GREELEY — Facilities, football expectations, a new Nike deal and the Colorado-Colorado State series were just a few of the topics addressed Monday by CU Athletic Director Rick George at a media roundtable at Greeley Country Club....
Meanwhile, he said, the Drive for $105 Million fundraising effort current currently sits “right at $95 million.” ....
But one issue that raised the eyebrows of reporters on hand was the status of the CU-CSU football series. George said he and CSU counterpart Joe Parker have been engaged in discussions about the series. The current 10-year contract for the rivalry is scheduled to end with the 2020 game. After the 2020 game, CU does not currently have a non-conference opening until 2023.
“Joe Parker and I have had a number of conversations,” George said. “I would expect us to do something or make some kind of announcement, maybe before this football season, on the future.”
But George stressed the game will not be in Denver, but will be played on the respective schools’ campuses....
“This is going to be a good year for them,” George said. “Our goal is always to win more than we lose. That’s our expectation, that we’ll win six or seven games — or more — and get back into a bowl game. That’s what we expect. … It’s been 10 years since we’ve had a winning football season. We’ve got a history and tradition that’s one of the top 25 to 30 in the country, and we need to get back to that level. I think every year we continue to get better, but now we need it to translate into wins and losses.”...
He noted that the department just finished installing a new, state-of-the-art sound system at the Coors Events Center, and said a new sound system at Folsom Field is still “probably about a year away.”....
Also in the works, he said, is a video board/scoreboard hanging at center court at the Coors Events Center.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to do something in the next 12 to 24 months there,” George said. “I think that would really add to the atmosphere in that facility.”....
Details about the new deal with Nike will be released Tuesday, but George said it basically amounts to a $30 million deal over 10 years....
Game-day plans for Franklin Field and the IPF: “We’re going to have something similar to what they do at The Grove at Ole Miss. Our donors have already selected their spots. They’ll have a space where their tent will be, and we’ll do it on the exterior. They’ll park in the parking structure under the indoor facility. We’ll still have (the field) open so kids can still go out there and throw balls, like they have historically. That was important to our fans. We’ll have a valet service that will help them set up on game day. They’ll come, be met and go in and set their stuff up at their tailgate area. They won’t have to hurry and get there to get their favorite spot; they’ll already have a predetermined spot.”
George also said they hope to have music, food and beverage along the Buff Walk before games, and the Buffs will begin a new tradition of walking down the Buff Walk from Colorado Avenue when they get to the stadium. The indoor facility, he said, will have games for children as well as a tailgate area.
http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=211040192
There's more in the article, but that's the big stuff.
Adam podcasted the full audio over on Rivals, if you're interested in listening:
Meanwhile, he said, the Drive for $105 Million fundraising effort current currently sits “right at $95 million.” ....
But one issue that raised the eyebrows of reporters on hand was the status of the CU-CSU football series. George said he and CSU counterpart Joe Parker have been engaged in discussions about the series. The current 10-year contract for the rivalry is scheduled to end with the 2020 game. After the 2020 game, CU does not currently have a non-conference opening until 2023.
“Joe Parker and I have had a number of conversations,” George said. “I would expect us to do something or make some kind of announcement, maybe before this football season, on the future.”
But George stressed the game will not be in Denver, but will be played on the respective schools’ campuses....
“This is going to be a good year for them,” George said. “Our goal is always to win more than we lose. That’s our expectation, that we’ll win six or seven games — or more — and get back into a bowl game. That’s what we expect. … It’s been 10 years since we’ve had a winning football season. We’ve got a history and tradition that’s one of the top 25 to 30 in the country, and we need to get back to that level. I think every year we continue to get better, but now we need it to translate into wins and losses.”...
He noted that the department just finished installing a new, state-of-the-art sound system at the Coors Events Center, and said a new sound system at Folsom Field is still “probably about a year away.”....
Also in the works, he said, is a video board/scoreboard hanging at center court at the Coors Events Center.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to do something in the next 12 to 24 months there,” George said. “I think that would really add to the atmosphere in that facility.”....
Details about the new deal with Nike will be released Tuesday, but George said it basically amounts to a $30 million deal over 10 years....
Game-day plans for Franklin Field and the IPF: “We’re going to have something similar to what they do at The Grove at Ole Miss. Our donors have already selected their spots. They’ll have a space where their tent will be, and we’ll do it on the exterior. They’ll park in the parking structure under the indoor facility. We’ll still have (the field) open so kids can still go out there and throw balls, like they have historically. That was important to our fans. We’ll have a valet service that will help them set up on game day. They’ll come, be met and go in and set their stuff up at their tailgate area. They won’t have to hurry and get there to get their favorite spot; they’ll already have a predetermined spot.”
George also said they hope to have music, food and beverage along the Buff Walk before games, and the Buffs will begin a new tradition of walking down the Buff Walk from Colorado Avenue when they get to the stadium. The indoor facility, he said, will have games for children as well as a tailgate area.
http://www.cubuffs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&ATCLID=211040192
There's more in the article, but that's the big stuff.
Adam podcasted the full audio over on Rivals, if you're interested in listening:
