Plati-'tudes
March 5, 2001
A bi-weekly notes column penned by David Plati, who is in his 17th year as Colorado's Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations.
It's championship week! But not just in men's and women's conference basketball; skiing and indoor track take center stage as well to determine their 2001 champions. Thanks to all that voted Plati-'Tudes your favorite side feature to our web site, or as Dr. Nick says, "Stop it, you're embarrassing me!"
TRIVIA QUESTIONS - CU - What has the CU women's basketball team done almost every year in the Big 12 Conference postseason tournament? Godfather - What was the Corleone's phone number? And what part of New York was the compound located?
CU-CSU FOOTBALL TICKETS - We've received a few inquiries on the CU-CSU game at Invesco Field at Mile High and whether or not the ticket will be included in CU's season ticket package. It will, as will the ticket for the preseason game at Folsom (we hope to be able to formally announce that as early as Tuesday, though it's obviously not a secret anymore). Ed Gow, our assistant AD/ticketing, has furnished the following answer to how seats will be assigned at IFMH as well as why all tickets will cost the same:
"The seats for the upcoming CSU game at the new Mile High Stadium will be assigned based on priority points. The difference in seating between 1999 and 2000 was attributable to the fact that the 2000 game was not part of the season ticket, thus fewer people with more priority points ordered tickets. This season the CSU game will once again be part of the season ticket. There is one huge difference this year from 1999, the seats in what will be the equivalent of the south stands will have chair-backs as opposed to the bleachers previously.
"While the price of your actual ticket is the same for all seats in the stadium, the annual contribution level for seats varies by section. For a visual, I point you to the seating chart: The contribution levels listed are minimum contributions; most of the people seated in sections 105, 106 and 118 contribute substantially more. Season ticket holders can request improvements into these areas when they return their renewal forms. These requests are handled in priority point order."
CLUB SUITES, SEATING AT FOLSOM - We have received a good response in just three weeks since hitting the streets pitching our club suites and seats that we hope to have in place above the east Folsom Field stands for the 2002 season. The suites, a minimum of 28 that will be constructed, will be 14-feet wide and 30-feet deep with seating for 18 people, a lounge area, closet, television sets, internal speaker system and a fully equipped service area. The cost is $50,000 a year, with three, five and seven-year leases available (or $1 million for a 20-year lease). There will also be 1,950 club seats at $2,250 per seat per year, again available in multiple year options. "There's been significant interest, and in the first 20 days, we have almost two-thirds of the 28 boxes either contracted for or headed in that direction," CU Associate AD John Meadows said. "The issues ahead of us will be the process of going through campus planning, the CCHE and the state legislature, the same process that any structure on the University of Colorado campus must go through." The whole CU campus master plan to build was approved by the CCHE last week, and now the final plan can move forward. What that includes are not only the finances, but how the implementation and construction affects that particular part of campus, ranging from parking during and after to noise and displacement issues. This final plan is first subject to the approval of the campus planning process and then the Board of Regents, with the CCHE and state legislature then having to sign off on it. So if all goes as planned, athletic director Dick Tharp has publicly said we hope to break ground as soon as possible after the Nebraska game this fall. And a side note: the current season ticket holders on the east side won't be affected, as the suites will above the present seating.
GBSF vs. BUFF CLUB - Ah, once again my credibility is being wrongly attacked out in cyberspace, this time with saying I misled someone who asked what happened to the Buff Club, and that what I told him I knew was inaccurate. Someone E-mailed in asking about booster clubs and would we be interested in forming one, and in my answer, I told him why the name was changed from the Buff Club to the Golden Buffalo Scholarship Fund (mainly because of how the IRS was viewing so-called clubs), and that I am surprised that some don't view it as our booster club, when I believe most members do.
On Nov. 12, 1992, the official name change took place, and here's what was listed verbatim on a fact sheet sent to members of the club at that time:
"Support and enthusiasm for Colorado Athletics is at an all-time high. As we look to meet the needs of Colorado's student-athletes into the next century, a name change for Colorado's annual athletic fund-raising entity is vital. This name change will represent the true purpose of Colorado's annual athletic development organizational structure. Therefore, beginning on November 12, 1992, the 'Buff Club' will officially be renamed The Golden Buffalo Scholarship Fund.
