Plati-'Tudes: TV, New Turf And 1963
Oct. 4, 2001
BOULDER - A bi-weekly notes column penned by David Plati, who is in his 18th year as Colorado's Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations.
What's the saying, "Rumors of my demise were greatly exaggerated?" Sorry Plati-'Tudes has been away for a while, but for several reasons, mainly being it is football season, I just didn't have time to piece together anything close to an interesting column. So, it's back up and running!
TRIVIA QUESTIONS. Trivia in light of the recent events seems most trivial, so we'll take a break. Perhaps what is appropriate is pointing out the understatement of the week: it came during one of those cable network reporter "bubblehead" interviews with a New York City firefighter, you know the kind, where eight of 10 questions asked embarrass anyone with a journalism degree ("Is the scene down there truly horrific?" Well, duh.). But one of the answers the firefighter gave made me think, he responded to one, "Look, I'm just a firefighter trying to do my job." No, let's take that up another level: you sir, are the true definition of a hero. Here's hoping the next pro sports star who signs a $15 million per year contract takes ninety-five percent of that and shares it among these people who put their lives on the line as opposed to batting .238 as a journeyman shortstop or making 63.7 percent of their free throw tries.
FROM THE (E)-MAIL BAG... The most common questions we have received in recent days have revolved around:
WHAT'S UP WITH TV?... There's been some uproar about the CU-Texas A&M game not being selected for television, believe me, both schools were pretty shocked as well. and we obviously budgeted for that appearance. Fans have written in asking us to get the game on ESPN or demanding different things for Colorado the next time the TV contracts come up (2008 for ABC, 2004-05 for FOX Sports Net, not including two single option years). Well, it's not that easy. People forget that television money is a major necessity enabling collegiate athletics to exist at the level that they do, and that conference schools work together with their television partners to protect exclusivity. The networks select the games, with little input from the conference, there are minimum and maximum appearance limits (i.e., seven times over two years on ABC, not counting non-conference road appearances), logistical issues, financial issues and recently, even travel issues. They have worked with Colorado more than people might realize, five times since 1996, ABC and FOX worked together to allow the syndicated game, produced by FOX, to kick off at 11:30 a.m. mountain time, a full hour later than the contract calls for. While this doesn't sound like a major issue, it really is, because those games finish well into the ABC afternoon window (1:30-5:00 p.m.), and everyone knows there is serious competition between ABC and FOX. That same kind of feeling doesn't exist in other conferences: the Big 10 is aligned with ABC and ESPN, owned by the same company, and the SEC is with CBS and ESPN. And while the Pac-10 is also with ABC and FOX, they don't have the front-end problem, with mostly Pacific Time Zone teams, they don't have a morning game and usually go with two games after the ABC game is over (4:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.). And we don't have the option, or desire, to upset our television partners by negotiating with a third national network to do games that our networks don't select, that is not good business.
All that being said, we're working on getting CU-A&M televised in some manner with FOX Sports and AT&T Broadband. We know the importance television plays in recruiting, reaching out to fans, especially families, seniors, and those on fixed incomes, so we're doing whatever we can to get a game of this magnitude on the tube.
WHY WE KICK AT 1:32... Got a couple of inquiries as to why kickoff is at 1:32 for non-TV games. real simple: it gives those stations on our radio network a chance to join at the bottom of the hour, providing for a proper intro (not everyone can carry the pregame show).
FLASHBACK TO '63... When the terrorist attacks occurred on Sept. 11 and the ensuing games that weekend cancelled, it reminded many of the only other game in Colorado history that was postponed (at least since we can tell dating back to the 1920s). That was the Nov. 23, 1963 game at Air Force, set for the day after President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Several games were played but others were postponed or canceled. "As I remember, I learned of the shooting sitting in my office in the stadium, and after the initial shock, I just remember phone call after phone call," then head coach Eddie Crowder said. "Harry Carlson was still the athletic director, and we conferred right away with the people at the Air Force Academy and we agreed very early in the afternoon that the game had to be postponed. And for the Air Force, it was an absolute-no question they could not play. I thought it was very much the appropriate thing, because almost everyone in the country was traumatized. These recent incidents are probably deeper, because so many people know someone or someone who knows someone who perished in this. I think those who canceled their games this past weekend did a very wise thing. But what is the right or wrong thing to do is so subjective. Everybody was deeply distracted in an on-going way that lingered, but I think it was a good thing that the high schools played, because that's not a money making thing, and it served those 17 and 18 years olds well to play. But at the commercial level, the pros and colleges, I think it was good that they didn't play. But that is a tough decision to reach on a Tuesday or Wednesday, forecasting three or four days ahead what the general mood will be." CU and Air Force met two weeks later, on Dec. 7, with the Falcons winning 17-14 in what was, and remains, only the fourth regular season game played in December in school history.
