2M for scheduling a 6th Home game at Folsom (like KU & MU AD's did inspite of their Arrowhead neutral field clash).
The last 8 BCS teams to travel to SLC have left with a loss... That list includes plenty of Bowl teams, Oregon, Oregon State, Cal, UCLA, UNC, Texas A&M, Arizona...
Honestly how many recent CU teams could have traveled to SLC and had a decent shot at beating Utah? How about getting a win in Provo or Ft Worth?
Where does that unjustified sense of superiority come from?
BT - As I said in the column, this scenario could ONLY work if the MWC was part of the BCS, and therefore the money was equal, so every part of your argument that involves this being impossible because of money is irrelevant. We've already established that as things stand, it won't work because of dollars. Duh!
As for the other dribble, I'm not addressing anti-trust stuff because I'm not a lawyer like yourself. As for recruiting, what difference does it make? Like 'cache' matters for CU? Give me a break. Here's Reality: They can't play with the big dogs of the Big 12 on a consistent basis and never will. There's no support system in the People's Republic, where a 65-yr-old hippie is more welcome than any African American football player. CU might as well play in a conference they'd have a chance to compete in. Read "Truth's" post about basketball as well. Excellent points. At the moment, the Buffs would be middle of the pack in most MWC sports
Ray and MKZ: No one has said that CSU was a good as CU last year. CSU wasn't even part of the discussion. The point being made is that CU was no where near as good as Utah, BYU or TCU, and would have been a middle of the pack MWC football team (and we won't mention hoops) last season, period.
Save your "Little Brother" nonsense. The fact is CU would have likely gone 6-6 or maybe 7-5 last year playing in the MWC and THEY would have made the New Mexico Bowl! This just proves my point that for their own good, the Buffs should move to the MWC where they can compete year in and year out (if and when the BCS money is ever equal.
Omni: Brock Huard on ESPN today said the MWC should have an automatic bid and that the best way for them to prove it would be to schedule a lot of non-conference games agains the Big East.
I think you have lost your mind...Leaving arguably the best conference in the country to go play in the mwc. What a joke!!! Colorado has been with the Big 6,7,8,12 since 1947. Thats not changing anytime soon. They would pi$$ away millions in revenue by making such a stupid move. Dont drag us down to your level, and BTW we will beat the rammies by 30 this year! HAHA
Why would CU ever leave the Big 12. We are a founding member of the Big 8 and have great tradition with the other member schools. I understand that the local matchups would be entertaining and could bring more attention to our state when it comes to rivals. CSU should just focus on getting better and winning the MWC, not what is going on in Boulder. Let's just get the season here already, we'll be ready when the Rams come to Boulder.
FYI Florida State is in the ACC and Florida is in the SEC. Go back to Nebraska.
you forgot about the part where CU would have to pay the $50 million exit fee to leave the Big XII. unless the MWC agrees to fork it over, it's not gonna happen.
Your short term point of view cracks me up.
"They can't play with the big dogs of the Big 12 on a consistent basis and never will. There's no support system in the People's Republic, where a 65-yr-old hippie is more welcome than any African American football player."
Here's a history lesson. CU and NU dominated the Big 12 before the rise of the south and the fall of the North. This is before Gary Barnett thought he could win the B12 with MWC talent. Dan Hawkins is in the process of overcoming the talent deficiency left by Barney, but he can't do it in 1, 2, or 3 years. With wins this year and next year the vision he has sold to recruits will carry much more weight, and recruiting will return. Its no wonder no real Sports media outlets in Colorado will hire you when you have such a shortsighted perspective.
"...remember that the MWC had three teams in the Top 15 at one point last season."
...remember that the Big XII had four teams in the Top 8 at one point last season.
5 Big XII teams FINISHED in the Top 20. MWC finished with 2.
If Utah, BYU or TCU played a full season in the BIG 12 they would end up with 1 or 2 conference wins. It's one thing to have a line up of pre-season cupcake MWC teams all season long. It's anonther getting beat up in the BIG leagues for a whole season. If they endured the level of competition of a BIG 12 or SEC, there would be nothing left of them at the end of the season and likely none of them would be bowl eligible.
So pipe down and go back the little leagues... With the little league money…
Nice life lessons to teah our athletes:
"If you can't beat the best then go find someone you can beat...."