"Reasons for the change:
- The Golden Buffalo Scholarship Fund more accurately reflects where donor funds are directed and helps donors understand that their gifts support student-athlete scholarship costs and needs.
- Golden Buffalo Scholarship Fund has a national appeal and recognition.
- This begins a national effort to expand our donor base, develop volunteer networks and create a national identity for alumni and friends to become actively involved.
- This is a first-step in a five-year plan that will enhance fund-raising efforts for Colorado athletics.
- There is continued scrutiny by athletic gifts by the IRS. The Golden Buffalo Scholarship Fund accurately reflects the nature of charitable giving to Colorado athletics to continue the deductibility of athletic donations.
- "The dynamic and exciting change will allow (the) Colorado Athletics development organization to be at the forefront of meeting the challenges of collegiate fund-raising into the 21st Century."
That is verbatim, except for the "(the)" because it was missing in the original. Does it sound like I was misleading anyone with my answer? I was here in 1992 and helped issue a release on the matter, and recall that the main thrust of the change was in fact potential IRS scrutiny.
So, the Buff Club never FOLDED or was SHUT DOWN as erroneously attributed on one of the boards, it changed names. Now the Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs Buff Clubs were formed in the late 1970s were discontinued, but not because no one here said it was "too much trouble to maintain a membership list," another erroneous attribution. "Because of the NCAA's accentuated concern about institutional control, like many schools around the country, we brought the Boulder, Denver and Colorado Springs Buff Clubs under our wings about 10 years ago," said Scott Scheifele, assistant AD/development. "For a few years after that we continued to have local Buff clubs but the enthusiasm of these groups waned."
Individuals, corporations, alumni and friends providing annual support for CU Athletics represent the GBSF; the tag line reads: THE GBSF, "Providing educational assistance to University of Colorado student-athletes since 1973." Scheifele explained further: "We do not have a governing body for the GBSF like institutions in the south. Their fund raising arms are separate non-profit organizations that do not report directly to the institution or the athletic department. Some have been interested in the re-implementation of independent "booster" clubs that existed until several years ago, and when originally formed, these "Buff Clubs" were autonomous entities with a staff liaison. We have met with several people that were involved with the Buff Clubs recently and are considering re-instituting "Buff Clubs" in the future." And as to the comment that the media department might oppose it (meaning me), well that's just another lie we'll add to our running list.
In the meantime, if people are interested in volunteering today for CU Athletics, they can contact assistant AD Jeannie Dixon in our Community Relations department and ask how they can help (la.dixon@colorado.edu).
You know, I honesty don't care to have to respond to this stuff all the time, but much like when Gary Barnett called a press conference to rebut Mark Kiszla's column in December, I too feel the need to do the same when someone is attacking my character and reputation. I've been on this job for some 17-plus years now, and while I'm certainly not right all the time, I don't lie or mislead people on purpose, that's for sure. This column has proven to be a good forum for rebuking many misunderstandings, false beliefs and even outright lies that have circulated mainly on the Internet and sometimes in the media, and judging from your responses, it's been proven by how many of you have appreciated the record being set straight. And thanks to all of you who e-mailed or posted on my behalf, that's been really appreciated on my end.
MILLION FAN MARCH - A fan E-mailed in and wanted to know, "How is the Big 12 doing in their quest to draw a million fans for women's basketball?" Through the regular season, or 167 home dates, the total attendance for women's games stands at 781,790, or 4,681 per game. The 1999-2000 total was 802,419 and that included the postseason tournament and any home games Big 12 schools hosted in the first weekend in NCAA Championship play. The figure was a national record, and it is in position to be broken if tournament attendance is the same as last year (30,000 range). One million is probably out of reach, but if four league schools host NCAA games, and all advance to play a second home game, 900,000 is very much a reality.
