CU and CSU Athletics Dramatic Changes

The 2011 and 2012 College Football Seasons for the Colorado Universities (University of Colorado and Colorado State University) may be some of the darkest days the state has seen from their football programs since the early 80s or possibly ever.  By the time the 2012 season had ended, CU had gone a combined 4-21 and CSU a combined 7-17.  Both programs had seen attendance reaching lowest levels.  The annual Rocky Mountain Showdown pitting the two schools between the two programs was only selling less than three-quarters of the tickets and actual rear ends in seats probably two-thirds of  capacity of Mile High Stadium.  They were both getting beat bad against better opponents and fan moral was near an all-time low. The programs saw something occur during that off-season that changed both programs for the better:

• University of Colorado fired Coach Jon Embree and brought on Coach Mike MacIntyre and summer of 2013 fired Mike Bohn and brought in Rick George.  These move laid the groundwork to establish a true structured football program with a coach that had worked his way up the coaching tree to be in MacIntyre's position and strategy by Rick George to raise more money for the athletic department in less than 3 years than CU had raised in a full decade to help finance improvements in the athletics facility.  
• Colorado State began laying the groundwork for a bowl season in 2013 with Jim McElwain running the football operations and Jack Graham spearheading an aggressive Power 5 level spending plan to bring in high quality coaches/improve athletics and to build an on-campus stadium to replace the dilapidated, dated and inconvenient Hughes Stadium.

The work the two schools did paid off big-time in 2013.  

COLORADO STATE

Colorado State had a solid 8-6 football season with an exclamation mark comeback versus Pac 12s Washington State in their bowl game.  It got CSU fans re-energized for the program moving forward.  Additionally, that work combined with the effort/vision of Jack Graham and Tony Frank helped CSU begin putting together plans to develop an on-campus stadium.  While Graham was excused from his duties during 2014 and the on-campus stadium hit a snag, full approval of the on-campus stadium was reached at the end of 2014.

CSU followed their 2013 campaign with a 10 Win 2014 campaign and the above approved on-campus staidum.  While CSU lost the services of Jim McElwain to the football rich University of Florida, CSU hired a solid replacement in Georgia Offensive Coordinator whom helped lead CSU to a bowl game in 2015.  Additionally, the on-campus stadium utility installation began in 2015 with the groundbreaking lining up with the start of the 2015 season.  The visible load bearing foundation structure began late football season and current day has already seen a large section of the west infrastructure completed. 

Colorado State's spending on athletics and overall vision has paid off.  Recruiting has improved and their overall sports program has seen some of their best years of competition in history.  Additionally, CSU has positioned themselves to gain the attention of what they ultimately need to sustain the spending on athletics they have: A Power 5 conference!  The Big XII (-2) may say they are comfortable with their 10 members but the simple fact is they are looked at low in the totem pole in college football Power 5s due to their small conference numbers and lack of adjusting.  Everyone believes the Big XII will eventually expand but they seem to be taking their time to make a decision with any changes most likely not coming until 2017.  Colorado State has a solid overall athletic department, a solid local alumni base and are throwing themselves at the Big XII like the conference is Derek Jeter.  Their plan has been aggressive and sunshine pumping, but CSU hasn't sat back but looked forward to improving their position in the college athletics arm race.

University of Colorado

Colorado Football is just starting on Year 4 of life after Mike Bohn.  Mike Bohn was good at being a politician for CU but was awful at focusing his attention at the three most vital areas (The 3 F's) in college athletics: Fundraising, Facilities and Football.  He missed the mark heavily on these areas and helped to set CU back further than the hole the awful hires of Dan Hawkins and Jon Embree could do.  It's tough to recruit when you don't have money coming in to the program, losing regularly (sorry getting demolished) and have facilities that are at least 10-15 years out of date compared to your competition.  Rick George instantly tackled the two areas he could instantly attack to hopefully help the third improve in that aggressive fundraising plan that help improve the athletic facilities.  The Champions Center, Indoor Practice Facility and Dal Ward Renovations have already paid off even with the football team still not turning the corner in the all important Win column.  While CU has spent the past decade settling for 2-3 star recruits, the 2017 class already appears to be promising with 2-4 star commitments, 2 top in-state commitments and numerous 3 and 4 star recruits with multiple Power 5 offers strongly considering CU.  This class has the potential to be the type of class for Mike MacIntyre that Bill McCartney got in 1986 following his first bowl season and showing he wasn't just hot steam after going 7-25-1 to start his tenure.  The fundraising has hit unprecedented numbers and along with the facilities it appears football is rolling.  The athletic department continues to see success in their traditional powerhouse like skiing and cross country while having a NCAA tourney level team directed by the great Tad Boyle.

2016 to 2017 could be the launching point for both programs and complete opposite of .  Colorado State will be opening the new on-campus Sunny Lubbick Stadium at "Corporate Sponsor" in 2017 and are trying to continue their run at bowl games.  If that happens CSU may need to hope the Big XII gives indication they will add them or CSU may be eyeing a second head football coaching change in a 24 month period with Mike Bobo looking to move back into the Power 5 but as a head coach.  If CSU can manuever their way into a Power 5 conference, their spending will finally match the conference they are in and allow them to improve their athletics further and instead of being considered little brother will have to be looked at as an equal to Colorado.

Colorado meanwhile has visions of a bowl game.  Fans are torn on this after a decade long string of losing seasons and a lone bowl game in 2007.  Their hope is low, but the recruiting edge would finally pay off with a bowl game and the improvement in facilities allowing CU to go from a doormat that is happy to win a conference game and beat "little brother" CSU to a competitive Pac 12 program that earns more than respect from improving but earns Wins!

The next 15 months leading up to CSU opening their new on-campus stadium may be the most important 15 months these two programs have seen and the best chance these programs can get to where they need to is by winning.  Either way, there is no doubt that both Colorado and Colorado State have not been sitting back idly but attacking the arms race in college sports with great fervor.  Here's to a 2016-2017 campaign that sees both programs continuing on their improvement and attaining the visions laid out within the past 3 years.