Colorado AD Rick George reiterates current commitment to Pac-12, leaves door open on future move
In the seemingly nonstop churn of conference realignment rumors and snippets of news, Colorado leaving the Pac-12 and joining the Big 12 has become the realignment move du jour. But Colorado athletic director Rick George on Friday refuted such possibilities are not on the table — at least for now.
George told the Boulder Daily Camera’s Brian Howell that the school is committed to staying in the Pac-12. But he also said Colorado will continue to evaluate what to do as the Pac-12 negotiates a new media rights deal.
“We’re members of the Pac-12, we’re proud members of the Pac-12 and we’ve got to see where our media rights deal lands and where our conference goes,” George said. “In a perfect world, we’d love to be in the Pac-12, but we also have to do what’s right for Colorado at the end of day. We’ll evaluate things as we move forward.”
While The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel reported that it could be a possibility for the Buffaloes to depart for the Big 12, it does seem likely that Colorado leadership would at least want to wait until a new TV deal is in clearer focus. Knowing what annual media revenues will be could be a significant driver in what choices Colorado makes about conference affiliation going forward.
And George saying this sends a clear message that the Pac-12 should be fighting to get every penny, nickel and dime possible to assuage any concerns and to refocus wandering eyes.
Prior to joining the Pac-12 in 2011, Colorado had been a member of the Big 12 for more than two decades, from 1996-2010. And prior to that, the Buffaloes were members of the Big Eight for nearly 50 years, from 1948-1995.
George’s previous responses to realignment noise have been more forceful
In April, a tweet from Twitter user @MHver3 said, via “a source,” the Colorado board might vote on leaving the Pac-12 in a matter of days. The user ended up deleting the tweet, but not before it made its way across the desk of George, who shot it down right away.
“There is absolutely no truth to this tweet,” George said.
And then it was also Colorado being linked for a return to the Big 12. The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel and Max Olson reported Colorado, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah have been contacted by the Big 12 as Brett Yormark looks to achieve his goal of expanding the league west.