I disagree that Colorado is a hard place to win. Look around the country. Look in the Top 25. San Jose St., Louisville, Norther Illinois, etc. There is much more parity top to bottom, although the scholarship limits that helped create parity are also probably responsible for conferences like the SEC to dominate even more. There are many programs having success that have as much or more against them than CU does. Yeah, we hit the Pac 12 at a bad time with our program being down. But CU has a lot to offer.
When Mac built the program and eventually won the MNC, the scholarship limit was at 95. In 1992, the NCAA dropped it to the current 85. There is talk about dropping it to 80, even. So, I'd argue that today, there are more good players available than during our glory years. On the other hand, there is probably a higher disparity in talent levels between the very top programs and the rest.
When Mac built the program and eventually won the MNC, the scholarship limit was at 95. In 1992, the NCAA dropped it to the current 85. There is talk about dropping it to 80, even. So, I'd argue that today, there are more good players available than during our glory years. On the other hand, there is probably a higher disparity in talent levels between the very top programs and the rest.