I prefer this instead:
Bust your ass to get better until you get good enough to compete with the best. Learn from the losses you take in the meantime.
My last comment wasn't even that bad. You're delete happy.
It's drivel, not dribble.
CU "never will" be able to hang witht he big boys in the Big 12? Could you also give me next week's lotto numbers?
Honestly, the football being played out there is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This whole topic is much ado about nothing.
Knudson - You did say, "if CU had been in the MWC last season, they would have been hard pressed to finish in the upper half of the conference." CSU finished exactly in the middle of the MWC. CU beat CSU by three touchdowns (if I'm not mistaken). Based on that, it would seem CU would have absolutely no trouble finishing "in the upper half of the conference."
MKZ: The CU team that drilled CSU was healthy. By the end of the season, the Buffs were a MASH unit. If healthy, the best they could have done was fourth in the MWC. In the state they were in, they would have been very fortunate to finish that high.
I'll give you credit for not bringing up the money thing. At least you read the column and understand the preface. Anyone who rants about "little league money" didn't read the column they're commenting on...or didn't understand it.
And before you slam the MWC non-conference opponents, remember Utah scheduled Michigan and Oregon State, TCU plays OU, BYU plays UCLA (the MWC dominated the PAC 10 last season, including UNLV winning AT Arizona State)...CSU plays CU. Is that "little league competition?" Listen, I'm a BIG Big 12 fan. I think the conference is neck 'n neck with the SEC. But CU doesn't measure up, and geographical rivalries would be better for the $chool.
"Omni: Brock Huard on ESPN today said the MWC should have an automatic bid and that the best way for them to prove it would be to schedule a lot of non-conference games agains the Big East."
So your reply to my point that the Mountain West hasn't come close to meeting the BCS eligibility criteria is something Brock Huard said? Seriously, that is your comeback???
Again, I love Utah, BYU, and TCU. They are without a doubt the three programs West of the Mississippi that should be in a BCS conference who currently are not. But that's different from saying the entire MW is as good as the Big East. The numbers say different.
And any match-up on the field over time between the two conferences would say differently as well.
"But CU doesn't measure up...."
That sums up your vast knowledge of the subject. What a brilliant piece.
Big XII north titles: Nebraska 4, Colorado 4, KSU 3 and Missouri 2.
Big XII championships: Nebraska 2, Colorado 1, Ksu 1.
Thats it from the north. I would say that Colorado stacks up quite well. Don't let a couple of down years let you build some sort of false confidence.
And whos to say that CU would have had all those injuries paying against New Mexico and San Diego State.
So CU would have been an average MWC team because of injuries? That doesn't exactly support the point you seem to be making. And if they were able to drill the 5th best team in that conference when healthy, I don't really see how fourth would have been the best they could do.
Oh, and how is CSU's facility nicer when they can't even fit an entire football field in it? When you can't punt in it? When you can't kick in it? When you can't throw LONG passes in it? Stick to writing about CSU and ONLY CSU, because you don't know anything about ANYTHING else.
You CU guys are common egotists, entitled and deluded.
MWC was 7-2 vs the pac 10 last year. The guy who said out 3 top 25 teams would get 1 or 2 conference wins has some serious space in his cranium.
MWC is very close to being on par with big 12. we won more than we lost against you last year. and the rivalries are regional and will bring fans.
Makes too much sense. Knock it off.
CU and Air Force should be playing every year, anyway. They did that years ago, and it was a spirited, sold-out rivalry. I don't understand why the AD's can't make it happen.
Knudson
As I said before, the only way the MWC gets into the BCS is by using anti-trust laws. Or, as a few have pointed out, win on as regular as basis as the major conference schools. So far the only small conference school even close to being on par with major conference schools is Boise St. You can rack your brain for recent success all you want, just evinces a short sighted out look on an issue far more nuanced than anyone here has said thus far.
The Big XII remains arguably the best conference in college football. Why leave? Out deference for regional rivalries that may nver develop, scenarios wherein the MWC becomes the cash cow the Big 12 is, because they have trouble competing in a league they've won twice and a conference they've won once to go along with four Big 12 chapionship game appearences, because it makes so much fiscal and ethical sense.
Upon even cursory analysis your case for CU leaving the Big 12 is as thin as San Diego State's offensive line.
