Buffaloes AD Mike Bohn Confirms CU To Add Women's Sport

by Jon Woods on Jan 9, 2012 1:14 PM MST

Kyle Ringo of the Daily Camera published the first part of a sit down with Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn over the weekend and there were a few interesting tidbits that deserve a write-up.

The biggest piece of info was Bohn's confirmation that CU will soon be announcing the addition of a woman's sport to the university's athletic roster. Many have speculated that the financial windfall that Colorado received from the move to the Pac-12 conference could provide the resources necessary to add both men's and women's sports and it is could to get confirmation of this fact. While Bohn was not ready to announce what this first program would be, lacrosse seems to be a good guess. CU is still trying to get out of some pretty deep financial holes and anything added this early will not be something that requires a large financial investment. The facilities costs would be minimal for lax and there are only 4 other schools in the conference that currently field programs so travel costs could be kept to a minimum. This also will help the school with Title IX requirements and could hopefully lead to a men's program in the future.

There is an impression out there that you are getting this windfall of Pac-12 money down the road and that is going to solve all your problems and you will be able to build new facilities and make improvements with that money alone. Is that true and what part do donors play?

"When you look at all the significant upgrades around, whether it is in the Pac-12 or TCU's new initiative or others, there is a private element. Obviously that is a part of it. Part of the silent phase or the process we're going through first before we start announcing initiatives that aren't finalized is working on the major private element that is a part of the formula. We're still dealing with the (financial) issues associated with the departure from the Big 12. We're discussing the issues associated with adding a new women's sport. We're discussing a lot of different pieces that make up all these different issues we're talking about, which is why we're not going to come out with a plan or some type of initiative without it being viable."

What women's sport will you be adding?

"We're not prepared to make that announcement at this time."

Bohn earned a lot of good will with the move west to the Pac-12 but his legacy will really be made depending on he uses the new revenues to improve Colorado's athletic programs for the long run. A misstep could damage the program for a long time, but with the right moves CU can be back where it deserves to be among the top athletic departments in the country.

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Guesses or predictions?

Gotta be something we have existing facilities for and a sport other conference schools play. Maybe field hockey? (We don’t already have that, right?)

by highlandsbuff on Jan 9, 2012 1:08 PM MST reply actions

Agree completely with the facilities

and you’re right that we don’t already have a DI field hockey team, it looks like we don’t even have a club-level field hockey team… (Here’s the list)

I’d agree with Lacrosse, maybe Women’s rugby or Softball (which apparently made it to the Club Softball World Series Quarter-final game last year… who knew?)

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics - Go Buffs!

by Ash Jackson on Jan 9, 2012 2:38 PM MST up reply actions

rugby is not a varsity sport

Could be water polo? They have a club team and CSU has a varsity team which would help in scheduling games.

Mountain West Connection || Follow @JeremyMauss

by Jeremy Mauss on Jan 9, 2012 3:15 PM MST up reply actions

LaCrosse I hope

My daughter scholarship is dependent upon it, otherwise gymnastics would be a possibility

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman

by Broncoman on Jan 9, 2012 7:28 PM MST up reply actions

Yaaawwwwnnn

Q: What's the last thing a Nebraska stripper takes off?
A: Her bowling shoes.

by huckthefuskers on Jan 9, 2012 2:52 PM MST reply actions

http://insidelacrosse.com/news/2012/01/09/university-colorado-add-womens-sport-likely-lacrosse

I imagine that we would join the MPSF with the rest of the Pac 12 schools (and Denver). Plus, CU already has a very successful club program (3rd in the country last year) which could provide a nice foundation while the program gets off the ground.

Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.

by Phil Fraser on Jan 9, 2012 4:01 PM MST reply actions

Hopefully that would pave the way for the men's team as well

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics
SB Nation Denver

by Jon Woods on Jan 9, 2012 4:50 PM MST up reply actions

I think that's still a long way off

a women’s team means almost half of the Pac 12 is fielding varsity squads, which means the league might be trying to sponsor the sport. No other Pac 12 schools have varsity men’s teams. I get the feeling that there’s a lot of push to add sports that the other league schools already play. It doesn’t look good for us if we’re the only school who doesn’t play baseball, but members of non-Pac 12 leagues for women’s lacrosse, men’s lacrosse, skiiing, archery, or whatever else they add. Larry Scott strikes me as a “circle the wagons to protect the brand” kind of guy.

Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.

by Phil Fraser on Jan 9, 2012 7:05 PM MST up reply actions

Yea, good point

I guess I’m thinking more long term.

I’d love to see baseball as well. and hockey. #allthesports

The Ralphie Report - University of Colorado Athletics
SB Nation Denver

by Jon Woods on Jan 9, 2012 7:20 PM MST up reply actions

where you been?

but yeah, I am 99% sure it’ll be lacrosse (field hockey is the only other possibility in my mind)

by nebraskasux on Jan 9, 2012 5:04 PM MST up reply actions

I could also see gymnastics

seeing as the Pac 12 actually sponsors women’s gymnastics. But I would be shocked if it wasn’t lacrosse. Field hockey doesn’t make a ton of sense, in that only 2 other Pac schools play it, and we’d likely be in the NorPac conference, which sends you to the east coast for half of your schedule.

Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.

by Phil Fraser on Jan 9, 2012 5:21 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah, I think all things point to LaX

Which is fine by me. I’ll have to try to catch the occasional game. Lacrosse was my game (men’s though, obviously), and it’s a fun one to watch.

DAG
Email: David.Gerhardt@gmail.com

by DavidAGerhardt on Jan 9, 2012 10:51 PM MST up reply actions

Kyle Ringo specualtes CU will hire a head coach this year

most likely for a women’s lacrosse team. http://www.buffzone.com/ci_19708073

Ringo makes some pretty good points.

girls lacrosse is the fastest growing sport at the high school level in Colorado and much of the rest of the nation

Starting a women’s lacrosse program would involve minimal costs because the program could practice on the football practice fields or the practice bubble which already are in place.

Bohn said CU is targeting the 2013-14 school year for the new women’s program to begin competing. He said it could compete as a club sport prior to that.

Here’s to CU’s 2014 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Women’s Lacrosse Champions!

Shoulder to Shoulder

by Buff'em Up on Jan 10, 2012 8:46 AM MST reply actions

how odd:

“There would be no need for new facilities investment, as would be the case for softball, because home games could be played in Folsom Field. "

Um, I’ll bet money that they won’t. Why the hell would you play in Folsom when you’ve got perfectly good Prentup?

Look, I've already told Utah to suck it. There's no going back now.

by Phil Fraser on Jan 10, 2012 9:16 AM MST up reply actions

Even UVA doesn't play their home lacrosse games at the football stadium except in rare circumstances.

UVA lacrosse is hugely popular but playing games in Scott would still lead to a 2/3rds empty stadium.

by Texas Wahoo on Jan 10, 2012 9:39 AM MST up reply actions

Really?!?

Spring on Folsom Field? That’s a terrible idea. For a sport that won’t bring in any money to tear up that grass while it’s wet and snowy in a stadium that they won’t be able to fill.

I’m sure Prentup is where they’ll actually be playing, just like Ladies Soccer. It’s a pretty darn good field, so there’s nothing wrong with that

DAG
Email: David.Gerhardt@gmail.com

by DavidAGerhardt on Jan 10, 2012 10:53 AM MST up reply actions