SPEAKING OF EDDIE... Greg Rajala, a member of CU's Bluebonnet Bowl champion and No. 3 ranked team in 1971, had his bowl ring stolen earlier this summer. Even though he rarely if ever saw the light of day on the playing field, Greg valued the ring as a keepsake. We put him in touch with Eddie via e-mail, and here's what transpired in Greg's own words:
"It is somewhat remarkable and confirms what a great guy Coach Crowder has always been. I had hopes of finding someone who still had their ring so a jeweler could recast it and make a copy. Eddie initially couldn't find his. Then I heard from him as his wife had found it for him. He hadn't seen it for over 20 years and had never really worn it. Then what happened next is still overwhelming to me. He told me rather than going to the trouble of having one remade, he would like me to have his. I asked him on the phone if he was sure, and he said it would be his pleasure. He said since he hadn't worn it and it wasn't even in a keepsake kind of place, he would like me to have it. I received it today (August 23). It's hard to describe in words the feeling his generosity has caused for me. Thanks to you and Jon Burianek for your willingness to help. All of you folks associated with Colorado Football from the past to the present have been great people. I am privileged to have been a small part of it." Greg was obviously appreciative, but couldn't help but wonder why Eddie would give his ring to him, a dedicated scout "teamer." Then he received the following E-mail from Eddie:
"Greg, delighted the ring arrived safely. When I was a young assistant coach at Oklahoma under Bud Wilkinson, we played Maryland in the Orange Bowl. It was forgone that the winner would win the national championship. We won. In the locker room immediately after the game, with only team and staff present, Bud said that the national championship had just been won by a collection of very dedicated and loyal men, those who did not get into the game tonight, the squad men who had helped prepare those who did play. The dedication, selflessness and effort made by those who knew they were unlikely to play or gain any accolades was the reason 'the team' was good enough to win. That's why you get the ring."
Quite a story, don't you think?
NEW TURF... We are in the process of installing one artificial turf field at our practice facilities north of Boulder Creek: the Prestige System, manufactured by Tarkett-Sommer, is a synthetic turf with a sand and rubber in-fill that was developed in France in 1997 to provide an all-weather surface for the defending World Cup Champions to practice on. CU equipment manager Mike Smith was flown to France in July by Tarkett-Sommer and looked at several of their fields that have been in use since '97. A committee visited various sites in the U.S. and looked at actual fields of each manufacturer, with two submitting bids and Prestige emerging as the winner. It is being installed on the far west practice field, which was designed to accommodate the drainage for a field of this nature when the entire area was refurbished back in the spring and summer of '99. The cost is lower, as these newer fields don't require the old asphalt and padded bases of its ancestors. At the time, the technology wasn't what it is today, and then-coach Rick Neuheisel didn't place a high priority on securing an artificial field, especially for what it would have cost. After current coach Gary Barnett saw some of the new era surfaces over the last couple of years, he wanted an artificial field to practice on, both to prep for unnatural surfaces on the road as well as to have such a field to practice on when inclement weather hits Boulder. Another advantage of installing the artificial field is that when construction starts on the Folsom Field suites and club seat additions after the end of this season, misplaced University events can be moved to the practice fields from Franklin Field, where construction staging will take up much of the area. CU won't be the first college to utilize Prestige, as Tennessee has an indoor practice field of this same system. The targeted completion date is October 20.
GOOD LUCK B-MAC... Well, we have graduated another SID student assistant into the big leagues, as four-year office veteran Brendan McNicholas left CU on August 27 to become an assistant director for Jay Alves at the Colorado Rockies. Ironically, he replaced the same person he replaced here-Zak Gilbert. Zak was the top football assistant when he left us in '98, a position that Brendan took over as a sophomore. Zak recently left the Rockies to become the assistant PR man for the Green Bay Packers, creating the opening. How good is B-Mac? It's very hard to break into the baseball fraternity, and to do it at age 23 speaks wonders for this young man. We'll miss him, but we'll also big him to death for free Rockies tickets, as he must uphold Zak's tradition in that area as well.
HAYNES PROT?G?'... Iman Haynes, the daughter of former CU All-American efensive back Mark Haynes, is starting as a freshman on the Nebraska soccer team. Mark's wife, Victoria, claims that Iman is even faster than Mark. Though she's playing for Nebraska and Mark supports her like any father would, he couldn't bear the thought of staying anywhere near the football stadium, as the Buffs were 0-4 against the Huskers during his career. Iman and the No. 3 Huskers visit Boulder for a game against the Buffs next month (Oct. 26).
MOSLEY LANDS DOWN UNDER... Former CU basketball player Jamahl Mosley traveled to Australia last month to try out for the Victoria Titans, arriving there in time to participate in a weekend tournament. Mosley, a 6-8 power forward, averaged 13.9 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as a senior last winter for the Buffaloes. The latest report is that he indeed signed a contract with the Titans, who play in the National basketball League, considered by many to be the second best professional league in the world after the NBA. Meanwhile, closer to home, former Buff guard Jacquay Walls is in camp with the NBA's Seattle Supersonics. Good luck to both in their pursuits!
WHERE THEY ARE NOW... Former CU assistant football coach Don Frease was in town recently, attending orientation as son Matt is a freshman at CU (the younger Frease is working as a student assistant in the sports video office for Tom Doyle). Frease coached the wingbacks and split ends at CU between 1987-90, coaching the likes of Mike Pritchard, M.J. Nelson, Jeff Campbell, Lance Carl and Jo Jo Collins, among others. He was the head coach of the Memphis Pharaohs in arena football for three years (1995-97), and most recently was an executive recruiter for a chemically engineering company. "Year round recruiting," he quipped. "You don't have to do it (chemical engineering), you just have to help them find someone to."
THIS WEEK'S NUMBER... 20. In its short history, the CU women's soccer team has faced 20 ranked opponents, with the record against those teams what one might expect of a young program: 1-17-2. However, one of those ties came during the team's last time out last Sunday against No. 9 Texas A&M. First-year coach Bill Hempen's team battled the Aggies to a 2-2 draw and are now 1-5-1 on the year, as his young team is starting the grow up. CU previously had been 0-7 against top 10 teams, so even though it was "only" a tie, it was the program's first breakthrough against a top10 opponent.
"Plati-'Tudes" features notes and stories that may not get much play from the mainstream media, offers CU's take on issues raised by those who have an interest in the program, answers questions and concerns, and provides CU's point of view if we should disagree with what may have been written or broadcast. Have a question or want to know CU's take on something? E-mail Dave at david.plati@colorado.edu, and the subject may appear in the next Plati-'Tudes.