Basketball wise CU is a joke (just beat one MWC team, one time), but since were talking football, CU would finish in the top 3 every year with Utah, BYU, TCU, no doubt in my mind
BT – Anti-trust? Blah blah blah. You can over-analyze the situation, or you can use common sense. A college football play-off system is inevitable. There’s too much money out there for it not to happen someday. The dollars generated will dwarf what gets brought in by ‘March Madness.’ Schools like CU and CSU will then have the resources to bring back wrestling and baseball, etc.
When that happens, the MWC, the WAC and all the others will FINALLY get an equal shot at the big prize and the big money. When the playing field is finally even, so to speak, the University of Colorado will be a better fit for the MWC than for the Big 12. College football is full of geographical rivalries that have the passion that makes it such a great game. An annual meeting between CU and Utah will be more passionate by far than an annual meeting between CU and Iowa State. Across the board, CU playing schools from the same time zone makes the most $ense.
Oh, these lammies crack me up. Wishfull thinking on their part to console themselves and their miserable Napoleonic syndromes with CU.
In regards to your op-ed piece, while I do not like your idea or any idea that involves CU switching conferences, to me CU still seems a better fit for the PAC-10. The Buffs do a large amount of recruiting in CA and we have a very large alumni base in PAC-10 states as well. On the PAC-10's end, adding CU and a school like Utah would push the conference to 12 schools allowing for a championship game. They would also pick up the Denver and Salt Lake City TV markets, the latter example being the reason why conferences look to expand in the first place.
Perhaps Nebraska should move to the Mountain Worst instead. I know it's hard for you to fathom, but the Huskers are now just an also-ran in the Big 12! Their simple-minded fans would be happy - they could rack up convincing wins against the Rams, Aztecs, Cowboys, etc., just like they do against their junior college non-conference schedule. Plus, the Nebraska "faithful" wouldn't have to do the swan dive off the Big Red bandwagon anytime they are throttled by legitimate league and national title contanders.
Mark,
Brilliant article and this is coming from a Buffs fan! You are right about many CU fans having ego problems when it comes to the MWC. Something to look at is that CU is mainly a football school and the rivalries with the likes of CSU, Wyoming, Utah, etc are worth replacing Nebraska with. Utah was CU's first true rival so I can see that rivalry restarted. As for CSU-CU...I'd support the game being moved to Thanksgiving weekend in place of Nebraska. The CU-NU rivalry seems like it has run its course.
Let's go mountain west Buffs!
knutson bugeater bs comes right to the surface. How about nebraska to the MAC? It's no wonder he writes for this silly little rag.
CommonSense20,
Nebraska to the MWC?!? "they could rack up convincing wins against the Rams...." Well at least we could do something CU couldn't do and you guys would be (0-1) in the MWC so far. And we play Junior College non-conference?!? We had a preseason top 10 ten (now top 15) on our non conf. What ranked team do you have?!? Oh you have West Virginia after they lost everyone (and you will still lose to them) good luck this season buffies...I hope your happy with 2 wins again!!
CU's football program is no where close to being cash starved. Here are the football budgets for all of the Big 12 teams. Maybe Kansas and Missouri should leave for the Sunbelt Conference.
Texas $12.9M
Nebraska $12.9M
Oklahoma $13.7M
Oklahoma State $8.7M
Texas A&M $9.8M
Texas Tech $15.3M
Missouri $6.8M
Colorado $9.6M
Kansas State $11.4M
Kansas $7.7M
Baylor $7.7M
Iowa State $7.2M
Just because we hired the wrong coach is definitely no reason to go off the deep end. Like Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas A&M finding the correct coach is not an easy task. Nebraska is on their third coach since the legend retired. Oklahoma went through how many coaches before they found Stoops? We went backwards with the current hire but that isn't a first. The only real question is when will Bohn pull the plug or will it happen to him first. Oh yeah, CSU only has half an indoor facility. I guess some consider half a building better than full bubble.
What if Boise St. Joins the MWC? Add SMU as well to restore the TCU SMU rivalry. Then you would have Utah, BYU, Boise St., Wyoming, CSU, and CU in the north and TCU, SMU, AF, UNLV, SDST, and NM in the south. Maybe they could drop SDST back to the WAC and pick up Nevada, Houston, or Rice to fill out the south. That's a better conference than the PAC10.
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