Comments from CU President Bruce Benson

[Creebuzz]

SIAP, but I didn't see this interview posted in the newsroom (beware it's a Denver Post link).

Anyway, a pretty interesting interview with President Benson

On the importance of CU sports:

"Now, let's talk about how you get the spotlight on the university. I use one game as the greatest example. It was Thursday night football (on Sept. 18, 2008), CU against West Virginia, not one other team playing that night. If you wanted to watch football, you were watching Folsom and you were watching the Buffs. And we won it in overtime. You can't buy that kind of marketing. That's what we got out of it. These are important things, driving funding into athletics or driving funding, period. . . . We've set (fundraising) records in the last four years. [speaking of university ads] How could I get them on national TV if I didn't have a football team?

On facilities:

"Facilities, we need some work on," Benson acknowledged. "We're discussing and analyzing that as we speak. We talk to donors and we talk to folks on the campus. We are studying very carefully how you put together the proper funding mechanisms to make all this work."

On academic entrance requirements and no soft degrees:

"It's wide enough," he said. "We don't even use it all. Let's remember one thing. If I don't have a chance to graduate these kids, I don't want to bring them in." "There are a couple of schools in the Pac-12 that do, [speaking of easy majors]" he said. "But we won't go there. . . . In the Big 12, they bring in a lot of these junior college transfers that don't make it. If it's all just about winning a game, no matter what, that's not my style."

On keeping HaLk for the ill-fated 5th year:

"I have been misrepresented on this," Benson said. "I never discussed it with (athletic director) Mike Bohn. I said to (Boulder chancellor) Phil Di- Stefano, 'Phil, I'm leaning toward keeping this guy.' And Phil said, 'I am too.' And next thing I know he was staying."There may have been another conversation with Phil, but I believe in a management structure. . . . I've never called Mike Bohn on the phone. Ever. Now I see him and talk with him, but I'm very much a person who believes in a management structure."

http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_19527336

 

[Sexton Hardcastle]

I'm sick of all this BS. Let's see some action for once.

 

[slider]

Phil and Bruce wanted to keep Hawk? What would it take to fire them now

 

[DBT]

The interview was pretty underwhelming. It certainly did not give me the warm fuzzies.

 

[buffsyko]

In other words, football and cu athletics are not a priority.

 

[dio]

I'm fine with most of what he said. Wish we could get some lighter majors for kids more focused on athletics, but whatever. But his pussy answer to the Hawkins question is unforgivable. You wanted to keep him - own up to it.

 

[sackman]

"Facilities, we need some work on"

That's like saying Pam Anderson had "some work" done on her breasts or Michael Jackson had "some work" done on his nose.

 

[ScottyBuff]

Mike Bohn needed approval "from above" to fire a guy under that size of contract. There is no way that the CU AD has that kind of authority all by himself.

He would have asked Phil (his boss). Phil took it to Benson (his boss). Benson says "I'm leaning towards keeping him" (based on his own political/fiscal agenda). Phil says "me too" (based on his "keep my job" agenda). Phil tells Bohn that they won't approve the termination.

Sure Benson didn't call Mike Bohn directly and say: "You are keeping him, or else" but he didn't need to in order to micromanage the situation.

 

[CVilleBuff]

I'm sick of having "open discussions" and "diverse dialogues" about facilities.


**** or get off the pot (heh) . Are we really going to let Wazzu and Oregon State pass us by? At least give Embree a chance...

 

[FrankRizzo]

I'm sick of all this BS. Let's see some action for once.

Thank you. Bruce is a joke. The academics have gone down with the sports during his tenure. I don't care if we dont really have to pay him, he should be done.

 

[sackman]

Benson was brought in to raise money. To that end, I suppose he's done well. This $1.5B capital campaign is reportedly nearing completion. That's quite an accomplishment. He understands that CU won't be able to depend on state funding, so he's working on ways to mitigate that handicap. For what he was tasked with doing, he's done well. The problem is that there are a lot of us who wish he'd focus on a few other issues as well.

 

[BuffUp]

I'm sick of having "open discussions" and "diverse dialogues" about facilities.


**** or get off the pot (heh) . Are we really going to let Wazzu and Oregon State pass us by? At least give Embree a chance...

that is what my parent always said - and I was thinking this when I read your post and the dp article - no more lip service, unless you are a hot female

 

[Dark Bohner]

In terms of how this relates to CSU and their new "focus" on football, he will only start getting real pressure if Colorado starts losing to CSU. Of course I am in the same boat as everybody here in that the football program is the biggest advertisement for the University and should be treated as such. He does deserve some credit for securing our move to the Pac 12 which has been a massive increase in revenue.

 

[slider]

Benson was brought in to raise money. To that end, I suppose he's done well. This $1.5B capital campaign is reportedly nearing completion. That's quite an accomplishment. He understands that CU won't be able to depend on state funding, so he's working on ways to mitigate that handicap. For what he was tasked with doing, he's done well. The problem is that there are a lot of us who wish he'd focus on a few other issues as well.

What are we doing with that exactly??

 

[CUBUFF80]

I'm all in favor of superior academics, but unless I'm being naive, I thought we hit the jackpot joining the PAC. What is there to think about? The money is there, build the ****ing facilities.

 

[JimmyBuff]

In other words, football and cu athletics are not a priority.

Agreed. this interview is a joke. **** Benson

 

[Darth Snow]

Agreed. this interview is a joke. **** Benson

+1. ****er has obviously checked out of anything but his legacy of the endowment. Which is pretty sweet, but his job is bigger than that.

 

[rosstr]

It's getting close to time for all 3 of them to move on - Benson, DiStefano and Bohn. 1 more year. I have very little confidence that they will pioneer a better day for CU athletics.