CONGRATS TO MIKE McNEELY - One-time CU assistant football coach Michael McNeely was recently named athletic director at Indiana University (my brother's alma mater, for the few of you who would care). Mike was recruiting coordinator in Chuck Fairbanks last year (1981) and was retained as linebackers coach by Bill McCartney when he replaced Fairbanks in June, 1982. Mike's current tie to CU? Brother Brian, who is Gary Barnett's director of football operations and recruiting coordinator. Now Brian can keep a secret: Mike accepted the job on a Sunday, but it wasn't announced until four days later because of some major things happening in his vice president role with the San Diego Chargers. I'll say: the day before was named IU's athletic director, the Chargers decided to waive Ryan Leaf, the second overall pick of the 1998 draft.
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL FANS - Those of you crazy about high school football may be interested in the first national high school records publication recently compiled by Student Sports. It's the first comprehensive listing of high school records, yearly leaders and other prep trivia. Check into it at www.studentsports.com or call 310/539-9100 (I'd tell you the cost, but it's not on the publication or in the press release - I'm guessing $5-8).
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? - John Hessler dropped by the office last week, actually wearing a tie, and a very nice one at that, so we spent some time catching up. John is now working as a technical recruiter for Tek Systems, a firm based in Denver that does information technology and telecommunication services. He joined the company last summer after a two-year stint playing what he called, "Pretty much high school football" in Europe. He was a quarterback for a professional team in Milan and Paris, or as he called them, "The two fashion capitals of the world" (thus the sharp looking tie). He played with former Buff Ryan Black on both teams, and another former CU teammate, Nick Ziegler, was with him in Paris on the "Mollosses" (pronounced moe-los, meaning "Big Dogs"). John, of course, stepped into the spotlight back in 1995, when starting quarterback Koy Detmer went down with a knee injury. Hess came off the bench to lead CU to a 29-21 win over then-ranked No. 3 Texas A&M and went on to have a great season, helping CU to a 10-2 record in Rick Neuheisel's first year as a college head coach. He returned to his back-up role in 1996, and then assumed the starting chores again as a senior in 1997. Now there were two things about that '97 season that never got any publicity John now doesn't mind people knowing: one, he knew he was about to become a father the following spring, and it was quite a load to bear, and two, the famous incident where Neuheisel was caught on the ABC cameras pointing at his chest and yelling was nothing more than Rick telling him that he, "Wasn't Superman, there's no S on your chest so just play your game." John never did anything professionally with football in the United States, but did latch on to Colorado Rockies and pitched in the spring and summer of 1998. He won a ring with the Rockies team in Tucson, as he had a 4-0 record with an ERA in the "high threes." He now lives in the Washington Park area and is the father of a three-year old son, Devin, who he says is just a monster.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME TIME - The 2001 ballot is out for this year's College Football hall of Fame, and CU's Bobby Anderson is one of 75 players on the ballot. This year's class will be announced in April. Bobby lettered between 1967-69 and held several school records for over two decades. Here's hoping that Bobby will join Byron White, Joe Romig and older brother Dick in the Hall.
THIS WEEK'S NUMBERS - 7. That's the number of top 25 golfers that CU senior Matt Call defeated in last week's Puerto Rico Classic, where he tied for fifth by recording an even-par scorecard of 74-72-70 - 216. He led CU to a ninth place finish in the 15-team meet, as the Buffs defeated two top 10 teams in a field that featured 11 of the nation's top 24 teams. That bodes well for the Buffaloes, as it was Colorado's first tournament out of the gate and despite minimal practice time, CU was in third at one juncture of the meet. Call's finish was the best individual showing by a Buff in the first spring tournament in 11 seasons.
TRIVIA ANSWERS - CU - The CU women have won at least one game in the three of the four years of the tournament. The Buffs won it all in 1996-97, the league's first season, and are 5-3 all-time. Godfather - Long Beach-4-5620. The compound was in Long Beach, a small town on the southern beach shore of Nassau County (about 10 miles west of Jones Beach, a well known spot).
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"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.